Ioana Alexandra Todericiu’s Post

I can finally say it: I’ve earned my #PhD in Artificial Intelligence! For the past 5 years, my world has revolved around #AI. Studying it, questioning it, writing about it, all while balancing a 9-5 job. Today, as AI changes the way we all live, I pause to take in what it means to have left my own original mark. It took a village for me to stand tall and proudly defend my thesis, “Virtual Assistants, Ontologies, and AI: A Waltz in Education Innovation,” and I’d like to thank those who made this possible: Prof. Laura Diosan, my PhD supervisor and steady compass who never let me lose direction, Assoc. Prof. Camelia Serban, who sparked my curiosity for research, the scientific commission, for their thoughtful evaluation and engaging discussion during my Monday-morning defense, and, of course, my friends and family, who cheered me on from the sidelines every step of the way. I don’t take this moment for granted. My North Star is, and will always be, building technology that sees everyone, hears everyone, and learns from everyone. The journey is just beginning. Prof. Fei-Fei Li says: ‘The future of AI needs to be human-centered, inclusive, and inspired by curiosity.’ I carry those words as both a promise and a purpose. That’s the future I choose to build.