Alyssa Carson on AI, Learning, and the Road to Mars (Full Transcript)

[00:00:03] Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Alyssa Carson, and as long as I can remember, I have dreamt of the stars. When I was a kid, space fascinated me more than anything else. I knew that when I grew up, I wanted to become an astronaut and travel to Mars. I was so little, but I decided then that I would work hard to turn my dream into a reality. It was a big dream, and not everyone believed in it. Some people told me that my dream would fade. Luckily, I didn't listen. Today, I am still chasing that same dream. I am a PhD candidate studying planetary science and astrobiology and teaching about space to the next generation. To go to Mars, we are going to need a lot of skills and a lot of technology. That is where AI comes in. AI is exciting for the science industry because we can do things faster than we used to. Right now, AI is helping scientists like me analyze these massive amounts of data, build models of places that we can't explore yet, and even search for clues of life somewhere else in our solar system. So even though we haven't made it to Mars yet, AI can help us visualize what it could actually be like. It lets us test ideas, learn faster, and even prepare for challenges before we ever leave Earth. The cool part about AI is that it isn't just for scientists or astronauts. It's for you too. AI is already changing how students learn in schools. Instead of just memorizing facts, you can use AI to ask questions, explore ideas, practice skills, and even learn at your own pace. Most importantly, I want you to remember that you don't have to wait until you're a scientist or even an adult to start. You can use AI right now to learn, to create, to experiment, and to dream. I'm sure many of you have big dreams too. Maybe it's related to space and science like me, or maybe you're starting your own business, or inventing something new, or creating amazing art. Whatever your dream is, don't let anyone take it away from you. Use AI as a tool to make that dream into a reality, to learn how to achieve it, and maybe even discover the necessary skills for your path. Who knows, maybe someday I'll see one of you on Mars, or maybe you'll be the ones to get us there. I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your program today. Thank you so much for having me.