In this episode of DeanCast, Associate Professor of Data Science Dr. Cristiano Fanelli explores what happens when artificial intelligence meets the deepest questions in physics. Describing himself as a “centaur”—half physicist, half data scientist—Fanelli shares his journey from contributing to the Higgs boson discovery to leading cutting-edge research that uses AI to probe the origins of mass and search for dark matter. He explains why 99% of the mass of ordinary matter does not come from the Higgs mechanism, but from the dynamic energy of the strong force inside protons and neutrons, and how modern machine learning tools are transforming the way scientists investigate these fundamental mysteries.

Fanelli also discusses how AI-assisted experimental design, real-time detector control, and emerging physics-specific foundation models are reshaping large-scale experiments at facilities like Jefferson Lab and the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider. From NSF- and DOE-funded research to collaborations with national labs and industry partners, his work highlights how the fusion of physics and AI is not only advancing our understanding of the universe, but also shaping the future of technology and scientific discovery.