Valenti Alumnus Roger Rohatgi Brings AI and Next-Gen Tech to MIT Media Lab Visit
The Valenti School of Communication continues to bridge the gap between academia and industry through strategic partnerships and innovative initiatives.
In a recent visit to the prestigious MIT Media Lab, Valenti alumnus and Advisory Council Member Roger Rohatgi, who currently works for BP, spearheaded an event aimed at exposing students to cutting-edge AI and next-gen technologies.
“It’s great that we are able to partner with Valenti and bring students to events like these,” Rohatgi said. “As a Valenti alumnus, I feel it's of utmost importance to build a bridge of communication.”
The MIT Media Lab is renowned for its groundbreaking work in technology and media. It serves as a hub for innovation and research, attracting partnerships from leading global companies.
Rohatgi has been instrumental in fostering these connections, leveraging his position at BP, which collaborates with the MIT Media Lab to drive technological advancements.
“I think academia is a great way to bridge things and to approach things and neutralize and also look for solutions,” Rohatgi said. “AI is ever-changing so we need our Universities to stay up-to-date with the technology.”
Rohatgi invited Director of Valenti Jennifer Vardeman and journalism senior Jordan Navarijo to join him in exploring the latest innovations at the MIT Media Lab.
The event featured interactive demonstrations and insightful discussions on the future of AI, providing attendees with a glimpse into the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
“It was such an amazing experience visiting the MIT Media Lab and meeting all of the scientists and innovators within it,” Navarijo said. “I was able to connect with so many people in a variety of fields and I hope to meet up with them again.”
Rohatgi then emphasized the significance of integrating AI into educational curricula and creating AI based on diverse populations.
“AI in the past is that ethically, it has been showing up without considering a diverse population. Being able to train the data off of a diverse population of students like UH or the diverse communities that we have, and the needs that they have helps AI deliver better results,” Rohatgi said.
Vardeman highlighted the importance of collaboration between Valenti and surrounding community.
“Valenti is trying to partner with companies in our neighborhood, right in our area around emerging topics, emerging technologies that are really on the forefront, but also trying to do it in a way that that really brings back to the community,” Vardeman said.
The visit to the MIT Media Lab underscores Valenti’s commitment to fostering educational excellence through industry partnerships.
Such initiatives not only enhance the learning experience but also prepare students for future challenges and opportunities.
“Our faculty is definitely researching - and so it's not just AI for AI purposes,” Vardeman said. “It's AI for how it affects the Houston Community and why are Houston, UH faculty and UH students ideal for doing that type of research and doing those kinds of campaigns?”
Looking ahead, Valenti aims to continue building on these relationships, creating more avenues for student growth and innovation.