Adam Russell, AI/nthropologist and Director of the AI Division at the USC Information Sciences Institute (ISI), is on a journey to help build a better world with AI. After launching AI/nsiders in 2023 where he interviewed the ISI humans behind our AI research, he expands his quest to the other disciplines researched at ISI. Networking, cybersecurity, computing, microelectronics, quantum, space, ISI scientists have a lot to say about the state of their fields, their research topics, and how AI fits into them.

Alefiya Hussain, a supervising computer scientist and principal scientist at ISI, explains how she approaches building security into the projects she works on. She explores why she believes the lack of focus on security during the early history of the internet says something good about humanity. She shares why working on diverse teams is one of her favorite parts of working at ISI, and how she handles cases where she’s not only the only woman, but also the only computer scientist in the room. She discusses how a drive for learning helped her discover what she wanted to pursue, and what she recommends for students facing questions about their future. Listen to her episode of ISI/nsiders below. 

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Published on March 19th, 2025

Last updated on March 18th, 2025