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

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.

Join Sandor Caetano, Head of Data Science at iFood, Dale Vaz, CTO at Swiggy, Nicolas Guenon from Delivery Hero, and Euro Beinat of Prosus as they dive into the transformative role of machine learning in food delivery. They discuss innovative logistics solutions, like real-time delivery management and personalized recommendations. The panel explores unique challenges in markets like Brazil and India, emphasizing the importance of tailored strategies. Insights on improving customer experiences and tackling fraud reveal how AI is reshaping the industry.

Jeff Gehlhaar, Vice President of Technology at Qualcomm, and Zahra Koochak, Staff Machine Learning Engineer, dive into the exciting world of mobile AI. They unveil advancements in the Snapdragon 865 chipset and discuss the AI Model Efficiency Toolkit designed for edge devices. The duo explores federated learning, enhancing privacy through on-device data processing. With insights into integrating tools like TensorFlow and the MLIR framework, they spotlight collaborations shaping the future of AI efficiency and open-source innovation at Qualcomm.

Sasha Luccioni, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the MILA Institute, delves into the intersection of machine learning and climate change. She discusses how Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are being utilized to visualize climate impacts, shedding light on the technical challenges involved. The conversation also touches on the environmental footprint of AI, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and collaboration in the field. Sasha aims to encourage effective communication around climate issues, making complex data accessible for public understanding.

Burr Settles, Research Director at Duolingo, shares insights from his journey in language learning and machine learning. He discusses how Duolingo uses AI to replicate the benefits of one-on-one tutoring at scale. The conversation delves into the evolution of their business model, the challenges of expanding language courses, and the intricacies of developing AI-driven assessments. Additionally, Burr highlights the importance of engagement strategies and the role of community in enhancing user experiences on the platform.

In this engaging discussion, Artur Yakimovich, co-founder at Artificial Intelligence for Life Sciences and visiting scientist at University College London, dives into the fascinating intersection of AI and life sciences. He shares insights about the challenges in merging biology with computational tools, focusing on his innovative use of deep learning and capsule networks. Artur also highlights the importance of community in this interdisciplinary field, promoting collaboration to tackle complex biological problems, and sheds light on the exciting advancements in virus visualization and data analysis.

Kavita Bala, Dean of Computing and Information Science at Cornell University and research advisor at Facebook, dives into the fascinating world of computer vision and graphics. She discusses GrokStyle, a startup enhancing visual recognition for commerce on Facebook Marketplace. The conversation touches on how social media data is being leveraged to discover global style trends through projects like StreetStyle/GeoStyle. Kavita also highlights the importance of privacy-preserving techniques in technology, addressing cultural implications and innovations in the field.