In this episode of ChatADS, we sit down with MS in Applied Data Science alum Nathan Rickert, now a data scientist at Thrivent, to explore how AI is being applied in the financial space.

Nathan shares how his team is building across predictive, generative, and agentic AI, and why understanding the difference between them matters in practice. The conversation dives into how organizations are using AI to drive efficiency while keeping humans at the center of decision-making, especially in regulated industries.

We also discuss one of the biggest challenges in today’s AI landscape: not just learning new tools, but knowing which ones actually matter. From stakeholder collaboration to ethical considerations, this episode offers a grounded look at what it means to work in AI today.

In Episode 2 of ChatADS, host Daniel Truesdale sits down with MS in Applied Data Science alum Vino Gunasekaran ’16, Principal – Global Innovation & Analytics at Circana, to unpack what “agentic AI” really means in practice.

Drawing from real-world experience in forecasting, pricing, and supply chain decision-making across the food and retail industries, Vino explains why traditional models break down in times of volatility, and how agentic AI enables reasoning, simulation, and adaptation at scale.

The conversation explores why AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement, the importance of strong statistical foundations, and what data scientists need to know to build models that decision-makers can actually trust.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in applied data science, AI in industry, and what it really takes to use advanced models responsibly in high-stakes environments.

Check out Vino's article in Forbes here: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2025/10/31/agentic-ai-the-future-of-forecasting-in-an-evolving-market/?

In the first episode of ChatADS, Daniel Truesdale sits down with MS in Applied Data Science graduate Steve Veldman to talk about what applied data science looks like beyond the classroom. They discuss how AI is actually built and used in industry, from open-source tradeoffs and intellectual property to computer vision, ethics, and the skills students should focus on as they prepare for real-world data science work.

In this introductory episode of ChatADS, host Daniel Truesdale shares why the podcast was created and what listeners can expect from future episodes. From applied data science and AI in practice to ethics, careers, and real-world decision-making, ChatADS brings thoughtful conversations with students, alumni, faculty, and industry leaders to the forefront.

In this short promo episode, host Daniel Truesdale introduces ChatADS, a podcast from the University of Chicago’s MS in Applied Data Science program. Learn what the podcast is about, who it’s for, and what listeners can expect in upcoming episodes—featuring conversations with faculty, students, alumni, and industry professionals on real-world data science, careers, and emerging trends.