Deacs.AI

ModPhone founder and Wake Forest alumnus, Kevin Duck, shares the blueprint to launch an AI entrepreneurial venture. He describes how he created the company, how he currently runs it, and some future plans - all with the help of artificial intelligence.

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Algorithms can crunch mountain loads of research in seconds, but can an AI actually win a high-stakes debate round? Triple Crown-winning Wake Forest debate coach Justin Green breaks down why machine models stumble when put to the test against human debaters. Even with its current limitation, he advocates that higher education must embrace the power of generative artificial intelligence to prepare students for what's ahead.

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Does Generative Artificial Intelligence open up new possibilities for assessing higher education students or are professors fighting a battle against the next wave of disruptive education technology? Listen to the conversation between Wake Forest University faculty members, Kit, Karen, Keith, and Shannon as they discuss the opportunities and pitfalls that Gen AI presents when defining the learning outcomes in their classrooms and assessing student mastery.

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Will artificial intelligence take over six-figure white-collar jobs, or just make us wildly more productive? Wake Forest economics professor Andre Mouton describes what patent data actually reveals about the future of work. From running open-source models directly on his desktop to teaching students how to manage digital assistants instead of letting them write their code, Andre offers a grounded, data-backed look at why high-wage professions are changing—and why the robot takeover narrative misses the mark.

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Elizabeth Ricks is back on Deacs.AI, and she brought along a good friend, Javier Guillen of Microsoft. Both educators and industry veterans, they discuss how artificial intelligence has actually changed the fields of data analytics, healthcare, and the classroom — and when it's the right move to hand over control to the AI. Prognosticating into the near future, they warn why an opinion you formed about AI two years ago is already out of date. Finally, they leave us with the secret to unlocking transformational power — curiosity is the skill that makes any of this work.

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AI can brainstorm, prototype, and accelerate ideas—but it can't replace the human drive behind entrepreneurship. Rebecca Gill joins Deacs.AI to unpack what it really means to be entrepreneurial, why authentic experiences create the best innovations, and how AI is forcing educators to rethink teaching, learning, and academic integrity. Whether you're building a startup, teaching in higher education, or trying to understand AI's impact on creativity, this episode offers practical insights into where humans still have the edge.

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Wake Forest Computer Science professor, William Cochran, who also holds an affiliation with the Program for Leadership and Character, developed a popular first year seminar called AI and Humanity: Foundations for Our Future. This episode includes the complete series, opening with William talking with Michael and Ryan about the impetus for creating the course, the mechanics of running it, how he assesses the students, the relevant course materials, and how it has evolved each semester that he has taught it. After listening to the professor, stay tuned for all of the subsequent student segments as we get the opportunity to hear the actual student assignments.

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During the 2026 spring semester, Wake Forest Computer Science professor, William Cochran, held his popular first year seminar called AI and Humanity: Foundations for Our Future. For one of the assignments, Cochran asked his students to read Ethan Mollicks book, Co-Intelligence, and create a mini podcast episode about a chapter that resonated with them. In Part 7, the final episode of this multi-part series, we hear from more of our students as they discuss Chapter 9, AI as Our Future. Please note that certain portions of the assignment have been lightly edited from their original format for content purposes or to comply with student wishes.

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During the 2026 spring semester, Wake Forest Computer Science professor, William Cochran, held his popular first year seminar called AI and Humanity: Foundations for Our Future. For one of the assignments, Cochran asked his students to read Ethan Mollicks book, Co-Intelligence, and create a mini podcast episode about a chapter that resonated with them. In Part 6 of this multi-part series, we hear from more of our students as they discuss Chapter 8, AI as a Coach. Please note that certain portions of the assignment have been lightly edited from their original format for content purposes or to comply with student wishes.

For questions, comments, or anything else, email us at

During the 2026 spring semester, Wake Forest Computer Science professor, William Cochran, held his popular first year seminar called AI and Humanity: Foundations for Our Future. For one of the assignments, Cochran asked his students to read Ethan Mollicks book, Co-Intelligence, and create a mini podcast episode about a chapter that resonated with them. In Part 5 of this multi-part series, we hear from more of our students as they discuss Chapter 7, AI as a Tutor. Please note that certain portions of the assignment have been lightly edited from their original format for content purposes or to comply with student wishes.

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