Conversations on Applied AI

The conversation this week is with Robert Parker. Robert has engineered some of today's biggest life-changing innovations from Amazon Alexa to Fire TV and Prime music. Robert has disrupted everyday consumer life with voice assistance, and entertainment technology. After serving as a Director of Engineering at Amazon for five years, Robert became the CTO of SmartThings, leading the company's product and engineering teams while building the proprietary platform. From SmartThings Robert teamed up with Alex to develop the newest transformative platform bright AI. As a co-founder, Robert develops the technology that makes industry disruption and extraordinary growth opportunities possible. Prior to creating groundbreaking technologies, Robert spent 18 years as a general manager at Microsoft, as an industry award winner and recognized technical leader, he holds more than 20 patents of his own.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeSmartThingsBrightAIKevin AshtonCSCMIT AI CourseKhan Academy Machine Learning CourseStanford Artificial Intelligence LaboratoryAI for Everyone by Andrew NgEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Miles Porter. Miles is an experienced data scientist focused on image processing, time series analysis, and combinatorial optimization opportunities. He is currently a lead data scientist at Trimble Central AI. He holds a BA in math and did graduate work in applied math at Colorado State. He's worked as a consultant at a range of companies such as Medtronic, BestBuy, and bluestem. Brands. He's also a musician, playing jazz bass and teaching taekwondo. If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeTrimble IncEigenfaceSix SigmaReinforcement learningMike Hugo - Using AI Technologies for Biomedical AnalysisTensorFlowProject Management InstituteTrimble SpotTrimble Dispatch AssistantElectronic Logging DevicesSabina Stanescu - Building Better Products Using Responsible AI and MLOpsAn Introduction to Statistical LearningMiles Porter’s BlogEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Scott Litman. Scott is a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits under his belt and someone whom I highly respect and appreciate for what he has done for the technology community here in the Twin Cities. Currently, he is the co-founder, managing partner, and CRO at Lucy.ai. Lucy is an AI-powered knowledge management platform. You see combed through more data in a minute that an entire team could sift through in a year, unlocking, democratizing, and making it instantly accessible to those who need it. Lucy has earned significant recognition and is being adopted by many of the world's biggest ad agencies and Fortune 1000s. Scott also gives back by being on the board of multiple organizations and a co-founder of the Minnesota Cup. The Minnesota Cup is an annual competition that seeks to support and accelerate the development of the best breakthrough ideas from across Minnesota. They are looking for the next generation and the next entrepreneurial success story in our state. More information on the Minnesota cup can be found at mncup.org. Finally, this is a little bit of a blast from the past. But I'd like to tell people that Scott was one of my first bosses after getting out of college. He absolutely had an impact on me at that young age on how to build a technology business through solid culture and leadership.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeLucy.aiLucy.ai/careersMinnesota CupIndustry 4.0Industrial IoTCaptovation.auSmartThingsEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Francis Brero. Francis is an aspiring hands-on T Rex obsessed with levering science to improve efficiency and effectiveness. He is a data scientist converted to sales along the way. Currently, he helps B2B SaaS companies get the most out of their inbound pipelines by automating the high-cost low leverage work of researching, qualifying, and engaging leads. He's the co-founder and CTO at MadKudu. MadKudu helps SaaS companies increase conversion rates, upsell, and eight and customer retention. It analyzes customer behavior in your app and enriches leads with relevant data to find out what truly makes people engage. It then predicts, which is a word that we like here on the podcast, which customers you should engage with and tells you why and when finally, it recommends actionable next steps to increase conversion and engagement.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeMadKuduAgileOneA Thousand Brains: A New Theory of IntelligenceThe 4-Hour WorkweekGPT-3GitHub CopilotA Whole New MindAlphaGoInstructables.comEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Scott Brown. Scott is a business focus Senior Technology executive with 25 years of experience in transforming organizations, solving complex problems, and building globally distributed systems. He drives cross-functional strategy development, continuous improvement and is committed to growing talent and developing the next generation of leaders. He's currently the CEO of Transfur, Transfur makes it easy to request, send, manage and review veterinary medical records. Unlike other solutions in the market, Transfur leverages many advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, to extract, analyze and present clinically relevant information from an animal's medical records with no software to install. Scott holds a BS in aerospace engineering and as a mentor at the Minnesota emerging software advisory where he provides sea level pro bono mentoring to emerging software companies.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodePeopleSoft ApplicationsMedtronicCaptovationOmnia FishingRedstampWisconsin Alumni Research FoundationHigh AlphaVarsity Venture StudioGreat North LabsTensorFlowAWS DeepLensA.I. For AnyoneTeachable MachineEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Paul Denman. Paul started his career as an engineer focused on new innovative technologies. He is passionate about technology and its integration to solve business problems and has a number of accomplishments in automation, AI, IoT medical device robotics, machine vision, and hard automation. As a member or advisor to corporate leadership, Paul is viewed as a key contributor and collaborator credited with identifying and securing missing links that have improved corporate growth, profitability, and new product sales. Most recently, Paul has been focused on robotics, automation, and machine learning using edge analytics for Industry 4.0. Paul holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeIndustry 4.0MindsphereAbilityAmazon Web Services (AWS)GE Predix PlatformTensorFlowK-Means ClusteringBoon LogicField-programmable gate arrayGartner hype cycleNippon PulseFortranAlphametricsIlluminaInternational Society of AutomationLaboratory Research & Innovation GroupBio-Rad LaboratoriesEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Jeff Coyle.  Jeff is a cross-discipline data-driven inbound marketing executive with 20 plus years of experience managing products and website networks focused on helping companies grow. He's the co-founder and chief strategy officer at Market Muse.  Market Muse is an industry-leading technology and methodology for content planning and evaluation. It combines artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and machine learning algorithms to produce actionable insights for inbound marketers, AI, NLP, and ML. Jeff holds a BS in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a specialization in usability.  And most importantly, Jeff is a co-founder at Silver Bluff Brewing and a 2020 US Open beer championship winner for Silver Bluff Mexican lager.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeMarket MuseSilver Bluff BrewingTechTargetHemingway EditorGrammarlyMarTechGrepWordsMadKudu Data Science StudioEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Josh Braaten. Josh is the CEO of Brandata where he and his team use brand measurement, consumer insights, and growth solutions to turn fast-moving companies into market leaders. Prior to Brand Data, Josh was a Senior Director of Marketing at Lead Pages.  From venture-backed startups to Fortune 500 companies, Josh has developed his skills in high-growth digital marketing environments by working with brands that want to grow fast. As a business consultant, turned technologist turned marketer turned entrepreneur, I can't wait to talk with Josh about his career path and where he sees the future of artificial intelligence going in a variety of industries.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeSnappoo.comGoogle GlassMachine LearningThe TerminatorBlack MirrorThe War on Normal People by Andrew YangGood to Great by Jim CollinsHow Brands Grow by Byron SharpSo You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma OluoCaste by Isabel WilkersonAI for Everyone by Andrew Ng1000 Brains by Jeff HawkinsEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Jacob Solawetz. Jacob is a Machine Learning Lead at RoboFlow where he’s developing and scaling computer vision using autoML model training and deployment. Prior to RoboFlow he was a Senior Quantitative Associate Analyst at Travelers. Jacob holds a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis where he majored in Mathematics, Economics, Philosophy, and Computer Science. That quite a range of things to be studying. I love it! Welcome, Jacob and thank you for being on the program. If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events! Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeComputer VisionMachine LearningLabelingAndrew YangThe War on Normal People1000 BrainsMATLABEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens

The conversation this week is with Eri O'Diah. Eri is a seasoned strategist who has been applying experience as a creative at the intersection of Black, immigrant, millennial, women to deconstruct biased systems and advocate for equitable social outcomes. A leading priority of her work currently, is the study of unconscious bias and how deep learning and emerging technologies can be used to better understand and accelerate the deconstruction of cognitive bias and reduce the impact on marginalized groups.Her career highlights include more than 10 years in marketing, entrepreneurial experience; developing and managing complex projects, being 2019 LLS Woman of the Year Nominee, and named 2020 Emerging Business Owner by the National Association of Women Business Owners - Minnesota Chapter.She is a graduate of California State University Northridge with an extensive background in digital marketing strategy, social media, and web development. In her free time, she can be found in a yoga class or volunteering as the regional director of BDPA-Midwest. Most recently Eri has founded SIID. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, SIID™ Technologies applies big data and emerging technologies to evaluate, uncover, and correct the influence of human biases on decision-making and communication. You can learn more at SIID.AI If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events! Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeMurder of George FloydMinnesota NiceEx-Googler Timnit Gebru Starts Her Own AI Research CenterMITMIT IncubatorNazism1619 ProjectCasteWeapons of Math DestructionEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammens