They say machines are only as good as the people who build them—but what if the people building them haven’t questioned the systems they live in? In this compelling episode of Becoming Radical, host Michael Gaizutis sits down with Dr. Ada Rhodes-Wish, a roboticist, systems designer, and activist whose work bridges the technical and the transformative. Together, they explore how robotics and artificial intelligence intersect with ethics, inclusion, and social change. Dr. Ada discusses her research in computational cognition—building machines that think more like humans, not just mimic them—and why today’s generative AI tools often fall short of true understanding. Drawing on personal experiences with neurodiversity and activism, she shares how empathy, access, and intentional design must shape the future of technology.

The conversation challenges assumptions about neutrality in AI, exposes the embedded biases in machine learning, and critiques the capitalist incentives driving rapid—but reckless—innovation. Dr. Ada makes the case for designing systems that serve people, not just profits, and calls for reimagining STEM education through a more inclusive, Montessori-inspired lens.

 Key Takeaways  

• Tech ≠ Neutral: No algorithm is value-free. Systems reflect the cultural and social biases of their creators.

• R2-D2 Sparked the Dream: Ada's robotic ambitions were inspired by a love of Star Wars—and a desire to give robots real "brains," not just bodies.

• Cognition Over Mimicry: Most AI mimics human speech, not thought. True computational cognition focuses on how humans reason.

• Energy ≠ Intelligence: Throwing massive compute at problems is unsustainable. Smarter, not bigger, should be the goal.

• Ethical Design Begins at Access: Inclusion can’t just happen at the product level—it must start with who gets to build in the first place.

• AI Propaganda Is Real: Generative AI is disrupting the information ecosystem, and we may be "burning the Library of Alexandria" without realizing it.

• STEM Must Get Human Again: Through Montessori-inspired teaching and hands-on computing, Ada pushes for an education model that prioritizes humanity.

• The Kids Are Alright: Gen Z technologists are optimistic, values-driven, and ready to reshape tech—if the system lets them.

In This Episode  

• [00:00:02] Introduction to Becoming Radical  

• [00:08:07] Human vs. machine thinking  

• [00:10:42] Energy costs and corporate AI  

• [00:15:57] Bias and oppression in AI systems  

• [00:25:50] Capitalism, technology, and social good  

• [00:29:12] Redesigning STEM education for inclusion  

• [00:30:55] The next generation of technologists  

• [00:32:45] Where to find Ada Rhodes-Wish

Our Guest

Dr. Ada Rhodes-Wish is a roboticist, educator, and activist whose work spans intelligent systems, neurodivergent inclusion, and ethical design. A professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, she focuses on building systems that think like humans—and teaching the next generation to do it better. Her lab’s MoIRAs (mobile, minimal robots) challenge bloated AI paradigms by showing what smart design really looks like.

Notable Quotes  

• [00:03:22] “How do humans make decisions—and how can we represent that mathematically in the simplest way possible?”— Ada Rhodes-Wish

• [32:08] “I think the future technologists are going in a really good direction. I think like the kids have a good head on their shoulders. It's just going to be that like pushing back against the bad momentum.”— Ada Rhodes-Wish

Resources and Links

Dr. Ada Rhodes-Wish

• University of Nebraska Omaha Faculty Page

• Bluesky

Michael Gaizutis

• LinkedIn

• Website

Becoming Radical 

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

• Facebook 

• Twitter

Mentioned 

• Silo (Apple TV show)

• IDETC-CIE International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference

• Montessori Education Practices in Higher Education