On this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Baser is joined by Ayris Erten to explore how artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering could transform the way doctors monitor organ-transplant patients.

They discuss emerging research using implantable sensors, wearable devices, AI-enabled ECGs, donor-derived cell-free DNA and machine-learning models to identify the earliest signs of transplant rejection—sometimes before conventional symptoms or laboratory markers appear.

The episode features work from researchers at institutions including Northwestern University and Mayo Clinic, along with expert perspectives from biomedical engineers, transplant specialists and AI researchers. Elif and Ayris also examine the limitations: false alarms, invasive sensors, small datasets, differences between patients, and why AI should function as an early-warning system rather than replace transplant physicians.

A conversation about the future of personalized medicine and one powerful question: Could AI detect that a transplanted organ is in danger before the patient even knows something is wrong?

On this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Baser sits down with Lara Uluözen to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming industrial engineering and the global supply chains behind nearly everything we buy and use.
From AI-powered demand forecasting and predictive maintenance to digital twins, smart factories, and adaptive logistics networks, Lara explains how engineers are using data and machine learning to make complex systems more efficient, resilient, and sustainable. The conversation also explores supply-chain disruptions, cybersecurity, Industry 5.0 and 6.0, agentic AI, and the changing role of industrial engineers in an increasingly automated world.

As AI moves from simply analyzing operations to actively supporting real-time decisions, what will the factories and supply chains of the future look like—and what skills will tomorrow’s engineers need?

Tune in to AI Ignited for a look at how smarter machines are helping us build smarter systems.

AI may feel invisible, but the infrastructure behind it is anything but.

In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Baser welcomes Tughan Turkmen to explore the physical and environmental reality of artificial intelligence. From massive data centers and rapidly rising electricity demand to water-intensive cooling systems, semiconductor supply chains, and critical minerals, the conversation examines what it actually takes to power the AI revolution. Drawing on research from the International Energy Agency, Carbon Brief, Brookings, the German Environment Agency, and recent academic studies, Elif and Tughan unpack how data centers are reshaping energy grids and becoming part of a wider geopolitical competition over compute, chips, and resources.They also weigh the benefits and drawbacks of centralized AI clusters versus smaller edge-based systems, discuss emerging cooling technologies and energy-efficient models, and ask a critical question: can AI innovation continue at scale without shifting environmental costs onto local communities?

The future of AI will not be determined by algorithms alone. It will also depend on how intelligently we manage the energy, water, and infrastructure that make those algorithms possible.

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly inspired by the most complex computer ever created: the human brain.

In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Başer sits down with neuroscience enthusiast Fulya Yargıç to explore the exciting frontier where neuroscience meets AI. They discuss brain-computer interfaces beyond Neuralink, whether human memories could ever be uploaded, how AI learns differently from the human brain, the rise of neuromorphic computing, and whether artificial intelligence might one day decode human thoughts, featuring insights from leading neuroscientists, AI researchers, and institutions including Stanford University, MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of California San Francisco, the University of Oxford, EPFL, and Princeton University.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly woven into our political systems, public institutions, and everyday lives, one question has never been more urgent: What does AI mean for the future of democracy?In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Başer welcomes returning guest Ela Bilek to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping elections, public trust, governance, misinformation, and civic participation. Together, they examine both the extraordinary opportunities and the significant risks AI presents for democratic societies around the world. Drawing on research from the Packard Foundation, Harvard Kennedy School, GLOBSEC, the Australian National University, and leading AI ethics scholars, Elif and Ela discuss how generative AI is transforming political communication, why digital literacy has become essential for every citizen, the dangers of algorithmic bias and deepfakes, and how governments can embrace AI while protecting transparency, accountability, privacy, and human rights. Can AI strengthen democratic participation by making governments more accessible and efficient? Join us for a conversation on one of the defining challenges of the digital age, and discover why the future of democracy may ultimately depend not on artificial intelligence itself, but on the values that guide its development.

In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Baser welcomes returning guest Ayris Erten to unpack a major biomedical breakthrough from researchers at IIT Hyderabad and CSIR-IICT. Scientists have engineered gold-coated calcium peroxide nanoparticles that enhance photothermal therapy against melanoma while simultaneously killing dangerous fungal infections.

What makes this discovery especially powerful is the role of artificial intelligence. AI-driven modeling was used to optimize nanoparticle design, predict heat distribution in tumor tissue, and fine-tune oxidative stress levels to target both cancer cells and fungal pathogens safely. The result is a multifunctional, precision nanotherapy that reduces drug burden, limits side effects, and anticipates real-world complications faced by immunocompromised cancer patients.

This episode explores how AI is transforming nanomedicine from trial-and-error experimentation into intelligent, data-guided therapy design and what this convergence of AI, oncology, and infectious disease means for the future of global healthcare.

Can artificial intelligence really outperform Wall Street's top analysts?

In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Başer welcomes returning guest Eren Keskin to explore how AI is transforming the world of finance. They discuss whether large language models and machine learning can produce more accurate earnings forecasts, generate smarter stock recommendations, and analyze markets faster than traditional human analysts.

Drawing on research from Bloomberg, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, academic studies, and expert opinions, they examine AI's strengths, its limitations, and why the future of investing may belong to collaboration between humans and machines rather than one replacing the other.

What if liver failure didn’t immediately mean a transplant—or a race against time?

In this breaking-news episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Baser sits down with Ayris Erten to unpack a major biomedical breakthrough: a $28.5 million ARPA-H–funded project at Carnegie Mellon University developing AI-integrated 3D-bioprinted liver tissue patches. These living tissue patches are designed to temporarily support patients with acute liver failure, allowing their own livers time to heal—without immune rejection or lifelong immunosuppressive drugs.

The conversation explores how artificial intelligence is used to simulate cell behavior, optimize tissue architecture, and personalize biological design, transforming AI from a diagnostic tool into a biological engineer. From reducing transplant waiting-list deaths to redefining regenerative medicine, this episode reveals how AI is no longer just predicting outcomes—but actively shaping recovery.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s the future of medicine—being engineered right now.

Can artificial intelligence become the ultimate personal trainer? In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Başer welcomes returning guest Zeynep Nihan Aksoy to explore how AI is revolutionizing the world of fitness. From wearable technology and personalized workout plans to AI-powered coaching, recovery optimization, nutrition guidance, and injury prevention,  they discover how artificial intelligence is helping people train smarter, not just harder. The conversation also explores the rise of conversational AI fitness coaches, the importance of balancing technology with human expertise, and why personalized health may become one of AI's greatest contributions to everyday life. Whether you're an athlete, a gym enthusiast, or simply trying to live healthier, this episode reveals how AI is reshaping the future of fitness.

Can artificial intelligence ever replace human companionship—or does it simply change the way we experience connection?

In this episode of AI Ignited, host Elif Başer sits down with returning guest Zeynep Nihan Aksoy to explore one of the most thought-provoking questions in modern technology: Can a chatbot truly be a companion?

Together, they unpack why millions of people are turning to AI for emotional support, friendship, and meaningful conversation. The discussion explores the psychology behind anthropomorphism, why our brains naturally form emotional attachments to conversational AI, and the difference between simulated empathy and genuine human connection.

Drawing on the latest research, Elif and Zeynep examine how AI companions may reduce loneliness and provide emotional support for some users while also discussing the risks of dependency, excessive self-disclosure, and replacing human relationships with digital ones. Research suggests that AI companions can benefit certain users—particularly those with limited social support, but that they work best as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, real human connection.

Whether you're fascinated by psychology, artificial intelligence, or the future of human connection, this episode offers a thoughtful, research-backed discussion on what companionship means in the age of AI.