Inside Cornell: How Ivy League Students Really Use AI | A Cornell Student’s Bold Take | Tianyi Chen

What does AI look like through the eyes of someone who is actually growing up with it?In this episode, I sit down with Tianyi Chen, a student leader at Cornell who isn’t just using AI — she’s building communities around it.Tianyi is:Founder of the Computational Sustainability ClubExecutive Vice President of the Cornell Data JournalDeeply involved in AI, sustainability and leadership on campusAnd here’s what impressed me — she doesn’t treat AI as a shortcut.She treats it as a responsibility.We spoke about:• Why students should “solve first, prompt later”• Why AI can accelerate sustainability instead of destroying it• Why leadership among smart peers isn’t about IQ — it’s about trust• Why she chose startup life over research• And why AI can define a tear… but can’t understand why you criedThis generation isn’t waiting for policies or permission. They are building.And Tianyi represents that mindset.🔑 Key Takeaways From The Conversation✔ AI should assist your thinking — not replace it✔ Sustainability needs data acceleration, not just ESG buzzwords✔ Leadership is about facilitation, not intellectual superiority✔ Community building is invisible work before visible impact✔ Interdisciplinary skills = future-proof careers✔ Startup environments build adaptability faster than classrooms🎉 Fun Facts From The Podcast• Best place she thinks clearly? Library stacks — you can hear a pin drop.• Her AI tool of choice? Notion AI note taker.• Sleep schedule? 10 PM to 6 AM — non-negotiable.• Late-night debugging? Absolutely not.• Sustainability buzzword she’s tired of? ESG.• Most unexpected fun class? Introduction to Ancient Rome.• If AI were a classmate? Overachiever.If you care about:– Responsible AI– Sustainability beyond greenwashing– Leadership in high-performance environments– How Gen Z is actually thinkingThis episode is for you.Connect with Tianyi Chen:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tchen06/Connect with Me:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachin-menon/🔔 Subscribe for more grounded conversations on AI, leadership & the future of work.This is 101 Talks — where we break big ideas into simple, honest conversations.See you in the next one.