Becoming an AI Evangelist // Alex Volkov // #215

Mar 1, 2024

AI Evangelist Alex Volkov shares his journey from running AI models to founding an AI startup. Explore topics like multimodal transformer architecture for lucid dreaming, challenges in MLOps with video data, and evaluating AI models with 'vibe checks'. Learn about AI agents, automation in content creation, and fostering community engagement in AI development.

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Introduction

00:00 • 4min

AI Evangelism and Community Building

04:07 • 28min

Exploring Multimodal Transformer Architecture and Brain Stimulation for Lucid Dreaming

31:58 • 2min

Exploring the Nuances of Multimodality and Technological Challenges

33:55 • 4min

Challenges of Video Data and Model Evaluation in MLOps

37:41 • 2min

Navigating the Complexities of Model Evaluation in MLOps

39:56 • 26min

Exploring AI Agents in Practice

01:05:46 • 7min

Exploring the Efficiency and Community Engagement in AI Development

01:12:26 • 2min

Alex Volkov serves as the AI Evangelist with Weights & Biases, Host of ThursdAI, Founder and CEO Targum and AI Consultant GPU POOR Def. not an owl.

MLOps podcast #215 with Alex Volkov, AI Evangelist at Weights & Biases, Becoming an AI Evangelist. // Abstract Follow Alex's journey into the world of AI, from being interested in running his first AI models to founding an AI startup, running a successful weekly AI news podcast & newsletter, and landing a job with @WeightsBiases . // Bio Alex Volkov is an AI Evangelist at Weights & Biases, celebrated for his expertise in clarifying the complexities of AI and advocating for its beneficial uses. He is the founder and host of ThursdAI, a weekly newsletter and podcast that explores the latest in AI, its practical applications, open-source and innovation. With a solid foundation as an AI startup founder and 20 years in full-stack software engineering, Alex offers a deep well of experience and insight into AI innovation. // MLOps Jobs board https://mlops.pallet.xyz/jobs // MLOps Swag/Merch https://mlops-community.myshopify.com/ // Related Links Evaluation Survey: https://hq.yougot.us/primary/WebInterview/3AW6LW5D/Start Website: https://thursdai.news

Alex on X (+X spaces also are also there) - https://twitter.com/altryne/

ThursdAI podcast/newsletter - https://sub.thursdai.news

Denver local AI tinkerers meetup - https://denver-boulder.aitinkerers.org/

Weights & Biases Growth Team hack week review - https://www.youtube.com/watchInterview w/

Crew AI creator Joao Moura - https://sub.thursdai.news/p/jan14-sunday-special-deep-dives The Future of Search in the Era of Large Language Models // Saahil Jain // MLOps Podcast #150: https://youtu.be/hMoMvK89iogDSPy: Transforming Language Model Calls into Smart Pipelines // Omar Khattab // MLOps Podcast #194: https://youtu.be/NoaDWKHdkHg --------------- ✌️Connect With Us ✌️ ------------- Join our slack community: https://go.mlops.community/slack Follow us on Twitter: @mlopscommunity Sign up for the next meetup: https://go.mlops.community/register Catch all episodes, blogs, newsletters, and more: https://mlops.community/ Connect with Demetrios on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/ Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-volkov-/ Timestamps: [00:00] Alex's preferred beverage [00:17] Takeaways [03:19] Take the Evaluation Survey! [03:55] Alex's journey for the past 15 years [08:10] Career moves [15:15] Building communities [20:02] AI/MLOps Growth in COVID [27:23] Recent developments and insights [31:58 - 33:03] WandB Ad [33:54] Multimodal RAG and Lucid Dreaming [39:55] Evaluation Practices in MLOps [43:27] Evaluating AI models effectively [52:52] Embedding models and updates [56:14] AI model trade-offs [1:01:13] Optimizing LLM user experience [1:03:56] Perceived performance optimization [1:05:45] Agents' hype and reality [1:11:31] Exploring DSPy for evaluation [1:14:13] Wrap up