

The TWIML AI Podcast (formerly This Week in Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence)
Sam Charrington
Machine learning and artificial intelligence are dramatically changing the way businesses operate and people live. The TWIML AI Podcast brings the top minds and ideas from the world of ML and AI to a broad and influential community of ML/AI researchers, data scientists, engineers and tech-savvy business and IT leaders. Hosted by Sam Charrington, a sought after industry analyst, speaker, commentator and thought leader. Technologies covered include machine learning, artificial intelligence, deep learning, natural language processing, neural networks, analytics, computer science, data science and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 11, 2021 • 42min
AI for Digital Health Innovation with Andrew Trister - #455
Join Andrew Trister, Deputy Director for Digital Health Innovation at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as he shares insights from his impressive background, including his work on Apple's ResearchKit. He discusses innovative AI applications aimed at enhancing community-based healthcare, particularly in underserved areas. The conversation highlights tackling COVID-19 and improving malaria testing accuracy using Bayesian models. Andrew also addresses challenges in scaling digital health technologies and the importance of community engagement in driving successful health solutions.

Feb 8, 2021 • 51min
System Design for Autonomous Vehicles with Drago Anguelov - #454
Drago Anguelov, Distinguished Scientist and Head of Research at Waymo, dives into the exciting world of autonomous vehicles. He shares insights on the significant advancements in AV technology and the focus on achieving level 4 driving capabilities. Drago breaks down critical ML use cases like Perception and Simulation, showcasing how Waymo’s fully autonomous systems are performing in Phoenix. He also discusses the socioeconomic impacts of self-driving cars and the potential influence of AV systems on future enterprise machine learning.

Feb 4, 2021 • 49min
Building, Adopting, and Maturing LinkedIn's Machine Learning Platform with Ya Xu - #453
Ya Xu, the Head of Data Science at LinkedIn, shares her journey from a statistics background to leading a global ML team. She describes the crucial three phases—building, adoption, and maturation—of any successful platform. Ya discusses the challenges of collaboration between application and platform teams, as well as the importance of overcoming 'hero syndrome'. She also dives into LinkedIn's approach to differential privacy, the evolution of experimentation in ML, and how these strategies enhance user experience while ensuring security.

Feb 1, 2021 • 39min
Expressive Deep Learning with Magenta DDSP w/ Jesse Engel - #452
Jesse Engel, a Staff Research Scientist at Google focused on the Magenta Project, dives into the intersection of creativity and AI. He shares insights on how Differentiable Digital Signal Processing (DDSP) marries classical sound design with deep learning. Jesse discusses training music generation models that efficiently capture polyphonic relationships while navigating the challenges of traditional audio techniques. He also highlights collaborative projects enhancing music, language, and visual art, promoting a future of democratized musical creativity.

Jan 29, 2021 • 55min
Semantic Folding for Natural Language Understanding with Francisco Weber - #451
Francisco Weber, CEO and co-founder of Cortical.io, shares insights into his company's innovative use of semantic folding for natural language processing. He discusses the evolution from traditional NLP methods to a biologically inspired approach, emphasizing data efficiency. The conversation critiques GPT-3's inefficiencies in business applications and highlights the development of contract intelligence tools for lawyers. Francisco also touches on advancements in sentiment analysis and the challenges of automating machine learning workflows.

Jan 25, 2021 • 53min
The Future of Autonomous Systems with Gurdeep Pall - #450
Gurdeep Pall, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, shares his impressive 31-year journey at the company, contributing to projects like Skype for Business. He dives into Microsoft's acquisition of Bonsai, detailing its role in machine teaching for autonomous systems. The conversation highlights the challenges of real-world simulation and decision-making, along with innovative applications in HVAC and aviation. Gurdeep also discusses strategies for achieving ROI on autonomous system investments and emphasizes the importance of safety in advancing these technologies.

Jan 21, 2021 • 36min
AI for Ecology and Ecosystem Preservation with Bryan Carstens - #449
Join Bryan Carstens, a professor at The Ohio State University and leader in biodiversity research, as he dives into the fascinating intersection of machine learning and ecology. Discover how his lab utilizes ML to tackle species formation, uncover genetic insights, and predict conservation risks amidst a looming extinction crisis. Carstens discusses the shift from traditional data collection to digitized methods, the complexities of ecological modeling, and the future of interdisciplinary collaboration in understanding our planet's critical biodiversity.

Jan 18, 2021 • 1h 2min
Off-Line, Off-Policy RL for Real-World Decision Making at Facebook - #448
In this discussion, Jason Gauci, a Software Engineering Manager at Facebook AI, dives into the complexities of their Re-Agent reinforcement learning platform. He highlights its role in real-world decision-making, including user engagement strategies for Facebook notifications. The conversation explores counterfactual causality and safety in social network decision-making. Jason also shares insights on differentiating online/offline training models, emphasizing the impact of reinforcement learning on small businesses and the future of AI in eCommerce.

Jan 14, 2021 • 38min
A Future of Work for the Invisible Workers in A.I. with Saiph Savage - #447
In this engaging conversation, Saiph Savage, a visiting professor and director at multiple institutions, discusses the plight of invisible workers in AI who often go unnoticed. She highlights the emotional and economic challenges these workers face and the importance of empowering them through intelligent tools and community support. Saiph also shares insights from her participatory design work in rural Mexico, advocating for solutions that honor cultural relevance and enhance well-being. It's a thought-provoking look at redefining the future workforce.

Jan 11, 2021 • 1h 14min
Trends in Graph Machine Learning with Michael Bronstein - #446
In this engaging discussion, Michael Bronstein, a professor at Imperial College London and Head of Graph Machine Learning at Twitter, dives into the transformative power of graph machine learning. He shares insights on its applications in diverse fields like physics and bioinformatics, especially in predicting chemical properties for drug discovery. The conversation also touches on ethical considerations in AI, advancements in protein structure prediction, and the exciting future of graph ML in molecule discovery and even translating non-human communications. A must-listen for AI enthusiasts!