In this enlightening dialogue, Dr. S. Shyam Sundar and Dr. Yuhmiin Chang delve into three major topics: Dr. Sundar’s influential research journey, the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in research, and strategies for successful publication in toptier journals. Dr. Sundar recounts his development of groundbreaking models, such as the MAIN, TIME, and HAII-TIME models, which have shaped the study of communication technologies. He explains how AI-driven media platforms like social networking sites and Netflix offer new affordances, fundamentally changing user experiences and necessitating the adaptation of existing theories. The discussion also highlights the revolution AI brings to data retrieval and analysis in the social sciences, with machine learning aiding research tasks that previously required extensive human labor. Dr. Sundar underscores the need for social scientists to become proficient with AI tools, as these advancements are reshaping research methodologies and theoretical frameworks. Additionally, he shares valuable insights into managing a prolific research career and offers practical tips for securing publication in toptier journals. Emphasizing methodological rigor, theoretical strength, and the importance of open science principles, Dr. Sundar provides guidance on navigating the evolving landscape of academic publishing to ensure research transparency and credibility.