DataTalks.Club

Aishwarya Jadhav, a machine learning engineer with roles at Waymo and Tesla, shares her fascinating journey from finance to AI. She discusses designing an AI guide dog for the visually impaired and contributing to malaria mapping in Africa. Aishwarya also dives into the challenges of deploying safe autonomous systems, the interplay between sensor technologies like LiDAR and cameras, and the significance of gesture recognition in traffic control. Plus, she offers insights on how to break into the self-driving AI industry.

Ranjitha Kulkarni, a machine learning and NLP engineer with experience from Microsoft and Dropbox, now leads efforts at NeuBird.ai to create LLM-driven AI products. She shares fascinating insights on building reliable AI systems in the age of generative AI, emphasizing the importance of context engineering and dynamic planning. Ranjitha also discusses the evolution of agent technology, the role of retrieval in their design, and the future potential of agent marketplaces. Her practical tips on evaluating AI agents and the challenges of ensuring reliability are invaluable.

Abouzar Abbaspour, a data engineer with a rich background in machine learning and recommendation systems, shares his unique career journey from software engineering in Iran to working at Tesla. He delves into crowd modeling at Efteling, revealing how data from rides influenced visitor flow solutions. His transition to Bol.com highlights innovative brand recommendations, including a fun 'Tinder for brands' prototype. He also discusses the impact of large language models on productivity and how practical inference is revolutionizing his work at Tesla.

Dashel Ruiz, a data and machine learning practitioner with a rich background in semiconductors and software engineering, shares his fascinating career journey. He discusses transitioning from hardware to data science, revealing how he utilized machine learning to enhance semiconductor production. Dashel emphasizes the importance of practical experience in data education and contrasts it with traditional university methods. He also delves into his creative projects, like developing predictive models and APIs, while highlighting the value of community support in learning.

Micheal Lanham, an AI innovator with 20 years of experience in diverse fields like fintech and game development, shares his remarkable journey. He delves into the evolution of AI, the impactful role of evolutionary algorithms, and practical applications of AI agents. Micheal discusses how generative AI is transforming gaming and offers insights on designing minimalistic agent workflows for efficiency. He also provides valuable career advice for aspiring AI engineers and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

In this engaging discussion, Selim Nowicki, founder of Distill Labs, shares how they're making specialized LLMs faster and more accessible through knowledge distillation. Yashasvi Mishra, a data engineer at Pure Storage, emphasizes the importance of explainable AI, focusing on accountability and compliance in real-world applications. Mehdi Ouazza, a developer advocate at MotherDuck, talks about leveraging creative content and workshops to drive the adoption of open-source tools like DuckDB.

Daniel Egbo, an astrophysicist turned machine learning engineer, shares his ambitious journey from the stars to data science. He dives into the Meerkat radio telescope's incredible ability to map the galaxy and the fusion of physics and machine learning for star identification. Daniel provides practical advice for beginners in data science, highlighting mentorship and resources. He reflects on his experiences with AI internships and setting up data pipelines with cutting-edge tools. Tune in for insights on skill-building and bridging astrophysics and technology!

Kacper Łukawski, Senior Developer Advocate at Qdrant, explains the essentials of hybrid search, focusing on cost-effective models for smaller businesses. Manish Gill from ClickHouse tackles auto-scaling OLAP databases on Kubernetes. André Charton shares insights into evolving search technologies at Kleinanzeigen, transitioning from Solr to vector search. Atita Arora and Brian Goldin from Voyager Search discuss geospatial AI and the crucial role of spatial context in search retrieval. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping search functionality across industries.

Pastor Soto, a medical doctor turned machine learning enthusiast, shares his inspiring journey of balancing medicine and data science. He discusses how he leveraged live courses and public sharing to enhance his skills while freelancing on platforms like Upwork. Pastor emphasizes the importance of community engagement in learning and highlights the impact of social media in shaping his professional identity. He also shares his experiences with mentorship and navigating the intersection of healthcare and technology, all while managing a demanding schedule.

Lior Barak, a data strategy consultant and author of 'Data is Like a Plate of Hummus', dives into the complexities of rebuilding data trust. He emphasizes the shift from a reactive culture to a mindful practice rooted in Zen principles. Topics include the alarming gap between CEO data usage and self-identified data-driven status, the innovative traffic-light dashboard for clear communication, and strategies to balance maintenance with innovation. Lior highlights turning imperfect data into value and navigating the challenges of legacy systems while fostering team resilience.