“Revolutionizing Software and Storytelling with AI: A Conversation with Ojas Sawant” Event Recording and Photo Gallery

While talking about his own experience as an ETC student, Sawant advised students to leverage their experience at the ETC to learn to adapt and “dive deeper.”
While talking about his own experience as an ETC student,
Sawant advised students to leverage their experience at the ETC to learn to adapt and “dive deeper.”

Ojas Sawant, a 2015 graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) and a 2025 Tartans on the Rise honoree, returned to campus during Spring Carnival to reflect on his career path. In a Q&A session titled “Revolutionizing Software and Storytelling with AI: A Conversation with Ojas Sawant,” he shared insights into his journey from the ETC to Intel to his current position — all while being at the forefront of technological and storytelling innovation.

A recording of the event is now available.

The ETC is the leading professional graduate program in interactive entertainment, and is a part of Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of the University Libraries Keith Webster’s portfolio. Dean Webster is also the director of emerging and integrative media initiatives at CMU.

Ojas Sawant is a staff engineer at Teragonia, an innovative start-up that helps companies leverage AI as a means of solving business problems and enhance productivity.  He visited the ETC on April 4th — playtesting current ETC projects and providing them with feedback before taking part in a fireside chat moderated by Distinguished Professor of the Practice and Schell Games CEO Jesse Schell (ENG ‘93). The two took questions from students in the audience, talking with them further at the reception after the event.

Sawant shared with attendees how his time at the ETC primed him for the real world. “Every time somebody comes and tests your project, you’re thinking about how they’re reacting to your team’s hard work, work that you were just debating about just last night,” Sawant said. “But that feedback, that validation, allows you to adjust and learn. And that’s the same stuff I still use to this day in my workplace.”

Current ETC students talking with each other after the event
Current ETC students talking with each other after the event
Distinguished Professor of the Practice Jesse Schell in conversation with Sawant
Distinguished Professor of the Practice Jesse Schell in conversation with Sawant
Sawant playtests Spring 2025 project ImmerX,
an augmented virtual reality game, with second-year student and team member Yawen Xiao.
Sawant playtests Colleido, an animation project that leverages Duel Eye Point technology, with first-year student and project team member Dennis Sun.
Sawant playtests Colleido, an animation project that leverages Duel Eye Point technology, with first-year student and project team member Dennis Sun.
Sawant watches the film made by team Interactive Story Labs, a short that combines storytelling with live-action footage to create an immersive experience.
Sawant watches the film made by team Interactive Story Labs, a short that combines storytelling with live-action footage to create an immersive experience.
Second-year student Kesha Bagadia explains the premise of Spring 2025’s Mic Check’s project, a game where players compete in a rap battle against AI opponents.
Second-year student Kesha Bagadia explains the premise of Spring 2025’s Mic Check’s project, a game where players compete in a rap battle against AI opponents.
ETC Director of Information Technology Steve Audia speaks with current ETC students at the post-event reception.
ETC Director of Information Technology Steve Audia speaks with current ETC students at the post-event reception.
ETC staff, faculty and alumni celebrated Ojas and his fellow awardees at the April 5th Tartans on the Rise reception. Pictured are Robin Mitchell, Ojas Sawant, Jesse Schell, Jennifer Sciullo (HNZ ’20), and Brad Plaxen (ENG ’15, CMU ’18).
Second-year student Eva Chang helps Sawant playtest Spring 2025’s HelloAlice, a programming tool that will integrate AI technology into the The Alice Project.
Second-year student Eva Chang helps Sawant playtest Spring 2025’s HelloAlice, a programming tool that will integrate AI technology into the The Alice Project.
Carnegie Mellon alumni gather to recognize fellow Tartans. Pictured are Ojas Sawant, Jennifer Sciullo, and fellow Class of 2025 Tartans on the Rise awardees Annie Pulsipher (CFA ’17) and Prasun Shrestha (HNZ ’21). 

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