Prof. Daniel Graff: Something Different

Professor Daniel Graff leads design and AI research at Tongji University’s College of Design and Innovation. He is a Distinguished Research Fellow, educator, and co-author of the 2026 book “Design Thinking with Artificial Intelligence”. With a background spanning design innovation, business, and emerging technology, his work explores how humans design, collaborate, and create alongside artificial intelligence. Today we talk about creativity, critical thinking and the tension between technology and human input.

0:00 Intro

3:34 Good Design and Subjectivity

23:01 Phases of AI Adoption

27:37 Work, Jobs, and Disruption

39:10 Efficiency and Creative Risk

54:35 Cultural Responses to AI

1:13:57 Trust, Hallucinations, and Standards

1:22:34 Critical Thinking in the AI Era

1:31:37 Phones, Friction, and Relationships

1:39:30 Education’s Changing Value

1:43:45 Looking Ahead Together