[snikolov]

This summer, I've mostly been saying 'machine learning', 'biological machine learning', 'artificial intelligence', 'programming', or 'artificial brains' depending on the person, the situation and where I want to try to take the conversation. AI and brains sound cool to non-technical people and usually they are curious and it stimulates conversation. Sometimes I tell nontechnical people 'programming' if I want to cut short the conversation about professions (most people will lose interest at the mention of programming) and steer it toward something potentially more interesting. Of course, another way to avoid professions is to not mention one at all and stay that I am a student --- but then I have to go on about what I'm studying. I reserve 'machine learning' mostly for EECS/mathy people who might know what that means.