AI In 2025: Year In Review

The Real BS About AI podcast takes listeners through a year-in-review of the most significant shifts in artificial intelligence (AI) in 2025 and what they mean for UNLV.

User demand has directly shaped AI development over the past year. AI has evolved from simple, robotic-style chatbots into tools capable of deep research, using memory to personalize interactions, and integrating with everyday applications like Google Calendar. Multimodal access further changed the way people use AI, with conversations now syncing seamlessly across desktop, mobile, and other platforms.

“I could start one conversation on the web, jump into my [terminal], and it would pick up the threads from where I left off,” cohost Bob Soulliere said.

The episode also explores how these broader AI trends are playing out on campus. With more resources and tools now available, UNLV is moving away from fear and uncertainty toward practical adoption. Cohost Alethea Inns shared that an upcoming API pilot will allow researchers, faculty, and developers to connect ChatGPT to other applications, bringing its capabilities directly into their workflows.

“AI is now becoming a part of our processes, and we’re thinking more intentionally about how we’re using it from a year ago,” Inns said.

Producer Rakitha Perera also discussed how the team uses AI behind the scenes to improve the podcast. By reviewing episode transcripts alongside Spotify and YouTube data, AI helped identify when conversations drifted, suggested ways to highlight past episodes, and revealed which topics resonated most with listeners.

Looking ahead to 2026, the hosts hope to see AI expand further into research and student learning, with tools continuing to better match real-world needs. They also anticipate new industry partnerships and smarter use of AI models that can automatically pick the right tool for the right task.

The Real BS About AI publishes new episodes every two weeks, blending humor, accessibility, and practical advice to make artificial intelligence approachable for the UNLV community. View the AI Technology webpage for past podcast episodes or more information about AI at UNLV.

Short on time? Grab The Afterwards, a quick read about the episode, complete with prompts and notes you can copy and paste for your own use and workflow.  

Content for this story was drawn directly from the podcast and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our communications team verifies all content for accuracy.