AI is often seen as an intimidating black box—something mysterious, even unsettling — but it doesn’t have to be. In her TEDx talk, Illusion or Innovation: The Secret of AI The Magic Box, Dr. Tingting (Rachel) Chung pulls back the curtain, revealing how AI can be approachable, adorable, and far less scary than we think. As an award-winning professor of Business Analytics at William & Mary, Dr. Tingting (Rachel) Chung has spent her career not just teaching, but transforming the way students engage with complex ideas. From using chocolates and toys to break down mathematical concepts to writing AI The Magic Box, a book that explains AI to middle schoolers, she's always sought to make learning both accessible and fun. She's also the founder of Artificial And Natural Intelligence Education (AANIE) and Hampton Roads Tech Meetup, creating spaces for people to explore technology together. A longtime TED Talk fan, Dr. Chung believes in the power of storytelling to make complex ideas resonate. Now, she's bringing that passion to the TEDx stage, helping others see AI not as a mystery, but as an exciting tool anyone can understand. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx