
Practical AI
Making artificial intelligence practical, productive & accessible to everyone. Practical AI is a show in which technology professionals, business people, students, enthusiasts, and expert guests engage in lively discussions about Artificial Intelligence and related topics (Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Neural Networks, GANs, MLOps, AIOps, LLMs & more).
The focus is on productive implementations and real-world scenarios that are accessible to everyone. If you want to keep up with the latest advances in AI, while keeping one foot in the real world, then this is the show for you!
Latest episodes

57 snips
Nov 13, 2024 • 50min
Creating tested, reliable AI applications
Frustrated by AI's inconsistencies? Discover how to bridge the gap between prototype and production. Explore the challenges of unreliable code in interactive notebooks and learn about innovative testing strategies for robust AI applications. Dive into the latest AI trends and the rise of open-source solutions while uncovering how Timescale integrates with Postgres for seamless AI development. Don't miss the intriguing insights on cutting-edge sleep technology and its potential for improving REM sleep!

21 snips
Nov 5, 2024 • 55min
AI is changing the cybersecurity threat landscape
Gregory Richardson and Ismael Valenzuela from BlackBerry dive into the evolving cybersecurity landscape shaped by AI. They discuss the 'AI standoff' between cyber attackers and defenders, highlighting the critical role of human insight in defense strategies. The duo examines how AI enhances threat detection while emphasizing the importance of not solely relying on technology. They also touch on the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the financial incentives driving cybercrime, calling for a cohesive cybersecurity approach.

17 snips
Oct 29, 2024 • 52min
The path towards trustworthy AI
Elham Tabassi, Chief AI Advisor at NIST, Avthar Suothin from Timescale, and David Hsu, CEO of Retool, dive into the essential topic of trustworthy AI. They discuss NIST's AI Risk Management Framework and its pivotal role in ensuring safe AI development, particularly in sensitive areas like healthcare. The conversation highlights privacy concerns in data management and the importance of transparent frameworks. They also explore the evolution of AI risk management and the significance of community feedback in shaping effective guidelines.

20 snips
Oct 24, 2024 • 50min
Big data is dead, analytics is alive
Till Döhmen, a key contributor at MotherDuck, and Kurt Mackey, CEO of Fly.io, discuss the evolution of analytics beyond the big data hype. They highlight DuckDB's ability to execute rapid analytics queries on local machines, transforming data workflows. The conversation touches on AI's intersection with analytics, exploring topics like text-to-sql and vector search. They also emphasize DuckDB's role in enhancing workflows for data scientists and how it competes with traditional cloud services, offering simpler and more efficient solutions.

30 snips
Oct 15, 2024 • 58min
Practical workflow orchestration
Adam Azzam, a principal product manager at Prefect, and Michael Greenwich, CEO of WorkOS, dive into the complexities of workflow orchestration in AI applications. They discuss how Prefect’s open-source library tackles the pains of managing workflows and introduces tools like Marvin for real-time support. The conversation highlights the importance of error management, visibility in pipelines, and the seamless integration of enterprise features for faster product development, showcasing innovative solutions for modern engineers.

5 snips
Oct 9, 2024 • 57min
Towards high-quality (maybe synthetic) datasets
David Berenstein, a developer advocate engineer at Hugging Face, and Ben Burtenshaw, a machine learning engineer at Argilla, dive into the crucial realm of data quality in AI. They discuss how collaboration between domain experts and data scientists significantly enhances model efficacy. The conversation covers innovative strategies for generating synthetic datasets, utilizing AI for labeling, and maintaining privacy. The duo also shares insights on the importance of effective feedback loops and multimodal data integration for refining AI training.

22 snips
Oct 3, 2024 • 1h 2min
Understanding what's possible, doable & scalable
Mike Lewis, an AI architect from Cincinnati, shares his insights on leveraging LLM and GenAI applications for real enterprise value. He tackles the prevalent AI disillusionment, emphasizing the importance of creativity and understanding client needs. The discussion touches on developing tailored AI solutions, unlocking operational efficiencies, and recognizing AI's broader societal impact. Mike also advocates for empowering non-technical workers with AI knowledge, and highlights the innovative application of AI in enhancing sleep quality with cutting-edge technology.

60 snips
Sep 25, 2024 • 55min
GraphRAG (beyond the hype)
Prashanth Rao, an AI engineer at Kuzu known for his expertise in graph databases, joins the discussion to unravel the complexities of GraphRAG. He delves into the practical applications of graph databases, particularly in healthcare and finance. The conversation highlights how integrating graph and vector databases enhances information retrieval. Prashanth also shares insights on the evolution of retrieval augmented generation, focusing on how advanced techniques can improve the accuracy of AI models.

26 snips
Sep 17, 2024 • 50min
Pausing to think about scikit-learn & OpenAI o1
Discover how scikit-learn's recent seed funding may reshape the data science landscape. Uncover the intrigue behind OpenAI's new model, which pauses to ponder complex tasks. The discussion dives into the vital role of core data science amid AI hype and the challenges of navigating AI’s rapid evolution. Explore its marketing strategies and user interface pitfalls, while also examining AI’s applications in physics research. Plus, there's a passionate plea for the value of open-source tools and community collaboration in advancing knowledge.

41 snips
Sep 11, 2024 • 52min
Cybersecurity in the GenAI age
Dinis Cruz, Founder of The Cyber Boardroom and OWASP contributor, joins the conversation to tackle cybersecurity in the era of generative AI. He discusses the importance of prioritizing security as developers face new threats. Dinis emphasizes OWASP's Top 10 for LLMs and the need for tailored security models to manage AI vulnerabilities. The dialogue reveals the duality of AI, balancing its benefits against risks, and highlights the challenges of misinformation generated by AI, advocating for transparency in addressing these issues.