As artificial intelligence, or AI, reshapes engineering and computing, collaboration across disciplines has never mattered more. In this conversation from two directors in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, Ross Maciejewski and and Bruno Sinopoli discuss the future of AI, hardware and intelligent systems, and why the next generation of innovation will depend on working together.
About the experts
Ross Maciejewski, a computer scientist and leading expert on data visualization, serves as the director of the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, or SCAI. He has been tapped for his expertise in creating visual analytics for homeland security, public health, and law enforcement. As former director of the Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency, he led AI-powered research to fortify airport screening systems, improve scientific machine learning and evaluate the performance of large language models.
Bruno Sinopoli, an electrical engineer and internationally recognized expert in cyber-physical systems and control theory, serves as the director of the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, or ECEE. He is known for his work on secure and resilient networked systems, smart infrastructure, energy systems and the integration of communication, computation and control. Before joining ASU, he held leadership roles at Washington University in St. Louis and Carnegie Mellon University.
Q+A
ASU has a long history of collaboration between electrical engineering and computer science. Why does this matter now?
Maciejewski: “The partnership between electrical engineering and computer science here really goes back to the beginning of our computing programs. In the 1970s, when ASU was establishing computer science degrees, our program’s first chair, Bill Lewis, intentionally brought electrical engineering faculty into the founding group because he understood that computing would always be connected to systems and hardware.”
Sinopoli: “And in many ways that connection has only become more important over time. Electrical engineering has always been one of the foundational engineering disciplines, but today fields like computing, communications, robotics, energy systems and AI are all deeply interconnected.”
Maciejewski: “That’s especially true now with AI, advanced chips and autonomous systems. The challenges we’re facing are simply too complex for any one field to solve alone.”
Sinopoli: “What excites me about ASU is that this interdisciplinary mindset is already part of the culture. The collaboration between electrical engineering and computer science gives students experience working across complex systems and prepares them to become leaders in a rapidly changing technological world.”
Both of you have worked across disciplines throughout your careers. How have those experiences shaped your approach to leading programs that span hardware, software and intelligent systems?
Maciejewski: “A lot of my career has focused on complex operational problems where technology directly affects people’s lives. As director of the Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency, I worked with federal agencies, industry partners and researchers from many disciplines, and it became very clear that meaningful progress happens when people with different expertise come together around a shared mission.”
Sinopoli: “I’ve seen the same thing in systems and control research. Whether you’re studying power grids, transportation systems or cyber-physical infrastructure, hardware, software, communication and security all must work together reliably.”
Maciejewski: “That experience reinforced my belief that universities should not educate students in silos. The systems we rely on today — from AI-enabled infrastructure to secure communications networks — are deeply interconnected.”
Sinopoli: “Exactly. Some of my most impactful work at Carnegie Mellon and Washington University came from collaborations across engineering, robotics, computer science and applied mathematics. The best programs create environments where students and faculty can move naturally across disciplines, because that is how innovation happens in the real world.”
In the AI era, the boundaries between computing and engineering are increasingly blurred. Where do you see the most important opportunities for collaboration between SCAI and ECEE?
Sinopoli: “The boundaries between computing and engineering have disappeared because modern systems are deeply interconnected. AI now touches everything from energy grids and transportation systems to communications networks and advanced manufacturing. Solving those challenges requires expertise spanning software, hardware and intelligent systems design.”
Maciejewski: “At ASU, we have an opportunity to build those connections at every level. Our students are already collaborating through undergraduate research programs like FURI and interdisciplinary initiatives like the Grand Challenges Scholars Program. Those experiences help students learn how to work across technical boundaries early in their careers.”
“From a research perspective, I think one of the most important frontiers is sustainable AI infrastructure. We’re entering a period where computing performance, chip design and energy consumption are becoming inseparable issues.”
Sinopoli: “Yes, definitely. The next breakthroughs in AI will come not only from better models, but from smarter systems that integrate algorithms, hardware and energy-efficient design together.”
Bruno, as you step into this new role, and Ross, as a long-time leader at ASU, what does success look like for this collaboration over the next few years?
Maciejewski: “For me, success is a partnership that feels seamless to the faculty, students and staff who depend on it every day. We already have a strong foundation in research and student collaboration, and the goal is to build on that momentum in a way that is durable and meaningful.”
Sinopoli: “And I think this is the right moment to do that. Engineering and computing are being reshaped by AI, energy systems, infrastructure and advanced hardware, so there is a real opportunity for SCAI and ECEE to lead together rather than evolve separately.”
Maciejewski: “That’s really the key. The measure of success is not just that we collaborate more, but that we create lasting opportunities for students and faculty and make this kind of partnership part of how ASU operates.”
Sinopoli: “I would love to see people look at ASU a few years from now and see a model for how interdisciplinary collaboration should work; ambitious, highly connected and grounded in both educational excellence and impactful research.”
What should peers across academia understand about how ASU is approaching the integration of computing and engineering?
Maciejewski: “I think one thing higher education needs right now is a very strong spirit of collaboration across institutions, not just within them. The challenges we’re facing in computing, engineering and AI are bigger than any one university. At ASU, we’ve built a culture where faculty members actively seek partnerships across disciplines, industry and peer institutions because we know innovation happens faster when people work together. Especially during a challenging period for higher education, I believe universities will all be better served by sharing ideas, building partnerships and collectively preparing students for a rapidly changing world. I’m excited that Bruno brings experiences and perspectives from other outstanding institutions that can help strengthen those connections even further.”
Sinopoli: “One of the reasons I joined ASU is that it combines a strong historical foundation in electrical engineering and computing with an openness to collaboration and new ideas. The future challenges we face, including AI, infrastructure, energy and security, are too complex for institutions to tackle in isolation. Higher education is going through a period of rapid change, and I believe universities will be strongest when they learn from one another, collaborate openly and work collectively toward innovation. ASU has the scale, talent and culture to be an important leader in that effort, and I’m excited to help build on the strong foundation already here.”