Spring 2025

No lecture. No readings. Just Conversation.
 
This series is an opportunity for students across disciplines to meet and talk about timely and engaging technology-related topics.

Come share your thoughts with us!
 
Free pizza is provided.

This program is open to all eligible individuals. USC operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

Conversation Topics

  • Art of silhouettes standing on newspapers.

    Silicon Valley Scandals

    February 12, 2025 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

    The Theranos Fraud, The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse, and the mysterious ousting, then reinstatement of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are just a few glimpses into the strange inner workings of the Silicon Valley tech industry. When huge promises meet the high stakes of multi-million dollar investments, how do the people in leadership positions handle, and mis-handle it?

    Topics of conversation may include: What tech industry scandals weigh heavy on your mind or affect your field of study? And what does accountability look like to you?
    RSVP
  • Art of an iphone against a disorienting background.

    The Infinite Scroll

    February 26, 2025 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

    If you’ve ever looked up and realized you’ve been scrolling TikTok or Instagram for hours, you’ve felt the manipulative pull of the infinite scroll. Invented by Aza Raskin in 2006, this seemingly harmless design feature feeds users an endless stream of scrolling content, removing any natural stopping points and creating the illusion of "bottomless" content. This design fosters a sense of endless discovery while subtly eroding users' sense of agency, as the scroll encourages passive consumption rather than active choice.

    Topics of conversation may include: Is this design pattern ethical? Has your field of study been affected by it? And given a system where companies can take advantage of our psychology, how can we defend ourselves?
    RSVP
  • Art of a stock trading floor with a looming Bitcoin symbol.

    Cryptocurrency

    March 12, 2025 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

    As the value of one bitcoin surpasses $100,000 and an incoming administration vocally supports a U.S. Bitcoin Reserve, the sturdiness of cryptocurrency markets around the world continue to defy expectations. What once was known to many as a volatile pyramid scheme is now a major financial institution, the ramifications of which remain unclear.

    Topics of conversation may include: What are your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with crypto? Have current events changed your outlook or reinforced them? And how has blockchain or crypto affected your field of study?
    RSVP
  • Art of a messy desk.

    "Move Fast and Break Things"

    March 26, 2025 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

    In last semester’s discussion on the Cybertruck, we touched on the idea of other industries, like automotive, adopting an ethos of disruption that originated in the tech industry — one that’s been known for putting innovation and progress ahead of stability and security. A phrase coined by Mark Zuckerberg sums it up: “move fast and break things.”

    Topics of conversation may include: Have you seen this ethos appearing in your field of study? What are your thoughts and feelings about the prioritization of innovation? And what are some examples of this ethos in action that concern you?
    RSVP
  • Art of one man in an empty office with a looming question mark.

    Department of Government Efficiency's Impact on Technology

    April 9, 2025 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

    With proposals to reduce the number of federal employees by as much as 75% and reduce the federal budget by $2 trillion, this newly proposed advisory commission stands to have wide ranging effects for the United States.

    Topics of conversation may include: a thorough review of the promises of DOGE, and discussion on its context. How would this commission affect your field of study? And in what ways do we see it affecting the future of technology?
    RSVP
  • Art of a VR headset sat idly on a table.

    The Apple Vision Pro Revisited

    April 23, 2025 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm

    Released just over a year ago to wide eyed curiosity, acclaim, skepticism, and criticism, the Apple Vision Pro remains a singularly mysterious (and expensive) device. It stands apart from other headsets by marketing itself as an arbiter of spatial computing, so how has that practice advanced in the last year?

    Topics of conversation may include: What are your thoughts and feelings about the idea of spatial computing? How might it affect your field of study? And do you imagine a future with more mixed reality devices dystopian or utopian?
    RSVP