Critical Conversations @Soka: AI & The Future of Education and Work

Presented by Soka University of America

Join us for a lively evening exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on our educational and professional landscapes with Kevin Roose & Casey Newton, co-hosts of the award-winning New York Times podcast Hard Fork, and influential data scientist, writer Hilary Mason, CEO of Hidden Door and named to Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business and Fortune’s 40 Under 40. Moderated by Soka alumna Jihii Jolly, this panel will explore how AI is reshaping education, career paths, and society at large. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to gain insights from leading voices in technology and prepare for the AI-driven future.

Featured Panelists:

• Kevin Roose & Casey Newton: Co-hosts of the award-winning New York Times podcast Hard Fork, recently honored with the “Best Technology” iHeart podcast award. With a combined social media following of over 300k, Kevin is a best-selling author and tech columnist for the New York Times, while Casey publishes the acclaimed Platformer newsletter. They are prominent voices in tech journalism, known for their insightful discussions, interviews with top tech leaders, and engaging humor.
• Hilary Mason: CEO of Hidden Door, applying AI to revolutionize interactive storytelling, with over 20 years of experience building AI-powered products across various industries. Named Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business and Fortune’s 40 Under 40, Hilary is a leading data scientist, writer, and speaker with a significant following among data professionals and frequent contributions to Forbes and TechCrunch.
• Jihii Jolly (Moderator): A Soka alumna with a successful podcast and writing career, holding an M.S. in Digital Media from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. She has contributed to Columbia Journalism Review, The Atlantic, and Narratively.