The TWIML AI Podcast (formerly This Week in Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence)

In this engaging discussion, Meredith Ringo Morris moderates a diverse panel featuring accessibility advocate Chancey Fleet, AI fairness researcher Cynthia Bennett, inclusive design expert Sina Baram, and PhD student Venkatesh Potluri. They delve into the transformative role of AI in enhancing image accessibility for the blind, exploring tools like Microsoft's Seeing AI app. The panel highlights the need for ethical practices, diverse perspectives, and the balance between automated and human-driven solutions to ensure meaningful user experiences. Expect insights on privacy challenges, bias in AI, and the future of inclusivity in tech.

Frank Zhao, Senior Director of Quantamental Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, delves into the fusion of machine learning and finance. He discusses leveraging unstructured data to gain an edge in equity investing, particularly through natural language processing of earnings call transcripts. Zhao explains foundational techniques like sentiment analysis and the importance of addressing biases in investment models. The conversation also covers building scalable data pipelines and the significance of innovative metrics in enhancing predictive analysis for investors.

Salman Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, shares his journey from hedge fund manager to educational innovator. He discusses the impact of the pandemic on education, highlighting the challenges of remote learning and the need for equitable access. Khan explores the potential of AI and machine learning in personalizing educational experiences while advocating for creative solutions to engage diverse learners. His inspiring stories emphasize the transformative power of education and the importance of community support in shaping a brighter future.

Milind Tambe, a professor at Harvard and the Director of AI for Social Good at Google Research India, discusses the intersection of AI and social impact. He delves into how AI enhances public safety and addresses youth homelessness by utilizing data to share health resources in marginalized communities. Tambe also highlights innovative conservation strategies to combat poaching using game theory, and the potential of technology to boost health program adherence in India, further emphasizing AI's role in fostering meaningful community engagement.

Join Jeremy Howard, the founder of Fast.ai and author of 'Deep Learning for Coders,' as he dives into the evolution of AI education. He discusses Fast.ai's advancements and the importance of hands-on tools for aspiring data scientists. Howard reflects on the current state of deep learning and the growing demand for AI skills. The conversation also touches on the significance of community in learning and collaborations, as well as the challenges of promoting awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's an insightful look into the future of machine learning!

In this engaging conversation, Mike del Balso, Co-founder and CEO of Tecton, shares insights on feature stores and their critical role in MLOps. He discusses his journey from creating Uber's ML platform, Michelangelo, to building Tecton. Mike delves into the essential components of an effective machine learning stack and highlights the differences between standalone components and feature stores. The discussion also touches on deployment strategies, the importance of data consistency, and what makes Tecton's offering unique in a competitive landscape.

Suzana Ilić, a computational linguist at Causaly and founder of Machine Learning Tokyo, discusses her unique journey in AI and causality extraction from biomedical text. She reveals the exponential growth of the MLT community and how it evolved beyond her personal project. The conversation covers balancing technical and strategic roles in product management while fostering community-driven research. Suzana also highlights the intersection of linguistics and machine learning, emphasizing collaboration in enhancing NLP technologies.

Shakir Mohamed, Senior Research Scientist at DeepMind and leader of Deep Learning Indaba, explores the vital intersection of AI and decolonization. He discusses his impactful paper 'Decolonial AI' and the distinction from ethical AI, emphasizing the role of community in African machine learning. Shakir highlights collaborations for social good, critiques existing power structures in the field, and underscores the importance of historical perspectives in technology. Join him for an inspiring dialogue on inclusivity and the quest for genuine change in AI.

Adina Trufinescu, a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, shares her expertise in computer vision and spatial analysis. She highlights groundbreaking innovations in real-time video processing that aid in monitoring movements and ensuring social distancing. The discussion touches on responsible AI practices to prevent misuse and the complexities of productizing advanced object detection technologies. Adina also delves into the iterative development of people counting models and the significance of evaluation metrics in enhancing performance accuracy.

Cha Zhang, a Partner Engineering Manager at Microsoft Cloud & AI, dives into the exciting world of optical character recognition (OCR) technology. He discusses how deep learning is transforming OCR from handling basic documents to tackling complex image recognition challenges. Cha addresses traditional hurdles, like accuracy and localization, while exploring the benefits of semi-supervised approaches and neural architecture search. He also highlights innovative tools, like Form Recognizer, that enhance document processing, balancing automation with the essential need for human oversight.