Videos
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November 2024 CACM: The Paradigm Shifts in Artificial Intelligence -
When Should We Trust Machines? | Vasant Dhar | TEDxHamiltonCollege
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AI in Classrooms
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A.I. & Machine Learning: Investing in Tech on Wall Street (w/ Hari Krishnan & Vasant Dhar)
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AI with Vasant Dhar, Prof. Technology, Operations & AI Statistics, Stern School of Business, NYU
Learn More About Vasant Dhar
Vasant Dhar, Ph.D. has spent his career helping the world understand — and trust — machines. A professor at NYU Stern School of Business and the Center for Data Science, Dhar is one of the world’s leading authorities on prediction, data science and trust in AI. His work focuses on two broad questions: When should we trust machines to make decisions, and when must we keep humans in the loop? And how should we govern AI in business and society?
Dhar is widely recognized as a pioneer who brought machine learning to Wall Street in the early 1990s. He built some of the earliest systematic trading strategies, transforming how financial markets harness data to make decisions — work that still shapes algorithmic trading today. This foundation in finance gave Dhar a deep understanding of risk, governance and the critical importance of knowing when to trust automated systems.
His research now spans finance, health care, media and consumer technology, applying that same risk/reward lens to today’s AI revolution. In 2024, Dhar co-authored “Data Science in Olfaction,” a groundbreaking paper introducing “oMNIST,” one of the first standardized neural datasets for smell. This work represents a turning point in AI research — enabling machines to recognize and classify smells the way they already process images or speech. The implications are profound: Olfactory AI could one day serve as an early-warning system for diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s (where smell loss is often the first detectable sign), as well as for diabetes, infections and other metabolic disorders.
Dhar is also the creator and host of the “Brave New World” podcast, where he interviews Nobel laureates, CEOs, policymakers and scientists about the future of technology and humanity. His clear, approachable style makes complex topics like AI ethics, automation and governance accessible to general audiences. The podcast has become a go-to resource for anyone seeking clarity on how technology is reshaping society.
His forthcoming book, “Thinking With Machines: The Brave New World of AI” (Wiley, November 2025), distills decades of research into a practical guide for business leaders, policymakers, parents and everyday citizens. Dhar explores how AI systems “think,” when we should rely on their predictions, and how to design a future where humans and machines work together safely and effectively.
Beyond academia, Dhar is a frequent commentator for outlets including The New York Times, Financial Times and MIT Technology Review. He speaks at major conferences such as SXSW, NeurIPS and the World Economic Forum, offering insights on explainability, trust and the societal impacts of AI.
Vasant Dhar is available to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting meetings, interactive workshops and customized keynotes through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group®.
Finding the Edge: When to Trust Machines — And When to Take Control
Decades before AI was a buzzword, NYU Stern School of Business professor Vasant Dhar, Ph.D., brought machine learning to Wall Street, building some of the earliest systematic trading strategies. His new book, “Thinking With Machines: The Brave New World of AI,” offers a practical guide for deciding when to trust machine intelligence — and when humans must step in.
The Human Cost of AI Errors
Ethics and regulation aren’t just academic concerns — they affect lives. NYU Stern School of Business professor Vasant Dhar, Ph.D., explores what’s at stake when a smell-based diagnostic misfires or an AI teaching assistant gives biased advice, and why transparency and interpretability must be built into every decision system we deploy.
AI Can Smell: The Next Breakthrough in Early Disease Detection
Most people know that loss of smell can signal Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other metabolic disorders — but few realize AI can now detect these changes, too. NYU Stern School of Business professor Vasant Dhar’s work with “oMNIST,” one of the first standardized smell datasets, could revolutionize early diagnostics, saving lives by spotting disease years before symptoms appear.
The Coming ‘Digital Nose’ Revolution
Imagine a phone that warns you about spoiled food, a smart home that detects gas leaks, or a wearable that alerts you to metabolic changes before you feel sick. NYU Stern School of Business professor Vasant Dhar, Ph.D., explains how olfaction research could unleash the next wave of consumer technology — and why privacy and data security must come first.
Raising AI-Literate Kids in a Tech-Driven World
Beyond screen-time limits, parents need to teach kids how to think with AI — and how to question it. NYU Stern School of Business professor Vasant Dhar, Ph.D., shows how to prepare the next generation to be savvy, ethical decision-makers in a world where human and machine intelligence will increasingly collaborate.
5 Questions Parents Should Ask About AI This School Year
With ChatGPT and other AI tools transforming education, parents want to ensure their kids are thinking critically — not outsourcing learning to machines. NYU Stern School of Business professor Vasant Dhar, Ph.D., offers five essential questions parents should ask teachers and administrators to keep AI a tool for learning rather than a replacement for it.
Advance praise for "Thinking With Machines"
“Vasant Dhar has a unique perspective: building trading algorithms that compound tiny edges into fortunes, then watching AI evolve from narrow applications to a general-purpose technology. In 'Thinking with Machines,' he reveals when to trust algorithms, when to stay skeptical, and how to govern AI before it governs us. A must-read for our AI-powered future.”
“Clear, urgent, and deeply human. Dhar’s personal journey through AI makes 'Thinking with Machines' feel less like science fiction and more like a mirror―helping us reflect on trust, resilience and what it means to stay grounded in a world racing ahead.”
“At last, a book by one of the world’s leading AI researchers and practitioners that is both cutting edge and easy-to-read. Part history of the field, part handbook for the non-expert, part AI governance manifesto, and part author’s life journey, 'Thinking with Machines' is indispensable reading for professionals, policymakers, and concerned citizens grappling with the paradigm shift of our times.”
“In a world of wannabe AI experts, Vasant Dhar shines as someone who has played the long game, through successive AI hype cycles and winters. In this remarkable book, he provides a calm and reasoned way for us to decipher the world of AI and a playbook for dealing with the most important innovation of our time.”
“In a world filled with AI experts who alternate between relentless hype and imminent doom, Vasant stands out as someone who sees shades of gray in this debate, and has the expertise and good sense to gauge AI’s strengths and limits. I strongly recommend his new book 'Thinking with Machines' to everyone who is involved or interested in how AI will change the way we live and work, as I think it will.”
