Model

What marketing strategy will work for a startup with AI models to help real estate developers Design to Monetize projects better?

What marketing strategy will work for a startup with AI models to help real estate developers Design to Monetize projects better. PoC has been tested successfully on 4 large scale commercial to residential projects and promised results were delivered. Will Sending out small marketing write up to all the developers in concerned territory help?

Why you should consider using small open source fine-tuned models

Context I want to start off by giving some context on what fine-tuning is, why it's useful and who it would be useful for: What is fine-tuning? When controlling the output of an LLM there are, broadly, three levels. Prompt engineering, RAG and fine-tuning. Most of you are likely familiar with the first two. Prompt engineering is when you try to optimize the prompt to get the model to do what you want better. RAG (retrieval augmented generation) is when you first do a search on some data (usually stored in a vector database which allows you to search by similarity), then you insert the results into the prompt so that the model can use that context to more accurately answer any questions. It's like letting the LLM access external information right before answering, using that additional context to improve its response Fine-tuning is when you want to fundamentally teach a model something new or teach it to behave in a particular way. You would provide the model with high quality data (i.e. inputs and outputs) which it will train on. Why is it useful? At the moment, many of you use the largest and best LLMs because they give the best results. However, for a lot of use cases you are likely using a sledgehammer for a small nail. Does it do a great job? Damn yeah! Well... why not use a smaller hammer? Because it might miss or hit your finger. The solution shouldn't be to use a sledgehammer, but rather to learn how to use a smaller hammer properly so you never miss! That's exactly what fine-tuning a smaller model is like. Once you fine-tune it on a specific task with good high quality data, it can surpass even the best models at that specific task. It'll be 10x cheaper to run, much faster and, if you use an open source model, you'll own the model (no vendor lock-in!). If you run a SaaS and your biggest expense is AI costs then you should definitely consider fine-tuning. It'll take some time to set up but it'll be well worth it in the medium/long term (a bit like SEO). You can always resort to the best models for more complex tasks. How to fine-tune? I'm going to give you a breakdown of the process from beginning to end. You do need to be (a bit) technical in order to do this. Getting the data Let's suppose we want to fine-tune a model to make high-quality SEO content. At the moment, you might be using a large sophisticated prompt or using multiple large LLMs to write different parts or utilizing RAG. This is all slow and expensive but might be giving you great results. Our goal is to replace this with a fine-tuned model that is great at one thing: writing high-quality SEO content quickly at a much lower cost. The first step is gathering the appropriate data. If you want the model to write 3 or 4 paragraphs based on a prompt that contains the topic and a few keywords, then your data should match that. There are a few way you can do this: You can manually gather high-quality SEO content. You'd write the prompt and the response that the model should give. You can use a larger more powerful LLM to generate the content for you (also known as synthetic data). It'll be expensive but remember that it'll be a larger one-off cost to get the data. If you already have a pipeline that works great then you can use the prompts and the generated content that you already have from that pipeline. You can buy a high-quality dataset or get someone to make it for you. The data is the most important part of this process. Remember, garbage in garbage out. Your data needs to have a good variety and should not contain any bad examples. You should aim for around 1000 examples. The more the better! The actual fine-tuning. At this stage you are now ready to choose a model and setup the fine-tuning. If you are unsure I'd stick to the Llama 3.1 family of models. They are great and reliable. There are three models: 8b, 70b and 405b. Depending on the complexity of the task you should select an appropriate size. However, to really reap the cost saving benefits and the speed you should try to stick with the 8b model or the the 70b model if the 8b is not good enough. For our SEO example, let's use the 8b model. Important note on selecting a model: You might see multiple models with the 8b flag. You might see 4bit-bnb or instruct. The instruct version of the models have basically been trained to be chatbots. So if you want to keep the chatbot-like instruction-following functionality then you should use the instruct version as the base. The non-instruct version simply generates text. It won't 'act' like a chatbot which is better for use cases like creative writing. The 4bit-bnb means that the model has been 'quantized'. Basically it has been made 4x smaller (the original is in 16 bits) so that it is faster to download and faster to fine-tune. This slightly reduces the accuracy of the model but it's usually fine for most use cases :) Fine-tuning should be done on a good GPU. CPU aren't good enough. So you can't spin up a droplet on digital ocean and use that. You'll specifically need to spin up a GPU. One website that I think is great is Runpod .io (I am not affiliated with them). You simply pay for the GPU by the hour. If you want the training to be fast you can use the H100, if you want something cheaper but slower you can use the A40. Although the A40 won't be good enough to run the 70b parameter model. For the 405b model you'll need multiple H100s but let's leave that for more advanced use cases. Once you've spun up your H100 and ssh-ed into it. I would recommend using the unsloth open source library to do the fine-tuning. They have great docs and good boilerplate code. You want to train using a method called QLoRA. This won't train the entire model but only "part of it". I don't want to get into the technical details as t3hat isn't important but essentially it's a very efficient and effective way of fine-tuning models. When fine-tuning you can provide something called a 'validation set'. As your model is training it will be tested against the 'validation set' to see how well it's doing. You'll get an 'eval loss' which basically means how well is your model doing when compared with the unseen validation data. If you have 1000 training examples I'd recommend taking out 100-200 so it can act as the validation set. Your model may start off with an eval loss of 1.1 and by the end of the training (e.g. 3 epochs - the number of epochs is the number of times your model will be trained on the entire dataset. It's like reading a book more than once so you can understand it better. Usually 3-5 epochs is enough) the eval loss would drop to 0.6 or 0.7 which means your model has made great progress in learning your dataset! You don't want it to be too low as that means it is literally memorizing which isn't good. Post fine-tuning You'll want to save the model with the best eval loss. You actually won't have the whole model, just something called the "QLoRA adapters". These are basically like the new neurons that contain the "understanding" of the data you trained the model on. You can combine these with the base model (using unsloth again) to prompt the model. You can also (and I recommend this) convert the model to GGUF format (using unsloth again). This basically packages the QLoRA adapters and model together into an optimized format so you can easily and efficiently run it and prompt it (using unsloth again... lol). I would then recommend running some evaluations on the new model. You can do this by simply prompting the new model and a more powerful model (or using your old pipeline) and then asking a powerful model e.g. Claude to judge which is better. If your model consistently does better then you've hit a winner! You can then use runpod again to deploy the model to their serverless AI endpoint so you only pay when it's actually being inferenced. (Again, I'm not affiliated with them) I hope this was useful and you at least got a good idea of what fine-tuning is and how you might go about doing it. By the way, I've just launched a website where you can easily fine-tune Llama 3.1 models. I'm actually hoping to eventually automate this entire process as I believe small fine-tuned models will be much more common in the future. If you want more info, feel free to DM me :)

[Fashion Entrepreneurs] What kind of product images work better - Flatlay, On-mannequin, or On-Model

Hi folks, I am trying to do some market research for what kind of images have a better click-through in the apparel space. For re-selling it seems that - On-model performs worse, especially if its too well done (Purportedly gives out scammy vibes) My thesis is in any other space - On-model should outperform, but is simply cost-prohibitive. Any insights would be great! P.S. I work in this space, and have built an app that uses AI to do fashion photoshoots, just want to do some market research atm. Thanks.

Introduction to Large Language Models for Generative AI

Hey everyone! I've recently written an introduction to large language models for generative ai \- it's a comprehensive introduction to the topic for anyone that is interested! We go over: What language models are How language models are trained The abilities of large language models The scaling of language models And more! Feel free to let me know what you think :)

How do byte-level language models work?

I've recently been trying to pre-train my own small language model on the tiny-series datasets on huggingface: https://huggingface.co/collections/nampdn-ai/tiny-series-6503910fd491144159519c70. I also wanted to use a model similar to MEGABYTE: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2305.07185.pdf, but I don't understand how using bytes would work. The only implementation I could find: https://github.com/lucidrains/MEGABYTE-pytorch used str(chr(max(32, token))) to decode any token (byte) to a character and put the embedding size as 256. Firstly, why 256 and not 256-32 as any values below 32 are ignored? Also, many byte-level models including this and ByteT5 mention that they can process any text sequence even in a multilingual setting, however how would that be true if we are only using one byte, would we have to move to 2 bytes or use an UNK token, and if we did use 2 bytes that would make our embedding size around 65000 which defeats sort of the point as one of the advantages mentioned is that we are able to use a small embedding matrix? Furthermore, most language models add special tokens like bos, eos, unk and even for llama they use beginning of instruction, end of instruction, and more for system instructions, response, context... Should I use something like this as my dataset has some structures where there is a context, instruction and response, and if i did how would I add these if I'm using byte-level encodings? Final questions: Firstly, for the datasets mentioned including code,stories,webtext,... would I tokenise all of these datasets then concatenate them to then randomly sample from, or should i train seperately on each as some like code and webtext are much larger than the others? Finally, for the webtext part of the dataset, there is a passage of text then a passage analysing the text (main ideas,purpose,...), how should I encode this, should I use an extra ANALYSE token or just concatenate? Thank you for reading this far, I am sort of a beginner so if I said something stupid please point it out. Also, if there were unclear parts in my question I'm sorry as I struggled how to word these questions. Any help would be appreciated!

How to implement OpenAI model improvement using user interactions?

Hi, I'm a developer using OpenAI, and I want to improve my fine-tuned model by using user prompts, model responses, and user feedback. I'm new to AI and looking for advice on: What's the best way to store this interaction data? How can I use this stored data to improve the model? Are there any platforms or services that can automate this process? As someone relatively new to AI, I'd really appreciate any insights, recommendations for tools, or best practices you can share. Thanks!

Need Advice on Implementing Reranking Models for an AI-Based Document-Specific Copilot feature

Hey everyone! I'm currently working on an AI-based grant writing system that includes two main features: Main AI: Uses LLMs to generate grant-specific suggestions based on user-uploaded documents. Copilot Feature: Allows document-specific Q&A by utilizing a query format like /{filename} {query} to fetch information from the specified document. Currently, we use FAISS for vector storage and retrieval, with metadata managed through .pkl files. This setup works for similarity-based retrieval of relevant content. However, I’m considering introducing a reranking model to further enhance retrieval accuracy, especially for our Copilot feature. Challenges with Current Setup: Document-Specific Retrieval: We're storing document-specific embeddings and metadata in .pkl files, and retrieval works by first querying FAISS. Objective: Improve the precision of the results retrieved by Copilot when the user requests data from a specific document (e.g., /example.pdf summarize content). Questions for the Community: Is using a reranking model (e.g., BERT-based reranker, MiniLM) a good idea to add another layer of precision for document retrieval, especially when handling specific document requests? If I implement a reranking model, do I still need the structured .pkl files, or can I rely solely on the embeddings and reranking for retrieval? How can I effectively integrate a reranking model into my current FAISS + Langchain setup? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and if you have experience in using reranking models with FAISS or similar, any advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you!

MMML | Deploy HuggingFace training model rapidly based on MetaSpore

A few days ago, HuggingFace announced a $100 million Series C funding round, which was big news in open source machine learning and could be a sign of where the industry is headed. Two days before the HuggingFace funding announcement, open-source machine learning platform MetaSpore released a demo based on the HuggingFace Rapid deployment pre-training model. As deep learning technology makes innovative breakthroughs in computer vision, natural language processing, speech understanding, and other fields, more and more unstructured data are perceived, understood, and processed by machines. These advances are mainly due to the powerful learning ability of deep learning. Through pre-training of deep models on massive data, the models can capture the internal data patterns, thus helping many downstream tasks. With the industry and academia investing more and more energy in the research of pre-training technology, the distribution warehouses of pre-training models such as HuggingFace and Timm have emerged one after another. The open-source community release pre-training significant model dividends at an unprecedented speed. In recent years, the data form of machine modeling and understanding has gradually evolved from single-mode to multi-mode, and the semantic gap between different modes is being eliminated, making it possible to retrieve data across modes. Take CLIP, OpenAI’s open-source work, as an example, to pre-train the twin towers of images and texts on a dataset of 400 million pictures and texts and connect the semantics between pictures and texts. Many researchers in the academic world have been solving multimodal problems such as image generation and retrieval based on this technology. Although the frontier technology through the semantic gap between modal data, there is still a heavy and complicated model tuning, offline data processing, high performance online reasoning architecture design, heterogeneous computing, and online algorithm be born multiple processes and challenges, hindering the frontier multimodal retrieval technologies fall to the ground and pratt &whitney. DMetaSoul aims at the above technical pain points, abstracting and uniting many links such as model training optimization, online reasoning, and algorithm experiment, forming a set of solutions that can quickly apply offline pre-training model to online. This paper will introduce how to use the HuggingFace community pre-training model to conduct online reasoning and algorithm experiments based on MetaSpore technology ecology so that the benefits of the pre-training model can be fully released to the specific business or industry and small and medium-sized enterprises. And we will give the text search text and text search graph two multimodal retrieval demonstration examples for your reference. Multimodal semantic retrieval The sample architecture of multimodal retrieval is as follows: Our multimodal retrieval system supports both text search and text search application scenarios, including offline processing, model reasoning, online services, and other core modules: https://preview.redd.it/mdyyv1qmdz291.png?width=1834&format=png&auto=webp&s=e9e10710794c78c64cc05adb75db385aa53aba40 Offline processing, including offline data processing processes for different application scenarios of text search and text search, including model tuning, model export, data index database construction, data push, etc. Model inference. After the offline model training, we deployed our NLP and CV large models based on the MetaSpore Serving framework. MetaSpore Serving helps us conveniently perform online inference, elastic scheduling, load balancing, and resource scheduling in heterogeneous environments. Online services. Based on MetaSpore’s online algorithm application framework, MetaSpore has a complete set of reusable online search services, including Front-end retrieval UI, multimodal data preprocessing, vector recall and sorting algorithm, AB experimental framework, etc. MetaSpore also supports text search by text and image scene search by text and can be migrated to other application scenarios at a low cost. The HuggingFace open source community has provided several excellent baseline models for similar multimodal retrieval problems, which are often the starting point for actual optimization in the industry. MetaSpore also uses the pre-training model of the HuggingFace community in its online services of searching words by words and images by words. Searching words by words is based on the semantic similarity model of the question and answer field optimized by MetaSpore, and searching images by words is based on the community pre-training model. These community open source pre-training models are exported to the general ONNX format and loaded into MetaSpore Serving for online reasoning. The following sections will provide a detailed description of the model export and online retrieval algorithm services. The reasoning part of the model is standardized SAAS services with low coupling with the business. Interested readers can refer to my previous post: The design concept of MetaSpore, a new generation of the one-stop machine learning platform. 1.1 Offline Processing Offline processing mainly involves the export and loading of online models and index building and pushing of the document library. You can follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the offline processing of text search and image search and see how the offline pre-training model achieves reasoning at MetaSpore. 1.1.1 Search text by text Traditional text retrieval systems are based on literal matching algorithms such as BM25. Due to users’ diverse query words, a semantic gap between query words and documents is often encountered. For example, users misspell “iPhone” as “Phone,” and search terms are incredibly long, such as “1 \~ 3 months old baby autumn small size bag pants”. Traditional text retrieval systems will use spelling correction, synonym expansion, search terms rewriting, and other means to alleviate the semantic gap but fundamentally fail to solve this problem. Only when the retrieval system fully understands users’ query terms and documents can it meet users’ retrieval demands at the semantic level. With the continuous progress of pre-training and representational learning technology, some commercial search engines continue to integrate semantic vector retrieval methods based on symbolic learning into the retrieval ecology. Semantic retrieval model This paper introduces a set of semantic vector retrieval applications. MetaSpore built a set of semantic retrieval systems based on encyclopedia question and answer data. MetaSpore adopted the Sentence-Bert model as the semantic vector representation model, which fine-tunes the twin tower BERT in supervised or unsupervised ways to make the model more suitable for retrieval tasks. The model structure is as follows: The query-Doc symmetric two-tower model is used in text search and question and answer retrieval. The vector representation of online Query and offline DOC share the same vector representation model, so it is necessary to ensure the consistency of the offline DOC library building model and online Query inference model. The case uses MetaSpore’s text representation model Sbert-Chinese-QMC-domain-V1, optimized in the open-source semantically similar data set. This model will express the question and answer data as a vector in offline database construction. The user query will be expressed as a vector by this model in online retrieval, ensuring that query-doc in the same semantic space, users’ semantic retrieval demands can be guaranteed by vector similarity metric calculation. Since the text presentation model does vector encoding for Query online, we need to export the model for use by the online service. Go to the q&A data library code directory and export the model concerning the documentation. In the script, Pytorch Tracing is used to export the model. The models are exported to the “./export “directory. The exported models are mainly ONNX models used for wired reasoning, Tokenizer, and related configuration files. The exported models are loaded into MetaSpore Serving by the online Serving system described below for model reasoning. Since the exported model will be copied to the cloud storage, you need to configure related variables in env.sh. \Build library based on text search \ The retrieval database is built on the million-level encyclopedia question and answer data set. According to the description document, you need to download the data and complete the database construction. The question and answer data will be coded as a vector by the offline model, and then the database construction data will be pushed to the service component. The whole process of database construction is described as follows: Preprocessing, converting the original data into a more general JSonline format for database construction; Build index, use the same model as online “sbert-Chinese-qmc-domain-v1” to index documents (one document object per line); Push inverted (vector) and forward (document field) data to each component server. The following is an example of the database data format. After offline database construction is completed, various data are pushed to corresponding service components, such as Milvus storing vector representation of documents and MongoDB storing summary information of documents. Online retrieval algorithm services will use these service components to obtain relevant data. 1.1.2 Search by text Text and images are easy for humans to relate semantically but difficult for machines. First of all, from the perspective of data form, the text is the discrete ID type of one-dimensional data based on words and words. At the same time, images are continuous two-dimensional or three-dimensional data. Secondly, the text is a subjective creation of human beings, and its expressive ability is vibrant, including various turning points, metaphors, and other expressions, while images are machine representations of the objective world. In short, bridging the semantic gap between text and image data is much more complex than searching text by text. The traditional text search image retrieval technology generally relies on the external text description data of the image or the nearest neighbor retrieval technology and carries out the retrieval through the image associated text, which in essence degrades the problem to text search. However, it will also face many issues, such as obtaining the associated text of pictures and whether the accuracy of text search by text is high enough. The depth model has gradually evolved from single-mode to multi-mode in recent years. Taking the open-source project of OpenAI, CLIP, as an example, train the model through the massive image and text data of the Internet and map the text and image data into the same semantic space, making it possible to implement the text and image search technology based on semantic vector. CLIP graphic model The text search pictures introduced in this paper are implemented based on semantic vector retrieval, and the CLIP pre-training model is used as the two-tower retrieval architecture. Because the CLIP model has trained the semantic alignment of the twin towers’ text and image side models on the massive graphic and text data, it is particularly suitable for the text search graph scene. Due to the different image and text data forms, the Query-Doc asymmetric twin towers model is used for text search image retrieval. The image-side model of the twin towers is used for offline database construction, and the text-side model is used for the online return. In the final online retrieval, the database data of the image side model will be searched after the text side model encodes Query, and the CLIP pre-training model guarantees the semantic correlation between images and texts. The model can draw the graphic pairs closer in vector space by pre-training on a large amount of visual data. Here we need to export the text-side model for online MetaSpore Serving inference. Since the retrieval scene is based on Chinese, the CLIP model supporting Chinese understanding is selected. The exported content includes the ONNX model used for online reasoning and Tokenizer, similar to the text search. MetaSpore Serving can load model reasoning through the exported content. Build library on Image search You need to download the Unsplash Lite library data and complete the construction according to the instructions. The whole process of database construction is described as follows: Preprocessing, specify the image directory, and then generate a more general JSOnline file for library construction; Build index, use OpenAI/Clip-Vit-BASE-Patch32 pre-training model to index the gallery, and output one document object for each line of index data; Push inverted (vector) and forward (document field) data to each component server. Like text search, after offline database construction, relevant data will be pushed to service components, called by online retrieval algorithm services to obtain relevant data. 1.2 Online Services The overall online service architecture diagram is as follows: ​ https://preview.redd.it/nz8zrbbpdz291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=28dae7e031621bc8819519667ed03d8d085d8ace Multi-mode search online service system supports application scenarios such as text search and text search. The whole online service consists of the following parts: Query preprocessing service: encapsulate preprocessing logic (including text/image, etc.) of pre-training model, and provide services through gRPC interface; Retrieval algorithm service: the whole algorithm processing link includes AB experiment tangent flow configuration, MetaSpore Serving call, vector recall, sorting, document summary, etc.; User entry service: provides a Web UI interface for users to debug and track down problems in the retrieval service. From a user request perspective, these services form invocation dependencies from back to front, so to build up a multimodal sample, you need to run each service from front to back first. Before doing this, remember to export the offline model, put it online and build the library first. This article will introduce the various parts of the online service system and make the whole service system step by step according to the following guidance. See the ReadME at the end of this article for more details. 1.2.1 Query preprocessing service Deep learning models tend to be based on tensors, but NLP/CV models often have a preprocessing part that translates raw text and images into tensors that deep learning models can accept. For example, NLP class models often have a pre-tokenizer to transform text data of string type into discrete tensor data. CV class models also have similar processing logic to complete the cropping, scaling, transformation, and other processing of input images through preprocessing. On the one hand, considering that this part of preprocessing logic is decoupled from tensor reasoning of the depth model, on the other hand, the reason of the depth model has an independent technical system based on ONNX, so MetaSpore disassembled this part of preprocessing logic. NLP pretreatment Tokenizer has been integrated into the Query pretreatment service. MetaSpore dismantlement with a relatively general convention. Users only need to provide preprocessing logic files to realize the loading and prediction interface and export the necessary data and configuration files loaded into the preprocessing service. Subsequent CV preprocessing logic will also be integrated in this manner. The preprocessing service currently provides the gRPC interface invocation externally and is dependent on the Query preprocessing (QP) module in the retrieval algorithm service. After the user request reaches the retrieval algorithm service, it will be forwarded to the service to complete the data preprocessing and continue the subsequent processing. The ReadMe provides details on how the preprocessing service is started, how the preprocessing model exported offline to cloud storage enters the service, and how to debug the service. To further improve the efficiency and stability of model reasoning, MetaSpore Serving implements a Python preprocessing submodule. So MetaSpore can provide gRPC services through user-specified preprocessor.py, complete Tokenizer or CV-related preprocessing in NLP, and translate requests into a Tensor that deep models can handle. Finally, the model inference is carried out by MetaSpore, Serving subsequent sub-modules. Presented here on the lot code: https://github.com/meta-soul/MetaSpore/compare/add\python\preprocessor 1.2.2 Retrieval algorithm services Retrieval algorithm service is the core of the whole online service system, which is responsible for the triage of experiments, the assembly of algorithm chains such as preprocessing, recall, sorting, and the invocation of dependent component services. The whole retrieval algorithm service is developed based on the Java Spring framework and supports multi-mode retrieval scenarios of text search and text search graph. Due to good internal abstraction and modular design, it has high flexibility and can be migrated to similar application scenarios at a low cost. Here’s a quick guide to configuring the environment to set up the retrieval algorithm service. See ReadME for more details: Install dependent components. Use Maven to install the online-Serving component Search for service configurations. Copy the template configuration file and replace the MongoDB, Milvus, and other configurations based on the development/production environment. Install and configure Consul. Consul allows you to synchronize the search service configuration in real-time, including cutting the flow of experiments, recall parameters, and sorting parameters. The project’s configuration file shows the current configuration parameters of text search and text search. The parameter modelName in the stage of pretreatment and recall is the corresponding model exported in offline processing. Start the service. Once the above configuration is complete, the retrieval service can be started from the entry script. Once the service is started, you can test it! For example, for a user with userId=10 who wants to query “How to renew ID card,” access the text search service. 1.2.3 User Entry Service Considering that the retrieval algorithm service is in the form of the API interface, it is difficult to locate and trace the problem, especially for the text search image scene can intuitively display the retrieval results to facilitate the iterative optimization of the retrieval algorithm. This paper provides a lightweight Web UI interface for text search and image search, a search input box, and results in a display page for users. Developed by Flask, the service can be easily integrated with other retrieval applications. The service calls the retrieval algorithm service and displays the returned results on the page. It’s also easy to install and start the service. Once you’re done, go to http://127.0.0.1:8090 to see if the search UI service is working correctly. See the ReadME at the end of this article for details. Multimodal system demonstration The multimodal retrieval service can be started when offline processing and online service environment configuration have been completed following the above instructions. Examples of textual searches are shown below. Enter the entry of the text search map application, enter “cat” first, and you can see that the first three digits of the returned result are cats: https://preview.redd.it/d7syq47rdz291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=b43df9abd380b7d9a52e3045dd787f4feeb69635 If you add a color constraint to “cat” to retrieve “black cat,” you can see that it does return a black cat: ​ https://preview.redd.it/aa7pxx8tdz291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=e3727c29d1bde6eea2e1cccf6c46d3cae3f4750e Further, strengthen the constraint on the search term, change it to “black cat on the bed,” and return results containing pictures of a black cat climbing on the bed: ​ https://preview.redd.it/2mw4qpjudz291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=1cf1db667892b9b3a40451993680fbd6980b5520 The cat can still be found through the text search system after the color and scene modification in the above example. Conclusion The cutting-edge pre-training technology can bridge the semantic gap between different modes, and the HuggingFace community can greatly reduce the cost for developers to use the pre-training model. Combined with the technological ecology of MetaSpore online reasoning and online microservices provided by DMetaSpore, the pre-training model is no longer mere offline dabbling. Instead, it can truly achieve end-to-end implementation from cutting-edge technology to industrial scenarios, fully releasing the dividends of the pre-training large model. In the future, DMetaSoul will continue to improve and optimize the MetaSpore technology ecosystem: More automated and wider access to HuggingFace community ecology. MetaSpore will soon release a common model rollout mechanism to make HuggingFace ecologically accessible and will later integrate preprocessing services into online services. Multi-mode retrieval offline algorithm optimization. For multimodal retrieval scenarios, MetaSpore will continuously iteratively optimize offline algorithm components, including text recall/sort model, graphic recall/sort model, etc., to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the retrieval algorithm. For related code and reference documentation in this article, please visit: https://github.com/meta-soul/MetaSpore/tree/main/demo/multimodal/online Some images source: https://github.com/openai/CLIP/raw/main/CLIP.png https://www.sbert.net/examples/training/sts/README.html

Training a custom AI model specifically for logistics documents

In today's fast-paced business landscape, efficient supply chain management is crucial for success. One often overlooked aspect is document processing, which plays a vital role in ensuring seamless operations. 📦🌐 This article provides a step-by-step tutorial on training a custom AI model specifically for logistics documents. It explains the process of creating a custom training dataset, training the model, and integrating it into workflows without any coding expertise required. 🎓📊 🎯 The tutorial also introduces the UBIAI Text Annotation Tool, which simplifies the labeling and training process. It also highlights the AI Builder tool for deploying the trained model into production and includes examples of bill of lading and logistic invoices, demonstrating the effectiveness of the custom AI model. 🛠️💻 🔍 If you're interested in automating data extraction from logistics documents and want to learn more, you can find the full article here: [https://ubiai.tools/intelligent-document-extraction-for-logistics-and-supply-chain/ ] #SupplyChainManagement #DocumentProcessing #LogisticsTech #AIinLogistics #Automation #Efficiency #WorkflowIntegration #UBIAITextAnnotationTool #AIBuilder #DataExtraction #DigitalTransformation #SeamlessOperations #BusinessProductivity #TechTutorial #LogisticsIndustry #SupplyChainOptimization #Innovation #RedditorsUnite

What AI models can I build to automate processes in the architecture field?

An architecture company that builds hospitals, villas, and towers. They want to integrate AI/ML into their workflow to automate processes and improve efficiency they don't have a specific area to automate but they want to follow the wave and add ai.I’m looking for suggestions on AI models/ agents or tools that can help automate the processes: What AI/ML models would you recommend ? Are there any existing tools or frameworks ( generative 3d design from 2d, 3d rendring, NLP, predictive analytics) that I should explore? Do you have examples of how AI has been successfully applied in architecture or construction? Any advice, resources, or examples would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Can I Download and Deploy a Custom AI Model Trained in Power Automate AI Builder?

Hello, I'm currently working on a project where I need to extract specific information from a large number of PDF documents—such as locations, addresses, machine types, etc. I’m using Power Automate AI Builder, which lets me label hundreds of PDFs and create collections for different document layouts. It’s a great tool for training a model to handle these tasks, but it seems like I can't download the trained model or deploy it outside of the Microsoft ecosystem (e.g., using it with Python or other platforms). The problem is, I need a model that can handle processing thousands of PDF files with varying layouts. The goal is to have a model that I can integrate with Python, and potentially, in the future, embed into a website or other applications. I'm aware of other tools like Google Document AI and Azure, but I’m wondering if these or other platforms allow the same kind of training process while also giving me the ability to download and use the model externally. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to try out these tools or alternatives because most of them require payment before you can experiment with them. Does anyone know if Google Document AI, Azure, or any other platforms offer this capability? Or any suggestions for other tools that might meet these needs? Any recommendations or insights would be greatly appreciated!

Why no code tools for building ai models failed?

Business folks have tasks where neural networks could help but they don’t know Python or deep learning, right? Meanwhile ML engineers know AI models but often don’t have an actual problem to solve. So the first group hires the second. Same thing happened with websites a while ago—at first you had to code everything then came drag-and-drop editors, no-code tools, and now even this "vibe coding" stuff. It’s not the most flexible or maintainable, but it works for a lot of people who just need to get something done without spending months learning to code. So why isn’t the same thing happening with building AI models? Like if I run a business I could save a ton of money by automating manual tasks with models trained on my own data. But I have zero clue what Jupyter Notebook or Keras are, and honestly, I don’t want to know. So I have to hire an ML engineer just to get it done because there’s no viable no-code solution for this.

Why no code tools for building ai models failed?

Business folks have tasks where neural networks could help but they don’t know Python or deep learning, right? Meanwhile ML engineers know AI models but often don’t have an actual problem to solve. So the first group hires the second. Same thing happened with websites a while ago—at first you had to code everything then came drag-and-drop editors, no-code tools, and now even this "vibe coding" stuff. It’s not the most flexible or maintainable, but it works for a lot of people who just need to get something done without spending months learning to code. So why isn’t the same thing happening with building AI models? Like if I run a business I could save a ton of money by automating manual tasks with models trained on my own data. But I have zero clue what Jupyter Notebook or Keras are, and honestly, I don’t want to know. So I have to hire an ML engineer just to get it done because there’s no viable no-code solution for this.

[P] How I found & fixed 4 bugs in Microsoft's Phi-4 model

Hey r/MachineLearning! Last week, Microsoft released Phi-4, a 14B open-source model that rivals OpenAI's GPT-4-o-mini. I managed to find & fix 4 bugs impacting its output quality. You might remember me previously from fixing 8 bugs in Google's Gemma model! :) I'm going to walk you through how I found & fixed the bugs. Phi-4's benchmarks were amazing, however many users reported weird or just wrong outputs. Since I maintain the open-source project called 'Unsloth' (fine-tuning LLMs 2x faster with 70% less VRAM) with my brother, I firstly tested Phi-4 for inference and found many errors. Our GitHub repo: https://github.com/unslothai/unsloth This time, the model had no implementation issues (unlike Gemma 2) but did have problems in the model card. For my first inference run, I randomly found an extra token which is obviously incorrect (2 eos tokens is never a good idea). Also during more runs, I found there was an extra assistant prompt which is once again incorrect. And, lastly, from past experience with Unsloth's bug fixes, I already knew fine-tuning was wrong when I read the code. These bugs caused Phi-4 to have some drop in accuracy and also broke fine-tuning runs. Our fixes are now under review by Microsoft to be officially added to Hugging Face. We uploaded the fixed versions to https://huggingface.co/unsloth/phi-4-GGUF Here’s a breakdown of the bugs and their fixes: Tokenizer bug fixes The Phi-4 tokenizer interestingly uses as the BOS (beginning of sentence), EOS (end of sentence) and PAD (padding) tokens. The main issue is the EOS token is wrong - it should be . Otherwise, you will get in generations. Fine-tuning bug fixes The padding token should be a designated pad token like in Llama () or we can use an untrained token - for example we use , fixing infinite generations and outputs. Chat template issues The Phi-4 tokenizer always adds an assistant prompt - it should only do this if prompted by add\generation\prompt. Most LLM serving libraries expect non auto assistant additions, and this might cause issues during serving. We dive deeper into the bugs in our blog: https://unsloth.ai/blog/phi4 Do our Fixes Work? Yes! Our fixed Phi-4 uploads show clear performance gains, with even better scores than Microsoft's original uploads on the Open LLM Leaderboard. https://preview.redd.it/d8hew26e06ce1.png?width=2366&format=png&auto=webp&s=173c23feacc625566271470839fe7a5e25eb860e Some redditors even tested our fixes to show greatly improved results in: Example 1: Multiple-choice tasks https://preview.redd.it/qx50pkq706ce1.png?width=1579&format=png&auto=webp&s=437da2cabdbf98ef5a8b8cbdc5592907a20e2316 Example 2: ASCII art generation https://preview.redd.it/sw1o3a3yt4de1.png?width=2326&format=png&auto=webp&s=fc6bfc45d14134d45f332ba58bbd1de049f5776b We also made a Colab notebook fine-tune Phi-4 completely for free using Google's free Tesla T4 (16GB) GPUs: https://colab.research.google.com/github/unslothai/notebooks/blob/main/nb/Phi\4-Conversational.ipynb Thank you for reading this long post and hope you all found this insightful! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! :) How I found the bugs: I first downloaded the original Phi-4 from https://huggingface.co/microsoft/phi-4, and tested inference out. Weirdly I found assistant to be appended at the even with addgenerationprompt = False in Hugging Face, so I theorized there was a chat template problem. Adding assistant prompts by default can break serving libraries. And yes, https://huggingface.co/microsoft/phi-4/blob/f957856cd926f9d681b14153374d755dd97e45ed/tokenizer\config.json#L774 had by default added the assistant prompt - I first fixed this! I then found ` to be used for the BOS, EOS and PAD tokens, which is a common issue amongst models - I ignored the BOS, since Phi-4 did not have one anyways, but changed the PAD token to `. You can select any of the tokens since they're empty and not trained. This counteracts issues of infinite generations during finetuning. For Llama-fication, I used torch.allclose to confirm all tensors are in fact equivalent. I also used some fake random data to check all activations are also mostly similar bitwise. I also uploaded the model to the HF Open LLM Leaderboard to confirm if the original Phi-4 arch and the new Llama-fied models are equivalent. Finally I verified all finetuning runs with Unsloth in a Colab Notebook to confirm all runs were correct.

[N] No-code AI: Former Microsoft and Salesforce execs reveal new ‘machine teaching’ startup Intelus - Build your model and label at the same time.

Hi! We have opened up our new labeling AI tool to try for free. Their team pioneered the machine teaching concept and the approach allows you to automatically select and generate labels and create a model for labeling more data at the same time. Try it and let us know what you think. \-Intelus.ai GeekWire: https://www.geekwire.com/2021/no-code-ai-former-microsoft-and-salesforce-execs-reveal-new-machine-teaching-startup-intelus/

[N] OpenAI's new language model gpt-3.5-turbo-instruct can defeat chess engine Fairy-Stockfish 14 at level 5

This Twitter thread (Nitter alternative for those who aren't logged into Twitter and want to see the full thread) claims that OpenAI's new language model gpt-3.5-turbo-instruct can "readily" beat Lichess Stockfish level 4 (Lichess Stockfish level and its rating) and has a chess rating of "around 1800 Elo." This tweet shows the style of prompts that are being used to get these results with the new language model. I used website parrotchess\[dot\]com (discovered here) (EDIT: parrotchess doesn't exist anymore, as of March 7, 2024) to play multiple games of chess purportedly pitting this new language model vs. various levels at website Lichess, which supposedly uses Fairy-Stockfish 14 according to the Lichess user interface. My current results for all completed games: The language model is 5-0 vs. Fairy-Stockfish 14 level 5 (game 1, game 2, game 3, game 4, game 5), and 2-5 vs. Fairy-Stockfish 14 level 6 (game 1, game 2, game 3, game 4, game 5, game 6, game 7). Not included in the tally are games that I had to abort because the parrotchess user interface stalled (5 instances), because I accidentally copied a move incorrectly in the parrotchess user interface (numerous instances), or because the parrotchess user interface doesn't allow the promotion of a pawn to anything other than queen (1 instance). Update: There could have been up to 5 additional losses - the number of times the parrotchess user interface stalled - that would have been recorded in this tally if this language model resignation bug hadn't been present. Also, the quality of play of some online chess bots can perhaps vary depending on the speed of the user's hardware. The following is a screenshot from parrotchess showing the end state of the first game vs. Fairy-Stockfish 14 level 5: https://preview.redd.it/4ahi32xgjmpb1.jpg?width=432&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7fbb68371ca4257bed15ab2828fab58047f194a4 The game results in this paragraph are from using parrotchess after the forementioned resignation bug was fixed. The language model is 0-1 vs. Fairy-Stockfish level 7 (game 1), and 0-1 vs. Fairy-Stockfish 14 level 8 (game 1). There is one known scenario (Nitter alternative) in which the new language model purportedly generated an illegal move using language model sampling temperature of 0. Previous purported illegal moves that the parrotchess developer examined turned out (Nitter alternative) to be due to parrotchess bugs. There are several other ways to play chess against the new language model if you have access to the OpenAI API. The first way is to use the OpenAI Playground as shown in this video. The second way is chess web app gptchess\[dot\]vercel\[dot\]app (discovered in this Twitter thread / Nitter thread). Third, another person modified that chess web app to additionally allow various levels of the Stockfish chess engine to autoplay, resulting in chess web app chessgpt-stockfish\[dot\]vercel\[dot\]app (discovered in this tweet). Results from other people: a) Results from hundreds of games in blog post Debunking the Chessboard: Confronting GPTs Against Chess Engines to Estimate Elo Ratings and Assess Legal Move Abilities. b) Results from 150 games: GPT-3.5-instruct beats GPT-4 at chess and is a \~1800 ELO chess player. Results of 150 games of GPT-3.5 vs stockfish and 30 of GPT-3.5 vs GPT-4. Post #2. The developer later noted that due to bugs the legal move rate was actually above 99.9%. It should also be noted that these results didn't use a language model sampling temperature of 0, which I believe could have induced illegal moves. c) Chess bot gpt35-turbo-instruct at website Lichess. d) Chess bot konaz at website Lichess. From blog post Playing chess with large language models: Computers have been better than humans at chess for at least the last 25 years. And for the past five years, deep learning models have been better than the best humans. But until this week, in order to be good at chess, a machine learning model had to be explicitly designed to play games: it had to be told explicitly that there was an 8x8 board, that there were different pieces, how each of them moved, and what the goal of the game was. Then it had to be trained with reinforcement learning agaist itself. And then it would win. This all changed on Monday, when OpenAI released GPT-3.5-turbo-instruct, an instruction-tuned language model that was designed to just write English text, but that people on the internet quickly discovered can play chess at, roughly, the level of skilled human players. Post Chess as a case study in hidden capabilities in ChatGPT from last month covers a different prompting style used for the older chat-based GPT 3.5 Turbo language model. If I recall correctly from my tests with ChatGPT-3.5, using that prompt style with the older language model can defeat Stockfish level 2 at Lichess, but I haven't been successful in using it to beat Stockfish level 3. In my tests, both the quality of play and frequency of illegal attempted moves seems to be better with the new prompt style with the new language model compared to the older prompt style with the older language model. Related article: Large Language Model: world models or surface statistics? P.S. Since some people claim that language model gpt-3.5-turbo-instruct is always playing moves memorized from the training dataset, I searched for data on the uniqueness of chess positions. From this video, we see that for a certain game dataset there were 763,331,945 chess positions encountered in an unknown number of games without removing duplicate chess positions, 597,725,848 different chess positions reached, and 582,337,984 different chess positions that were reached only once. Therefore, for that game dataset the probability that a chess position in a game was reached only once is 582337984 / 763331945 = 76.3%. For the larger dataset cited in that video, there are approximately (506,000,000 - 200,000) games in the dataset (per this paper), and 21,553,382,902 different game positions encountered. Each game in the larger dataset added a mean of approximately 21,553,382,902 / (506,000,000 - 200,000) = 42.6 different chess positions to the dataset. For this different dataset of \~12 million games, \~390 million different chess positions were encountered. Each game in this different dataset added a mean of approximately (390 million / 12 million) = 32.5 different chess positions to the dataset. From the aforementioned numbers, we can conclude that a strategy of playing only moves memorized from a game dataset would fare poorly because there are not rarely new chess games that have chess positions that are not present in the game dataset.

[P] I Trained a Model to Generate Video Game Pages

These past two months I've been working on a project I've called THIS GAME DOES NOT EXIST. I've always wanted to try building something with generative A.I. so this project scratched that itch for me. Here's a video with a few of my favourites read by voice actors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\mTWMLhpJoA ​ THIS GAME DOES NOT EXIST is an experiment in generative artificial intelligence. This site contains 130 video game pages that were generated using an implementation of OpenAI's Generative Pre-trained Transformer 2 (GPT-2) to generate text and a simple implementation of generative adversarial networks (GAN) to generate header images and "screenshots". To generate the names, descriptions, publishers, and developers of the games I finetuned the HuggingFace implementation of GPT-2. I used the Steam Store Games (Clean dataset) from Kaggle with slight modifications and preprocessing.Here is what one training sample looks like: Half-LifeValve ValveNamed Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve's debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players must think to survive. Also includes an exciting multiplayer mode that allows you to play against friends and enemies around the world. The model uses the tokens (e.g. and ) to prompt each class of data while keeping context during the entire generation. Image generation was done by training a custom GAN very similar to the architecture seen in the PyTorch DCGAN Tutorial which was built to generate faces. I created two models for this site: one for generating the header images and one for generating multiple screenshots for each game.To assemble the dataset I wrote a script that downloads the images from the URLs in the Steam Store Games (Clean dataset) dataset. Due to my lack of resources and time to put into this project, the image generation is less than ideal. You may notice though, that the header image model will generate artifacts in images that look like the titles of games, and the screenshot image model with generate what looks like levels of a 2D platformer.

[P] Evaluating several topic modeling implementations. What's the current best practice? BERTopic? OpenAI Ada-002?

I have a set of \~100 topic categories, and I want to determine which are semantically close to a text input. I've found several implementations, but I know some (LDA) are already obsolete. OpenAI's text-embedding-ada-002 model just came out so I'm wondering if that's the best option now. Other topic modeling implementations: Multi-Class Text Classification with Doc2Vec & Logistic Regression Build taxonomy-based contextual targeting using AWS Media Intelligence and Hugging Face BERT Topic Modeling with BERTopic

[N] Implementing AI/ML Models From Scratch (stylepoint)

Hi folks, I am stylepoint. Currently work as an ML Research Scientist in academia. I have recently created a YouTube channel and started the YouTube video series called "Implement," where I will be implementing software (duh!). I will first implement machine learning and deep learning algorithms and models from scratch (means using Python with numpy, but no other third-party libraries/modules). My assumptions for AI/ML videos: One is familiar with the theory One is familiar with Python This is since for AI/ML, Python is the language of choice for many (including myself) Due to these assumptions, videos tend to be approximately 10 - 15 minutes long. So it should not be too hard to digest. As of now, only one video has been released, but more to come! And we will definitely not limit ourselves to only implementing AI/ML models. I will be making videos about software engineering, software design, programming languages, math, emerging technologies, etc. as well! Just wanted to share this in case anyone finds the series interesting or helpful. Thanks y'all! Links: YouTube GitHub Web First video (Implementing Gaussian Naive Bayes from Scratch) UPDATE: Another video: Implementing K-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) from Scratch

[D] Accessibility of Basic Models to Non-Technicals

Hello /r/machinelearning! I'm doing some research on easily generated models by non-technical/statistical people. It would be awesome if some of you could answer a quick questionnaire: If you're a machine learning developer/data scientist etc.: a) Has your manager/product lead etc. ever insist that you build a model on a correlation you felt wasn't there? b) Do you think if that people had a way to verify the lack of correlation through a naive model (random forest, svc, etc.) that it would have changed the situation? (Or, if you were able to show them the results) c) Would you want this technology for yourself, or wish that your company would have access to it? If you're a non-technical person (small business developer, student, non-tech entrepreneur, etc.): a) Have you ever not pursued a potential machine learning/data solution or feature because you weren't willing to invest the resources to see if it was viable? b) Would being able to verify correlations in your data (or lack thereof!) entice you to pursue possible machine learning solutions? c) Even if your previous answers were no, would you be interested in having this technology? Thanks in advance for all of the responses, I will personally read and respond to each one of you thoughtful enough to give me a response. Also, I hope this post will spark an interesting conversation about the barrier of entry to AI/machine learning.

[N] TheSequence Scope: When it comes to machine learning, size matters: Microsoft's DeepSpeed framework, which can train a model with up to a trillion parameters

Hi there! Offering to your attention the latest edition of a weekly ML-newsletter that focusing on three things: impactful ML research papers, cool ML tech solutions, and ML use cases supported by investors. Please, see it below. Reddit is a new thing for me, and I've been struggling a bit with it, so please don't judge me too harsh for this promotion. This weekly digest is free and I hope you'd find the format convenient for you. Your feedback is very appreciated, and please feel free to sign up if you like it. 📝 Editorial  The recent emergence of pre-trained language models and transformer architectures pushed the creation of larger and larger machine learning models. Google’s BERT presented attention mechanism and transformer architecture possibilities as the “next big thing” in ML, and the numbers seem surreal. OpenAI’s GPT-2 set a record by processing 1.5 billion parameters, followed by Microsoft’s Turing-NLG, which processed 17 billion parameters just to see the new GPT-3 processing an astonishing 175 billion parameters. To not feel complacent, just this week Microsoft announced a new release of its DeepSpeed framework (which powers Turing-NLG), which can train a model with up to a trillion parameters. That sounds insane but it really isn’t.   What we are seeing is a consequence of several factors. First, computation power and parallelization techniques have evolved to a point where it is relatively easy to train machine learning models in large clusters of machines. Second and most importantly, in the current state of machine learning, larger models have regularly outperformed smaller and more specialized models. Knowledge reusability methods like transfer learning are still in very nascent stages. As a result, it’s really hard to build small models that can operate in uncertain environments. Furthermore, as models like GPT-3 and Turing-NLG have shown, there is some unexplainable magic that happens after models go past a certain size. Many of the immediate machine learning problems might be solved by scaling the current generation of neural network architectures. Plain and simple, when it comes to machine learning, size matters.   We would love to hear your opinions about the debate between broader-larger vs. smaller and more specialized models.   Leave a comment Now, to the most important developments in the AI industry this week 🔎 ML Research GPT-3 Falls Short in Machine Comprehension Proposed by researchers from a few major American universities, a 57-task test to measure models’ ability to reason poses challenges even for sophisticated models like GPT-3 ->read more in the original paper Better Text Summarization OpenAI published a paper showing a reinforcement learning with human feedback technique that can surpass supervised models ->read more on OpenAI blog Reinforcement Learning with Offline Datasets Researchers from the Berkeley AI Research (BAIR) Lab published a paper unveiling a method that uses offline datasets to improve reinforcement learning models->read more on BAIR blog 🤖 Cool AI Tech Releases New Version of DeepSpeed Microsoft open-sourced a new version of DeepSpeed, an open-source library for parallelizable training that can scale up to models with 1 trillion parameters->read more on Microsoft Research blog 💸 Money in AI AI-powered customer experience management platform Sprinklr has raised $200 million (kudos to our subscribers from Sprinklr 👏). Sprinklr's “AI listening processing” solution allows companies to get structured and meaningful sentiments and insights from unstructured customer data that comes from public conversations on different websites and social platforms. Xometry, an on-demand industrial parts marketplace, raises $75 million in Series E funding. The company provides a digital way of creating the right combination of buyers and manufacturers. Another example of AI implementation into matching two sides for a deal. Real estate tech company Orchard raises $69 million in its recent funding round. Orchard aims to digitize the whole real estate market, by developing a solution that combines machine learning and rapid human assistance to smooth the search, match the right deal, and simplify buying and selling relationships. Cybersecurity startup Pcysys raised $25 million in its funding round. Pcysys’ platform, which doesn’t require installation or network reconfiguration, uses algorithms to scan and “ethically” attack enterprise networks. Robotics farming company Iron Ox raised $20 million in a funding round. The system of farming robots is still semi-autonomous, the company’s goal is to become fully autonomous.  Insurtech company Descartes Underwriting raised $18.5 million. The company applies AI and machine learning technologies to climate risk predicting and insurance underwriting. Legaltech startup ThoughtRiver raised $10 million in its Series A round. Its AI solution applied to contract pre-screening aims to boost operational efficiency. Medtech startup Skin Analytics raised $5.1 million in Series A funding. Skin Analytics has developed a clinically validated AI system that can identify not only the important skin cancers but also precancerous lesions that can be treated, as well as a range of lesions that are benign. Amazon, along with several government organizations and three other industry partners, helped fund the National Science Foundation, a high-priority AI research initiative. The amount of funding is not disclosed. The content of TheSequence is written by Jesus Rodriguez, one of the most-read contributors to KDNuggets and TDS. You can check his Medium here.

[P]MMML | Deploy HuggingFace training model rapidly based on MetaSpore

A few days ago, HuggingFace announced a $100 million Series C funding round, which was big news in open source machine learning and could be a sign of where the industry is headed. Two days before the HuggingFace funding announcement, open-source machine learning platform MetaSpore released a demo based on the HuggingFace Rapid deployment pre-training model. As deep learning technology makes innovative breakthroughs in computer vision, natural language processing, speech understanding, and other fields, more and more unstructured data are perceived, understood, and processed by machines. These advances are mainly due to the powerful learning ability of deep learning. Through pre-training of deep models on massive data, the models can capture the internal data patterns, thus helping many downstream tasks. With the industry and academia investing more and more energy in the research of pre-training technology, the distribution warehouses of pre-training models such as HuggingFace and Timm have emerged one after another. The open-source community release pre-training significant model dividends at an unprecedented speed. In recent years, the data form of machine modeling and understanding has gradually evolved from single-mode to multi-mode, and the semantic gap between different modes is being eliminated, making it possible to retrieve data across modes. Take CLIP, OpenAI’s open-source work, as an example, to pre-train the twin towers of images and texts on a dataset of 400 million pictures and texts and connect the semantics between pictures and texts. Many researchers in the academic world have been solving multimodal problems such as image generation and retrieval based on this technology. Although the frontier technology through the semantic gap between modal data, there is still a heavy and complicated model tuning, offline data processing, high performance online reasoning architecture design, heterogeneous computing, and online algorithm be born multiple processes and challenges, hindering the frontier multimodal retrieval technologies fall to the ground and pratt &whitney. DMetaSoul aims at the above technical pain points, abstracting and uniting many links such as model training optimization, online reasoning, and algorithm experiment, forming a set of solutions that can quickly apply offline pre-training model to online. This paper will introduce how to use the HuggingFace community pre-training model to conduct online reasoning and algorithm experiments based on MetaSpore technology ecology so that the benefits of the pre-training model can be fully released to the specific business or industry and small and medium-sized enterprises. And we will give the text search text and text search graph two multimodal retrieval demonstration examples for your reference. Multimodal semantic retrieval The sample architecture of multimodal retrieval is as follows: Our multimodal retrieval system supports both text search and text search application scenarios, including offline processing, model reasoning, online services, and other core modules: ​ https://preview.redd.it/w4v4c7vcez291.png?width=1834&format=png&auto=webp&s=0687efb1fddb26e8e30cb844d398ec712b947f31 Offline processing, including offline data processing processes for different application scenarios of text search and text search, including model tuning, model export, data index database construction, data push, etc. Model inference. After the offline model training, we deployed our NLP and CV large models based on the MetaSpore Serving framework. MetaSpore Serving helps us conveniently perform online inference, elastic scheduling, load balancing, and resource scheduling in heterogeneous environments. Online services. Based on MetaSpore’s online algorithm application framework, MetaSpore has a complete set of reusable online search services, including Front-end retrieval UI, multimodal data preprocessing, vector recall and sorting algorithm, AB experimental framework, etc. MetaSpore also supports text search by text and image scene search by text and can be migrated to other application scenarios at a low cost. The HuggingFace open source community has provided several excellent baseline models for similar multimodal retrieval problems, which are often the starting point for actual optimization in the industry. MetaSpore also uses the pre-training model of the HuggingFace community in its online services of searching words by words and images by words. Searching words by words is based on the semantic similarity model of the question and answer field optimized by MetaSpore, and searching images by words is based on the community pre-training model. These community open source pre-training models are exported to the general ONNX format and loaded into MetaSpore Serving for online reasoning. The following sections will provide a detailed description of the model export and online retrieval algorithm services. The reasoning part of the model is standardized SAAS services with low coupling with the business. Interested readers can refer to my previous post: The design concept of MetaSpore, a new generation of the one-stop machine learning platform. 1.1 Offline Processing Offline processing mainly involves the export and loading of online models and index building and pushing of the document library. You can follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the offline processing of text search and image search and see how the offline pre-training model achieves reasoning at MetaSpore. 1.1.1 Search text by text Traditional text retrieval systems are based on literal matching algorithms such as BM25. Due to users’ diverse query words, a semantic gap between query words and documents is often encountered. For example, users misspell “iPhone” as “Phone,” and search terms are incredibly long, such as “1 \~ 3 months old baby autumn small size bag pants”. Traditional text retrieval systems will use spelling correction, synonym expansion, search terms rewriting, and other means to alleviate the semantic gap but fundamentally fail to solve this problem. Only when the retrieval system fully understands users’ query terms and documents can it meet users’ retrieval demands at the semantic level. With the continuous progress of pre-training and representational learning technology, some commercial search engines continue to integrate semantic vector retrieval methods based on symbolic learning into the retrieval ecology. Semantic retrieval model This paper introduces a set of semantic vector retrieval applications. MetaSpore built a set of semantic retrieval systems based on encyclopedia question and answer data. MetaSpore adopted the Sentence-Bert model as the semantic vector representation model, which fine-tunes the twin tower BERT in supervised or unsupervised ways to make the model more suitable for retrieval tasks. The model structure is as follows: The query-Doc symmetric two-tower model is used in text search and question and answer retrieval. The vector representation of online Query and offline DOC share the same vector representation model, so it is necessary to ensure the consistency of the offline DOC library building model and online Query inference model. The case uses MetaSpore’s text representation model Sbert-Chinese-QMC-domain-V1, optimized in the open-source semantically similar data set. This model will express the question and answer data as a vector in offline database construction. The user query will be expressed as a vector by this model in online retrieval, ensuring that query-doc in the same semantic space, users’ semantic retrieval demands can be guaranteed by vector similarity metric calculation. Since the text presentation model does vector encoding for Query online, we need to export the model for use by the online service. Go to the q&A data library code directory and export the model concerning the documentation. In the script, Pytorch Tracing is used to export the model. The models are exported to the “./export “directory. The exported models are mainly ONNX models used for wired reasoning, Tokenizer, and related configuration files. The exported models are loaded into MetaSpore Serving by the online Serving system described below for model reasoning. Since the exported model will be copied to the cloud storage, you need to configure related variables in env.sh. \Build library based on text search \ The retrieval database is built on the million-level encyclopedia question and answer data set. According to the description document, you need to download the data and complete the database construction. The question and answer data will be coded as a vector by the offline model, and then the database construction data will be pushed to the service component. The whole process of database construction is described as follows: Preprocessing, converting the original data into a more general JSonline format for database construction; Build index, use the same model as online “sbert-Chinese-qmc-domain-v1” to index documents (one document object per line); Push inverted (vector) and forward (document field) data to each component server. The following is an example of the database data format. After offline database construction is completed, various data are pushed to corresponding service components, such as Milvus storing vector representation of documents and MongoDB storing summary information of documents. Online retrieval algorithm services will use these service components to obtain relevant data. 1.1.2 Search by text Text and images are easy for humans to relate semantically but difficult for machines. First of all, from the perspective of data form, the text is the discrete ID type of one-dimensional data based on words and words. At the same time, images are continuous two-dimensional or three-dimensional data. Secondly, the text is a subjective creation of human beings, and its expressive ability is vibrant, including various turning points, metaphors, and other expressions, while images are machine representations of the objective world. In short, bridging the semantic gap between text and image data is much more complex than searching text by text. The traditional text search image retrieval technology generally relies on the external text description data of the image or the nearest neighbor retrieval technology and carries out the retrieval through the image associated text, which in essence degrades the problem to text search. However, it will also face many issues, such as obtaining the associated text of pictures and whether the accuracy of text search by text is high enough. The depth model has gradually evolved from single-mode to multi-mode in recent years. Taking the open-source project of OpenAI, CLIP, as an example, train the model through the massive image and text data of the Internet and map the text and image data into the same semantic space, making it possible to implement the text and image search technology based on semantic vector. CLIP graphic model The text search pictures introduced in this paper are implemented based on semantic vector retrieval, and the CLIP pre-training model is used as the two-tower retrieval architecture. Because the CLIP model has trained the semantic alignment of the twin towers’ text and image side models on the massive graphic and text data, it is particularly suitable for the text search graph scene. Due to the different image and text data forms, the Query-Doc asymmetric twin towers model is used for text search image retrieval. The image-side model of the twin towers is used for offline database construction, and the text-side model is used for the online return. In the final online retrieval, the database data of the image side model will be searched after the text side model encodes Query, and the CLIP pre-training model guarantees the semantic correlation between images and texts. The model can draw the graphic pairs closer in vector space by pre-training on a large amount of visual data. Here we need to export the text-side model for online MetaSpore Serving inference. Since the retrieval scene is based on Chinese, the CLIP model supporting Chinese understanding is selected. The exported content includes the ONNX model used for online reasoning and Tokenizer, similar to the text search. MetaSpore Serving can load model reasoning through the exported content. Build library on Image search You need to download the Unsplash Lite library data and complete the construction according to the instructions. The whole process of database construction is described as follows: Preprocessing, specify the image directory, and then generate a more general JSOnline file for library construction; Build index, use OpenAI/Clip-Vit-BASE-Patch32 pre-training model to index the gallery, and output one document object for each line of index data; Push inverted (vector) and forward (document field) data to each component server. Like text search, after offline database construction, relevant data will be pushed to service components, called by online retrieval algorithm services to obtain relevant data. 1.2 Online Services The overall online service architecture diagram is as follows: https://preview.redd.it/jfsl8hdfez291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=a858e2304a0c93e78ba5429612ca08cbee69b35a Multi-mode search online service system supports application scenarios such as text search and text search. The whole online service consists of the following parts: Query preprocessing service: encapsulate preprocessing logic (including text/image, etc.) of pre-training model, and provide services through gRPC interface; Retrieval algorithm service: the whole algorithm processing link includes AB experiment tangent flow configuration, MetaSpore Serving call, vector recall, sorting, document summary, etc.; User entry service: provides a Web UI interface for users to debug and track down problems in the retrieval service. From a user request perspective, these services form invocation dependencies from back to front, so to build up a multimodal sample, you need to run each service from front to back first. Before doing this, remember to export the offline model, put it online and build the library first. This article will introduce the various parts of the online service system and make the whole service system step by step according to the following guidance. See the ReadME at the end of this article for more details. 1.2.1 Query preprocessing service Deep learning models tend to be based on tensors, but NLP/CV models often have a preprocessing part that translates raw text and images into tensors that deep learning models can accept. For example, NLP class models often have a pre-tokenizer to transform text data of string type into discrete tensor data. CV class models also have similar processing logic to complete the cropping, scaling, transformation, and other processing of input images through preprocessing. On the one hand, considering that this part of preprocessing logic is decoupled from tensor reasoning of the depth model, on the other hand, the reason of the depth model has an independent technical system based on ONNX, so MetaSpore disassembled this part of preprocessing logic. NLP pretreatment Tokenizer has been integrated into the Query pretreatment service. MetaSpore dismantlement with a relatively general convention. Users only need to provide preprocessing logic files to realize the loading and prediction interface and export the necessary data and configuration files loaded into the preprocessing service. Subsequent CV preprocessing logic will also be integrated in this manner. The preprocessing service currently provides the gRPC interface invocation externally and is dependent on the Query preprocessing (QP) module in the retrieval algorithm service. After the user request reaches the retrieval algorithm service, it will be forwarded to the service to complete the data preprocessing and continue the subsequent processing. The ReadMe provides details on how the preprocessing service is started, how the preprocessing model exported offline to cloud storage enters the service, and how to debug the service. To further improve the efficiency and stability of model reasoning, MetaSpore Serving implements a Python preprocessing submodule. So MetaSpore can provide gRPC services through user-specified preprocessor.py, complete Tokenizer or CV-related preprocessing in NLP, and translate requests into a Tensor that deep models can handle. Finally, the model inference is carried out by MetaSpore, Serving subsequent sub-modules. Presented here on the lot code: https://github.com/meta-soul/MetaSpore/compare/add\python\preprocessor 1.2.2 Retrieval algorithm services Retrieval algorithm service is the core of the whole online service system, which is responsible for the triage of experiments, the assembly of algorithm chains such as preprocessing, recall, sorting, and the invocation of dependent component services. The whole retrieval algorithm service is developed based on the Java Spring framework and supports multi-mode retrieval scenarios of text search and text search graph. Due to good internal abstraction and modular design, it has high flexibility and can be migrated to similar application scenarios at a low cost. Here’s a quick guide to configuring the environment to set up the retrieval algorithm service. See ReadME for more details: Install dependent components. Use Maven to install the online-Serving component Search for service configurations. Copy the template configuration file and replace the MongoDB, Milvus, and other configurations based on the development/production environment. Install and configure Consul. Consul allows you to synchronize the search service configuration in real-time, including cutting the flow of experiments, recall parameters, and sorting parameters. The project’s configuration file shows the current configuration parameters of text search and text search. The parameter modelName in the stage of pretreatment and recall is the corresponding model exported in offline processing. Start the service. Once the above configuration is complete, the retrieval service can be started from the entry script. Once the service is started, you can test it! For example, for a user with userId=10 who wants to query “How to renew ID card,” access the text search service. 1.2.3 User Entry Service Considering that the retrieval algorithm service is in the form of the API interface, it is difficult to locate and trace the problem, especially for the text search image scene can intuitively display the retrieval results to facilitate the iterative optimization of the retrieval algorithm. This paper provides a lightweight Web UI interface for text search and image search, a search input box, and results in a display page for users. Developed by Flask, the service can be easily integrated with other retrieval applications. The service calls the retrieval algorithm service and displays the returned results on the page. It’s also easy to install and start the service. Once you’re done, go to http://127.0.0.1:8090 to see if the search UI service is working correctly. See the ReadME at the end of this article for details. Multimodal system demonstration The multimodal retrieval service can be started when offline processing and online service environment configuration have been completed following the above instructions. Examples of textual searches are shown below. Enter the entry of the text search map application, enter “cat” first, and you can see that the first three digits of the returned result are cats: https://preview.redd.it/0n5nuyvhez291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=1e9c054f541d53381674b8d6001b4bf524506bd2 If you add a color constraint to “cat” to retrieve “black cat,” you can see that it does return a black cat: https://preview.redd.it/rzc0qjyjez291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=d5bcc503ef0fb3360c7740e60e295cf372dcad47 Further, strengthen the constraint on the search term, change it to “black cat on the bed,” and return results containing pictures of a black cat climbing on the bed: ​ https://preview.redd.it/c4b2q8olez291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=4f3817b0b9f07e1e68d1d4a8281702ba3834a00a The cat can still be found through the text search system after the color and scene modification in the above example. Conclusion The cutting-edge pre-training technology can bridge the semantic gap between different modes, and the HuggingFace community can greatly reduce the cost for developers to use the pre-training model. Combined with the technological ecology of MetaSpore online reasoning and online microservices provided by DMetaSpore, the pre-training model is no longer mere offline dabbling. Instead, it can truly achieve end-to-end implementation from cutting-edge technology to industrial scenarios, fully releasing the dividends of the pre-training large model. In the future, DMetaSoul will continue to improve and optimize the MetaSpore technology ecosystem: More automated and wider access to HuggingFace community ecology. MetaSpore will soon release a common model rollout mechanism to make HuggingFace ecologically accessible and will later integrate preprocessing services into online services. Multi-mode retrieval offline algorithm optimization. For multimodal retrieval scenarios, MetaSpore will continuously iteratively optimize offline algorithm components, including text recall/sort model, graphic recall/sort model, etc., to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the retrieval algorithm. For related code and reference documentation in this article, please visit: https://github.com/meta-soul/MetaSpore/tree/main/demo/multimodal/online Some images source: https://github.com/openai/CLIP/raw/main/CLIP.png https://www.sbert.net/examples/training/sts/README.html

[D] Last Week in Medical AI: Top Research Papers/Models 🏅(September 21 - September 27, 2024)

Last Week in Medical AI: Top Research Papers\/Models 🏅\(September 21 - September 27, 2024\) Medical AI Paper of the Week A Preliminary Study of o1 in Medicine: Are We Closer to an AI Doctor? This paper presents o1, a Large Language Model (LLM) evaluated across 37 medical datasets demonstrating superior performance in clinical understanding, reasoning, and multilinguality compared to GPT-4 and GPT-3.5. Medical LLM & Other Models: DREAMS: Python Framework for Medical LLMs A comprehensive deep learning framework for EEG data processing, model training, and report generation. SLaVA-CXR: A Small Language and Vision Assistant for Chest X-Ray Report Automation This paper introduces SLaVA-CXR, an innovative small-scale model designed for automating chest X-ray reports with high accuracy and efficiency. O1 in Medicine: AI Doctor Potential Genome Language Model : Opportunities & Challenge It highlights key gLM applications like functional constraint prediction, sequence design, and transfer learning, while discussing challenges in developing effective gLMs for complex genomes. Medical LLMs & Benchmarks: MEDICONFUSION: Probing Medical LLM Reliability This paper introduces MediConfusion, a challenging benchmark for probing the failure modes of multimodal large language models (MLLMs) in medical imaging. CHBench: Chinese LLM Health Evaluation This paper introduces CHBench, the first comprehensive Chinese health-related benchmark designed to evaluate large language models (LLMs) on their understanding of physical and mental health. LLMs for Mental Illness Evaluation PALLM: Evaluating Palliative Care LLMs Protein LMs: Scaling Necessity? Frameworks and Methodologies: Digital Twin for Oncology Operations Enhancing Guardrails for Healthcare AI InterMind: LLM-Powered Depression Assessment Conversational Health Agents: LLM Framework Medical LLM Applications: LLMs for Mental Health Severity Prediction Fine-tuning LLMs for Radiology Reports LLMs in Patient Education: Back Pain Boosting Healthcare LLMs with Retrieved Context Continuous Pretraining for Clinical LLMs AI in Healthcare Ethics: Confidence Intervals in Medical Imaging AI Generative AI Readiness for Clinical Use ... Check the full thread in detail: https://x.com/OpenlifesciAI/status/1840020394880667937 Thank you for reading! If you know of any interesting papers that were missed, feel free to share them in the comments. If you have insights or breakthroughs in Medical AI you'd like to share in next week's edition, connect with us on Twt/x: OpenlifesciAI

[R] TaskMatrix.AI: Completing Tasks by Connecting Foundation Models with Millions of APIs - Yaobo Liang et al Microsoft 2023

Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.16434 Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made incredible progress recently. On the one hand, advanced foundation models like ChatGPT can offer powerful conversation, in-context learning and code generation abilities on a broad range of open-domain tasks. They can also generate high-level solution outlines for domain-specific tasks based on the common sense knowledge they have acquired. However, they still face difficulties with some specialized tasks because they lack enough domain specific data during pre-training or they often have errors in their neural network computations on those tasks that need accurate executions. On the other hand, there are also many existing models and systems (symbolic-based or neural-based) that can do some domain specific tasks very well. However, due to the different implementation or working mechanisms, they are not easily accessible or compatible with foundation models. Therefore, there is a clear and pressing need for a mechanism that can leverage foundation models to propose task solution outlines and then automatically match some of the sub tasks in the outlines to the off-the-shelf models and systems with special functionalities to complete them. Inspired by this, we introduce TaskMatrix.AI as a new AI ecosystem that connects foundation models with millions of APIs for task completion. Unlike most previous work that aimed to improve a single AI model, TaskMatrix.AI focuses more on using existing foundation models (as a brain-like central system) and APIs of other AI models and systems (as sub-task solvers) to achieve diversified tasks in both digital and physical domains. As a position paper, we will present our vision of how to build such an ecosystem, explain each key component, and use study cases to illustrate both the feasibility of this vision and the main challenges we need to address next. https://preview.redd.it/0guexiznhxqa1.jpg?width=979&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5d818ae789cfc493cfb82fdf8b002a8dfe11939

[D] Last Week in Medical AI: Top LLM Research Papers/Models (December 7 - December 14, 2024)

[\[D\] Last Week in Medical AI: Top LLM Research Papers\/Models \(December 7 - December 14, 2024\)](https://preview.redd.it/o23fp3csj07e1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69e19fc351b3aa5e34c4c00e66245583f88bd9bb) Medical LLM & Other Models PediaBench: Chinese Pediatric LLM This paper introduces PediaBench, the first Chinese pediatric dataset for evaluating Large Language Model (LLM) question-answering performance, containing 4,565 objective and 1,632 subjective questions across 12 disease groups. BiMediX: Bilingual Medical LLM This paper introduces BiMediX, the first bilingual (English-Arabic) medical Mixture of Experts LLM, along with BiMed1.3M, a 1.3M bilingual medical instruction dataset with over 632M tokens used for training. Diverse medical knowledge integration This paper introduces BiMediX2, a bilingual (Arabic-English) Large Multimodal Model (LMM) based on Llama3.1 architecture, trained on 1.6M medical interaction samples. BRAD: Digital Biology Language Model This paper introduces BRAD (Bioinformatics Retrieval Augmented Digital assistant), an LLM-powered chatbot and agent system integrating various bioinformatics tools. MMedPO: Vision-Language Medical LLM This paper introduces MMedPO, a multimodal medical preference optimization approach to improve factual accuracy in Medical Large Vision-Language Models (Med-LVLMs) by addressing modality misalignment. Frameworks & Methodologies \- TOP-Training: Medical Q&A Framework \- Hybrid RAG: Secure Medical Data Management \- Zero-Shot ATC Clinical Coding \- Chest X-Ray Diagnosis Architecture \- Medical Imaging AI Democratization Benchmarks & Evaluations \- KorMedMCQA: Korean Healthcare Licensing Benchmark \- Large Language Model Medical Tasks \- Clinical T5 Model Performance Study \- Radiology Report Quality Assessment \- Genomic Analysis Benchmarking LLM Applications \- TCM-FTP: Herbal Prescription Prediction \- LLaSA: Activity Analysis via Sensors \- Emergency Department Visit Predictions \- Neurodegenerative Disease AI Diagnosis \- Kidney Disease Explainable AI Model Ethical AI & Privacy \- Privacy-Preserving LLM Mechanisms \- AI-Driven Digital Organism Modeling \- Biomedical Research Automation \- Multimodality in Medical Practice Full thread in detail: https://x.com/OpenlifesciAI/status/1867999825721242101

[P]MMML | Deploy HuggingFace training model rapidly based on MetaSpore

A few days ago, HuggingFace announced a $100 million Series C funding round, which was big news in open source machine learning and could be a sign of where the industry is headed. Two days before the HuggingFace funding announcement, open-source machine learning platform MetaSpore released a demo based on the HuggingFace Rapid deployment pre-training model. As deep learning technology makes innovative breakthroughs in computer vision, natural language processing, speech understanding, and other fields, more and more unstructured data are perceived, understood, and processed by machines. These advances are mainly due to the powerful learning ability of deep learning. Through pre-training of deep models on massive data, the models can capture the internal data patterns, thus helping many downstream tasks. With the industry and academia investing more and more energy in the research of pre-training technology, the distribution warehouses of pre-training models such as HuggingFace and Timm have emerged one after another. The open-source community release pre-training significant model dividends at an unprecedented speed. In recent years, the data form of machine modeling and understanding has gradually evolved from single-mode to multi-mode, and the semantic gap between different modes is being eliminated, making it possible to retrieve data across modes. Take CLIP, OpenAI’s open-source work, as an example, to pre-train the twin towers of images and texts on a dataset of 400 million pictures and texts and connect the semantics between pictures and texts. Many researchers in the academic world have been solving multimodal problems such as image generation and retrieval based on this technology. Although the frontier technology through the semantic gap between modal data, there is still a heavy and complicated model tuning, offline data processing, high performance online reasoning architecture design, heterogeneous computing, and online algorithm be born multiple processes and challenges, hindering the frontier multimodal retrieval technologies fall to the ground and pratt &whitney. DMetaSoul aims at the above technical pain points, abstracting and uniting many links such as model training optimization, online reasoning, and algorithm experiment, forming a set of solutions that can quickly apply offline pre-training model to online. This paper will introduce how to use the HuggingFace community pre-training model to conduct online reasoning and algorithm experiments based on MetaSpore technology ecology so that the benefits of the pre-training model can be fully released to the specific business or industry and small and medium-sized enterprises. And we will give the text search text and text search graph two multimodal retrieval demonstration examples for your reference. Multimodal semantic retrieval The sample architecture of multimodal retrieval is as follows: Our multimodal retrieval system supports both text search and text search application scenarios, including offline processing, model reasoning, online services, and other core modules: ​ https://preview.redd.it/w4v4c7vcez291.png?width=1834&format=png&auto=webp&s=0687efb1fddb26e8e30cb844d398ec712b947f31 Offline processing, including offline data processing processes for different application scenarios of text search and text search, including model tuning, model export, data index database construction, data push, etc. Model inference. After the offline model training, we deployed our NLP and CV large models based on the MetaSpore Serving framework. MetaSpore Serving helps us conveniently perform online inference, elastic scheduling, load balancing, and resource scheduling in heterogeneous environments. Online services. Based on MetaSpore’s online algorithm application framework, MetaSpore has a complete set of reusable online search services, including Front-end retrieval UI, multimodal data preprocessing, vector recall and sorting algorithm, AB experimental framework, etc. MetaSpore also supports text search by text and image scene search by text and can be migrated to other application scenarios at a low cost. The HuggingFace open source community has provided several excellent baseline models for similar multimodal retrieval problems, which are often the starting point for actual optimization in the industry. MetaSpore also uses the pre-training model of the HuggingFace community in its online services of searching words by words and images by words. Searching words by words is based on the semantic similarity model of the question and answer field optimized by MetaSpore, and searching images by words is based on the community pre-training model. These community open source pre-training models are exported to the general ONNX format and loaded into MetaSpore Serving for online reasoning. The following sections will provide a detailed description of the model export and online retrieval algorithm services. The reasoning part of the model is standardized SAAS services with low coupling with the business. Interested readers can refer to my previous post: The design concept of MetaSpore, a new generation of the one-stop machine learning platform. 1.1 Offline Processing Offline processing mainly involves the export and loading of online models and index building and pushing of the document library. You can follow the step-by-step instructions below to complete the offline processing of text search and image search and see how the offline pre-training model achieves reasoning at MetaSpore. 1.1.1 Search text by text Traditional text retrieval systems are based on literal matching algorithms such as BM25. Due to users’ diverse query words, a semantic gap between query words and documents is often encountered. For example, users misspell “iPhone” as “Phone,” and search terms are incredibly long, such as “1 \~ 3 months old baby autumn small size bag pants”. Traditional text retrieval systems will use spelling correction, synonym expansion, search terms rewriting, and other means to alleviate the semantic gap but fundamentally fail to solve this problem. Only when the retrieval system fully understands users’ query terms and documents can it meet users’ retrieval demands at the semantic level. With the continuous progress of pre-training and representational learning technology, some commercial search engines continue to integrate semantic vector retrieval methods based on symbolic learning into the retrieval ecology. Semantic retrieval model This paper introduces a set of semantic vector retrieval applications. MetaSpore built a set of semantic retrieval systems based on encyclopedia question and answer data. MetaSpore adopted the Sentence-Bert model as the semantic vector representation model, which fine-tunes the twin tower BERT in supervised or unsupervised ways to make the model more suitable for retrieval tasks. The model structure is as follows: The query-Doc symmetric two-tower model is used in text search and question and answer retrieval. The vector representation of online Query and offline DOC share the same vector representation model, so it is necessary to ensure the consistency of the offline DOC library building model and online Query inference model. The case uses MetaSpore’s text representation model Sbert-Chinese-QMC-domain-V1, optimized in the open-source semantically similar data set. This model will express the question and answer data as a vector in offline database construction. The user query will be expressed as a vector by this model in online retrieval, ensuring that query-doc in the same semantic space, users’ semantic retrieval demands can be guaranteed by vector similarity metric calculation. Since the text presentation model does vector encoding for Query online, we need to export the model for use by the online service. Go to the q&A data library code directory and export the model concerning the documentation. In the script, Pytorch Tracing is used to export the model. The models are exported to the “./export “directory. The exported models are mainly ONNX models used for wired reasoning, Tokenizer, and related configuration files. The exported models are loaded into MetaSpore Serving by the online Serving system described below for model reasoning. Since the exported model will be copied to the cloud storage, you need to configure related variables in env.sh. \Build library based on text search \ The retrieval database is built on the million-level encyclopedia question and answer data set. According to the description document, you need to download the data and complete the database construction. The question and answer data will be coded as a vector by the offline model, and then the database construction data will be pushed to the service component. The whole process of database construction is described as follows: Preprocessing, converting the original data into a more general JSonline format for database construction; Build index, use the same model as online “sbert-Chinese-qmc-domain-v1” to index documents (one document object per line); Push inverted (vector) and forward (document field) data to each component server. The following is an example of the database data format. After offline database construction is completed, various data are pushed to corresponding service components, such as Milvus storing vector representation of documents and MongoDB storing summary information of documents. Online retrieval algorithm services will use these service components to obtain relevant data. 1.1.2 Search by text Text and images are easy for humans to relate semantically but difficult for machines. First of all, from the perspective of data form, the text is the discrete ID type of one-dimensional data based on words and words. At the same time, images are continuous two-dimensional or three-dimensional data. Secondly, the text is a subjective creation of human beings, and its expressive ability is vibrant, including various turning points, metaphors, and other expressions, while images are machine representations of the objective world. In short, bridging the semantic gap between text and image data is much more complex than searching text by text. The traditional text search image retrieval technology generally relies on the external text description data of the image or the nearest neighbor retrieval technology and carries out the retrieval through the image associated text, which in essence degrades the problem to text search. However, it will also face many issues, such as obtaining the associated text of pictures and whether the accuracy of text search by text is high enough. The depth model has gradually evolved from single-mode to multi-mode in recent years. Taking the open-source project of OpenAI, CLIP, as an example, train the model through the massive image and text data of the Internet and map the text and image data into the same semantic space, making it possible to implement the text and image search technology based on semantic vector. CLIP graphic model The text search pictures introduced in this paper are implemented based on semantic vector retrieval, and the CLIP pre-training model is used as the two-tower retrieval architecture. Because the CLIP model has trained the semantic alignment of the twin towers’ text and image side models on the massive graphic and text data, it is particularly suitable for the text search graph scene. Due to the different image and text data forms, the Query-Doc asymmetric twin towers model is used for text search image retrieval. The image-side model of the twin towers is used for offline database construction, and the text-side model is used for the online return. In the final online retrieval, the database data of the image side model will be searched after the text side model encodes Query, and the CLIP pre-training model guarantees the semantic correlation between images and texts. The model can draw the graphic pairs closer in vector space by pre-training on a large amount of visual data. Here we need to export the text-side model for online MetaSpore Serving inference. Since the retrieval scene is based on Chinese, the CLIP model supporting Chinese understanding is selected. The exported content includes the ONNX model used for online reasoning and Tokenizer, similar to the text search. MetaSpore Serving can load model reasoning through the exported content. Build library on Image search You need to download the Unsplash Lite library data and complete the construction according to the instructions. The whole process of database construction is described as follows: Preprocessing, specify the image directory, and then generate a more general JSOnline file for library construction; Build index, use OpenAI/Clip-Vit-BASE-Patch32 pre-training model to index the gallery, and output one document object for each line of index data; Push inverted (vector) and forward (document field) data to each component server. Like text search, after offline database construction, relevant data will be pushed to service components, called by online retrieval algorithm services to obtain relevant data. 1.2 Online Services The overall online service architecture diagram is as follows: https://preview.redd.it/jfsl8hdfez291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=a858e2304a0c93e78ba5429612ca08cbee69b35a Multi-mode search online service system supports application scenarios such as text search and text search. The whole online service consists of the following parts: Query preprocessing service: encapsulate preprocessing logic (including text/image, etc.) of pre-training model, and provide services through gRPC interface; Retrieval algorithm service: the whole algorithm processing link includes AB experiment tangent flow configuration, MetaSpore Serving call, vector recall, sorting, document summary, etc.; User entry service: provides a Web UI interface for users to debug and track down problems in the retrieval service. From a user request perspective, these services form invocation dependencies from back to front, so to build up a multimodal sample, you need to run each service from front to back first. Before doing this, remember to export the offline model, put it online and build the library first. This article will introduce the various parts of the online service system and make the whole service system step by step according to the following guidance. See the ReadME at the end of this article for more details. 1.2.1 Query preprocessing service Deep learning models tend to be based on tensors, but NLP/CV models often have a preprocessing part that translates raw text and images into tensors that deep learning models can accept. For example, NLP class models often have a pre-tokenizer to transform text data of string type into discrete tensor data. CV class models also have similar processing logic to complete the cropping, scaling, transformation, and other processing of input images through preprocessing. On the one hand, considering that this part of preprocessing logic is decoupled from tensor reasoning of the depth model, on the other hand, the reason of the depth model has an independent technical system based on ONNX, so MetaSpore disassembled this part of preprocessing logic. NLP pretreatment Tokenizer has been integrated into the Query pretreatment service. MetaSpore dismantlement with a relatively general convention. Users only need to provide preprocessing logic files to realize the loading and prediction interface and export the necessary data and configuration files loaded into the preprocessing service. Subsequent CV preprocessing logic will also be integrated in this manner. The preprocessing service currently provides the gRPC interface invocation externally and is dependent on the Query preprocessing (QP) module in the retrieval algorithm service. After the user request reaches the retrieval algorithm service, it will be forwarded to the service to complete the data preprocessing and continue the subsequent processing. The ReadMe provides details on how the preprocessing service is started, how the preprocessing model exported offline to cloud storage enters the service, and how to debug the service. To further improve the efficiency and stability of model reasoning, MetaSpore Serving implements a Python preprocessing submodule. So MetaSpore can provide gRPC services through user-specified preprocessor.py, complete Tokenizer or CV-related preprocessing in NLP, and translate requests into a Tensor that deep models can handle. Finally, the model inference is carried out by MetaSpore, Serving subsequent sub-modules. Presented here on the lot code: https://github.com/meta-soul/MetaSpore/compare/add\python\preprocessor 1.2.2 Retrieval algorithm services Retrieval algorithm service is the core of the whole online service system, which is responsible for the triage of experiments, the assembly of algorithm chains such as preprocessing, recall, sorting, and the invocation of dependent component services. The whole retrieval algorithm service is developed based on the Java Spring framework and supports multi-mode retrieval scenarios of text search and text search graph. Due to good internal abstraction and modular design, it has high flexibility and can be migrated to similar application scenarios at a low cost. Here’s a quick guide to configuring the environment to set up the retrieval algorithm service. See ReadME for more details: Install dependent components. Use Maven to install the online-Serving component Search for service configurations. Copy the template configuration file and replace the MongoDB, Milvus, and other configurations based on the development/production environment. Install and configure Consul. Consul allows you to synchronize the search service configuration in real-time, including cutting the flow of experiments, recall parameters, and sorting parameters. The project’s configuration file shows the current configuration parameters of text search and text search. The parameter modelName in the stage of pretreatment and recall is the corresponding model exported in offline processing. Start the service. Once the above configuration is complete, the retrieval service can be started from the entry script. Once the service is started, you can test it! For example, for a user with userId=10 who wants to query “How to renew ID card,” access the text search service. 1.2.3 User Entry Service Considering that the retrieval algorithm service is in the form of the API interface, it is difficult to locate and trace the problem, especially for the text search image scene can intuitively display the retrieval results to facilitate the iterative optimization of the retrieval algorithm. This paper provides a lightweight Web UI interface for text search and image search, a search input box, and results in a display page for users. Developed by Flask, the service can be easily integrated with other retrieval applications. The service calls the retrieval algorithm service and displays the returned results on the page. It’s also easy to install and start the service. Once you’re done, go to http://127.0.0.1:8090 to see if the search UI service is working correctly. See the ReadME at the end of this article for details. Multimodal system demonstration The multimodal retrieval service can be started when offline processing and online service environment configuration have been completed following the above instructions. Examples of textual searches are shown below. Enter the entry of the text search map application, enter “cat” first, and you can see that the first three digits of the returned result are cats: https://preview.redd.it/0n5nuyvhez291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=1e9c054f541d53381674b8d6001b4bf524506bd2 If you add a color constraint to “cat” to retrieve “black cat,” you can see that it does return a black cat: https://preview.redd.it/rzc0qjyjez291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=d5bcc503ef0fb3360c7740e60e295cf372dcad47 Further, strengthen the constraint on the search term, change it to “black cat on the bed,” and return results containing pictures of a black cat climbing on the bed: ​ https://preview.redd.it/c4b2q8olez291.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=4f3817b0b9f07e1e68d1d4a8281702ba3834a00a The cat can still be found through the text search system after the color and scene modification in the above example. Conclusion The cutting-edge pre-training technology can bridge the semantic gap between different modes, and the HuggingFace community can greatly reduce the cost for developers to use the pre-training model. Combined with the technological ecology of MetaSpore online reasoning and online microservices provided by DMetaSpore, the pre-training model is no longer mere offline dabbling. Instead, it can truly achieve end-to-end implementation from cutting-edge technology to industrial scenarios, fully releasing the dividends of the pre-training large model. In the future, DMetaSoul will continue to improve and optimize the MetaSpore technology ecosystem: More automated and wider access to HuggingFace community ecology. MetaSpore will soon release a common model rollout mechanism to make HuggingFace ecologically accessible and will later integrate preprocessing services into online services. Multi-mode retrieval offline algorithm optimization. For multimodal retrieval scenarios, MetaSpore will continuously iteratively optimize offline algorithm components, including text recall/sort model, graphic recall/sort model, etc., to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the retrieval algorithm. For related code and reference documentation in this article, please visit: https://github.com/meta-soul/MetaSpore/tree/main/demo/multimodal/online Some images source: https://github.com/openai/CLIP/raw/main/CLIP.png https://www.sbert.net/examples/training/sts/README.html

[D] What is the business model for companies using LLMs?

I am wondering about companies that are successfully using LLMs in their product, or attempting to develop products around LLM. It seems like at the moment that there are a number of companies building businesses around creating and selling access to LLM. However, there seems to be a gap between in industry between creating LLMs and using the LLM to do something in the "real world." Essentially, I am curious about companies that are purchasing access to LLM from a company such as OpenAI and then making use of these models in their products. So far, I can think of a few cases where they might use a LLM: Using the output from a LLM in a search result and then placing ads alongside the search (such as Bing's new search) Generating web content (such as BuzzFeed) Improving automated customer support using LLMs---though I don't know of a specific company using LLMs for this yet. Based on the examples I have so far, it seems like the examples are limited to where the LLM's hallucinations are not a major issue and where the output of the LLM can be directly passed back to the human user of a product. I am wondering if there are any other examples of companies successfully using LLMs in their product that anyone can think of.

[P] I built an open SotA image tagging model to do what CLIP won't

I'm a hobbyist ML researcher and finally, after a year of work, built a state of the art machine vision model from scratch. It's ViT-B/16 based, 448x448x3 input, 91M parameters, trained for 660M samples, with multi-label classification as the target task, on over 5000 unique tags. All the big foundation vision models today were trained on heavily filtered datasets, greatly limiting the concepts they can represent, in line with arbitrary sets of rules for what is deemed "wholesome" by leading tech companies. Everything from innocuous to spicy is on the chopping block of those filters. And because CLIP pervades the industry, from StableDiffusion to LLaVA, so does OpenAI's sensibilities. My goal was to build a vision model for tagging images, mainly for labelling images for SD finetunes, but which wasn't as heavily filtered and handicapped as CLIP/BLIP/LLaVA. Something more inclusive, diverse, and sex positive. Starting from the wonderful work of SmilingWolf (https://github.com/SmilingWolf/SW-CV-ModelZoo) and the Danbooru2021 dataset, I iterated for a year on the model, training, and manually labeling a thousand images to help the model generalize beyond the danbooru domain. I'm releasing the first version of this model, dubbed JoyTag, today: https://github.com/fpgaminer/joytag It achieves a mean F1 score of 0.578 across all of its over 5000 tags and across both the anime/manga styled images of the original danbooru dataset, but also photographs and other mediums thanks to the auxiliary training data I provided to it. It was quite the struggle getting to this point, and I probably spent more time and money than any sane person should have. I learned a lot about dealing with datasets as large as danbooru2021, training models at scale, and how to keep yourself awake all night so your 8xA100 rental doesn't crash and blow all your money. In my manual testing outside of even the validation set, the model has generalized well to unseen images, so I'm quite happy with the results thus far. There's plenty more work to do expanding its dataset to improve that F1 score further, and roundout its weak points. With inclusivity and diversity being a major goal of this project, I'm disappointed by some of its remaining limitations (as documented in the GitHub README). But I'm already busy manually tagging more images using my model-augmented workflow. I'm happy to answer questions about the project, the training procedure, anything. All the training parameters are documented on GitHub, but there are so many little details that were hard won over the year. Like that damned loss multiplier. Ugh. Github: https://github.com/fpgaminer/joytag Model download: https://huggingface.co/fancyfeast/joytag/tree/main Demo: https://huggingface.co/spaces/fancyfeast/joytag

[D] What's the endgame for AI labs that are spending billions on training generative models?

Given the current craze around LLMs and generative models, frontier AI labs are burning through billions of dollars of VC funding to build GPU clusters, train models, give free access to their models, and get access to licensed data. But what is their game plan for when the excitement dies off and the market readjusts? There are a few challenges that make it difficult to create a profitable business model with current LLMs: The near-equal performance of all frontier models will commoditize the LLM market and force providers to compete over prices, slashing profit margins. Meanwhile, the training of new models remains extremely expensive. Quality training data is becoming increasingly expensive. You need subject matter experts to manually create data or review synthetic data. This in turn makes each iteration of model improvement even more expensive. Advances in open source and open weight models will probably take a huge part of the enterprise market of private models. Advances in on-device models and integration with OS might reduce demand for cloud-based models in the future. The fast update cycles of models gives AI companies a very short payback window to recoup the huge costs of training new models. What will be the endgame for labs such as Anthropic, Cohere, Mistral, Stability, etc. when funding dries up? Will they become more entrenched with big tech companies (e.g., OpenAI and Microsoft) to scale distribution? Will they find other business models? Will they die or be acquired (e.g., Inflection AI)? Thoughts?

[D] Working with Various OpenAI Models - My Thoughts and Experiences

I'd like to share some of my insights from working with OpenAI models on my project. I'm not exactly a tech person, so some of these observations might be obvious to some of you, but I think they're worth sharing for those with less experience or who aren't directly in the field. Intro: In early February, my friends and I started a side project where we aimed to build an AI portal called DoMoreAI. For the first two months, we focused on creating an AI tools catalog. Our experiment is based on the idea that in the future, companies will be "Managed by AI, and Driven by Humans." So, our goal was to leave as much as possible to AI and automation, with all the consequences that come with it. As mentioned before, I'm not a tech guy, but I've been playing with OpenAI models for the past few years, so I had some experience when starting this project. Tasks We Assigned to AI: Based on an AI tool's front page, we had the AI write a one-sentence summary of an AI project + write a more in-depth review of the project, categorize the project into different categories (WHAT category, like blog; TASK category, like writing; FOR category, like content creator), decide if the project offers iOS app, Android app, browser extension, API, find social media links, process information about prices and pricing policy, and more. Interesting Findings: When working on a more complex prompt, particularly one with several tasks, you have to be patient when crafting it. You might eventually find the right wording to achieve the desired results, but it takes time and lots of trial and error. You might even be surprised by what works and what doesn't. If cost isn't an issue, you can always break up one complex prompt into several smaller prompts. However, the more requests you send, the higher the chance of encountering errors like the 429 error, which may require setting up more sophisticated error handlers for the whole process. You need error handlers because, without them, the automation process will suffer. With more complex prompts, there are no prompts that always yield the expected results, so you have to plan for what to do if the results aren't satisfactory and how to determine if the result meets your expectations or not. GPT-3.0 struggled with outputting JSON strings as requested, but GPT-3.5 is much better at this task. I'd say the number of errors from improperly formatting the response in JSON is 3-4 times lower for GPT-3.5. AI models have trouble distinguishing words singular forms from plural forms. Just because you can use AI for a given task doesn't mean you should. Often, standard techniques like using regex can yield better results when extracting something from text than relying solely on AI. A hybrid solution often provides the best results. We're using ADA vector embeddings and Pinecone for semantic search in our catalog, and I was really surprised to find that this kind of semantic search works in any language. Even if all the content on our page is in English, you can search in another language and still get decent results. The Best Mishaps: As you may know, there's a token limit for requests, so we have to ensure that we don't send too long a part of the front page to the model. Sometimes, this led to funny situations. If the HTML of the page consists mainly of styles and the model is fed only with styles, then when you ask the AI to write a review of the project, it writes about how beautiful, mobile-friendly, etc., the project is. For one project, instead of writing the one-sentence summary, the model's output only included the prompt we were using to generate the summary (needless to say, it was automatically published on our website ;)) ​ I hope this post will be useful. We are currently running a campaign on Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/posts/domore-ai So, if you have any feedback for us or think what we're doing is cool, don't hesitate to support us :)

[D] Last Week in Medical AI: Top LLM Research Papers/Models (December 7 - December 14, 2024)

[\[D\] Last Week in Medical AI: Top LLM Research Papers\/Models \(December 7 - December 14, 2024\)](https://preview.redd.it/o23fp3csj07e1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69e19fc351b3aa5e34c4c00e66245583f88bd9bb) Medical LLM & Other Models PediaBench: Chinese Pediatric LLM This paper introduces PediaBench, the first Chinese pediatric dataset for evaluating Large Language Model (LLM) question-answering performance, containing 4,565 objective and 1,632 subjective questions across 12 disease groups. BiMediX: Bilingual Medical LLM This paper introduces BiMediX, the first bilingual (English-Arabic) medical Mixture of Experts LLM, along with BiMed1.3M, a 1.3M bilingual medical instruction dataset with over 632M tokens used for training. Diverse medical knowledge integration This paper introduces BiMediX2, a bilingual (Arabic-English) Large Multimodal Model (LMM) based on Llama3.1 architecture, trained on 1.6M medical interaction samples. BRAD: Digital Biology Language Model This paper introduces BRAD (Bioinformatics Retrieval Augmented Digital assistant), an LLM-powered chatbot and agent system integrating various bioinformatics tools. MMedPO: Vision-Language Medical LLM This paper introduces MMedPO, a multimodal medical preference optimization approach to improve factual accuracy in Medical Large Vision-Language Models (Med-LVLMs) by addressing modality misalignment. Frameworks & Methodologies \- TOP-Training: Medical Q&A Framework \- Hybrid RAG: Secure Medical Data Management \- Zero-Shot ATC Clinical Coding \- Chest X-Ray Diagnosis Architecture \- Medical Imaging AI Democratization Benchmarks & Evaluations \- KorMedMCQA: Korean Healthcare Licensing Benchmark \- Large Language Model Medical Tasks \- Clinical T5 Model Performance Study \- Radiology Report Quality Assessment \- Genomic Analysis Benchmarking LLM Applications \- TCM-FTP: Herbal Prescription Prediction \- LLaSA: Activity Analysis via Sensors \- Emergency Department Visit Predictions \- Neurodegenerative Disease AI Diagnosis \- Kidney Disease Explainable AI Model Ethical AI & Privacy \- Privacy-Preserving LLM Mechanisms \- AI-Driven Digital Organism Modeling \- Biomedical Research Automation \- Multimodality in Medical Practice Full thread in detail: https://x.com/OpenlifesciAI/status/1867999825721242101

[R] Evaluating Video Models on Impossible Scenarios: A Benchmark for Generation and Understanding of Counterfactual Videos

IPV-Bench: Evaluating Video Generation Models with Physically Impossible Scenarios Researchers have created a new benchmark called IPV-Bench to evaluate how well video generation models understand basic physics and logic. This benchmark contains 1,000 carefully crafted prompts that test models on their ability to handle physically impossible scenarios across 9 categories including gravity violations, object permanence issues, and logical contradictions. The key methodology included: Testing models with both "create impossible" prompts (asking for impossibilities) and "avoid impossible" prompts (requesting physically plausible videos) Evaluating videos through both automated metrics and human assessment Testing across multiple state-of-the-art models including Sora, Morph-E, WALT, Show-1, Gen-2, Runway, Pika, and LaVie Developing a detailed taxonomy of impossible physics scenarios Main findings: Current SOTA models produce physically impossible content 20-40% of the time even when explicitly asked to follow physics laws Performance was worst on "change impossibilities" and "contact impossibilities" (~50% accuracy) Different models show different "impossibility profiles" - making distinct types of physical reasoning errors Strong text understanding doesn't guarantee strong physical reasoning Human evaluators easily identified these impossibilities, highlighting the gap between AI and human understanding I think this research reveals a fundamental limitation in current video generation systems - they lack the intuitive physics understanding that humans develop naturally. This matters significantly for applications where physical plausibility is important, like simulation, education, or training robotics systems. The benchmark provides a systematic way to measure progress in this area, which will be crucial as these models become more widely deployed. The taxonomy they've developed is particularly useful as it gives us a framework for thinking about different types of physical reasoning failures. I suspect we'll see this benchmark become an important tool for improving the next generation of video models. TLDR: IPV-Bench is a new benchmark testing video models' understanding of physical impossibilities. Current models frequently generate physically impossible content even when instructed not to, showing they lack true understanding of how the physical world works. Full summary is here. Paper here.

[D] When asked what not-yet-existing tool they wish they had, the IBM AI team said tools to automate and generate training data. Is there a subfield for ML models to clean and format training data?

JS - A tool to automatically generate all the training data that we need...the problem is, however, development of this tool will likely need training data as well. FT - Agree with all of the above. But in particular for Conversational AI (where I spend most of my time with Watson Assistant) - any automation tool that could take a client’s data and automatically build out intent/entity recognition AND the dialog. RP - Once you are in the trenches, you realize, it all starts from data. I wish we had a tool that takes noisy data and makes it clear for AI - all automatically. Enterprises soon realize, they spend most of the time in getting data ready for AI, from different formats, in different places with different permission, with tons of noise. An automation tool to make that "look ma - no hands" will be great! I am thinking, what sort of model would you use for this? What training data would you feed it? How would you generate that data?

[D] Stuck in Automation of AI models

Hello everyone! ​ I'm currently working on a project and have hit a roadblock in automating the deployment of my machine-learning models. Can anyone provide guidance on the best practices or tools for streamlining the deployment process? Specifically, I'm looking to create a seamless workflow where models can be easily uploaded, deployed on the cloud, and accessible through APIs. Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated! ​ Automation!!!

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

Unified AI Model Gateway: One API to Rule Them All

Hiya! I’ve been working on an idea to simplify the way developers interact with AI services. Right now, every AI model provider—whether it’s OpenAI, Anthropic, X, or others—has its own API, SDKs, and quirks. This creates friction when you want to integrate multiple models or quickly test new ones. The Idea: Unified AI Model Gateway that acts as a single endpoint for all AI providers. Developers would send standardized requests, and the gateway would: route requests, aggregate metrics, simplify integration, anomaly detection, etc. The value: For developers, this means no more juggling multiple SDKs or rewriting code when switching providers. For businesses, it’s a way to optimize cost and performance by dynamically choosing the best model for the job. Plus, the built-in analytics can help track usage trends and provide insights that drive better decision-making. I’m super curious—what do you all think? Is this something you'd be willing to try out? Looking forward to your thoughts and feedback! Thanks!

AI SaaS: A website to fine-tune LLM model according to your requirements

Hey fellow entrepreneurs and AI enthusiasts! I'm exploring a business idea and would love your thoughts and feedback. The concept is a SaaS platform that allows users to easily fine-tune large language models (LLMs) on their own datasets without needing deep technical expertise. Here's the gist: The Problem: Many businesses and researchers want to leverage LLMs for specific use cases, but fine-tuning these models requires significant technical knowledge and resources. The Solution: A user-friendly web platform where users can: Choose from popular LLM architectures Upload their own dataset or input text Configure fine-tuning parameters through an intuitive interface Automatically fine-tune the model on our GPU infrastructure Download the fine-tuned model or use it via API Key Features: No coding required Scalable cloud infrastructure Support for various fine-tuning techniques (prompt tuning, adapter tuning, full fine-tuning) Job monitoring and results visualization API access for integrated use in applications Target Market: Researchers without extensive ML engineering resources Startups building AI-powered products Enterprises looking to customize LLMs for internal use Monetization: Tiered subscription model based on usage (compute time, model size, etc.) + potential enterprise contracts for high-volume users. I'd really appreciate your thoughts on: Is this solving a real pain point? Would you use a service like this? Why or why not? What features would make this a must-have for you? Any foreseeable obstacles or considerations I'm missing? Suggestions for go-to-market strategy? Thank you!

AI SaaS: A website to fine-tune LLM model according to your requirements

Hey fellow entrepreneurs and AI enthusiasts! I'm exploring a business idea and would love your thoughts and feedback. The concept is a SaaS platform that allows users to easily fine-tune large language models (LLMs) on their own datasets without needing deep technical expertise. Here's the gist: The Problem: Many businesses and researchers want to leverage LLMs for specific use cases, but fine-tuning these models requires significant technical knowledge and resources. The Solution: A user-friendly web platform where users can: Choose from popular LLM architectures Upload their own dataset or input text Configure fine-tuning parameters through an intuitive interface Automatically fine-tune the model on our GPU infrastructure Download the fine-tuned model or use it via API Key Features: No coding required Scalable cloud infrastructure Support for various fine-tuning techniques (prompt tuning, adapter tuning, full fine-tuning) Job monitoring and results visualization API access for integrated use in applications Target Market: Researchers without extensive ML engineering resources Startups building AI-powered products Enterprises looking to customize LLMs for internal use Monetization: Tiered subscription model based on usage (compute time, model size, etc.) + potential enterprise contracts for high-volume users. I'd really appreciate your thoughts on: Is this solving a real pain point? Would you use a service like this? Why or why not? What features would make this a must-have for you? Any foreseeable obstacles or considerations I'm missing? Suggestions for go-to-market strategy? Thank you!

AI SaaS: A website to fine-tune LLM model according to your requirements

Hey fellow entrepreneurs and AI enthusiasts! I'm exploring a business idea and would love your thoughts and feedback. The concept is a SaaS platform that allows users to easily fine-tune large language models (LLMs) on their own datasets without needing deep technical expertise. Here's the gist: The Problem: Many businesses and researchers want to leverage LLMs for specific use cases, but fine-tuning these models requires significant technical knowledge and resources. The Solution: A user-friendly web platform where users can: Choose from popular LLM architectures Upload their own dataset or input text Configure fine-tuning parameters through an intuitive interface Automatically fine-tune the model on our GPU infrastructure Download the fine-tuned model or use it via API Key Features: No coding required Scalable cloud infrastructure Support for various fine-tuning techniques (prompt tuning, adapter tuning, full fine-tuning) Job monitoring and results visualization API access for integrated use in applications Target Market: Researchers without extensive ML engineering resources Startups building AI-powered products Enterprises looking to customize LLMs for internal use Monetization: Tiered subscription model based on usage (compute time, model size, etc.) + potential enterprise contracts for high-volume users. I'd really appreciate your thoughts on: Is this solving a real pain point? Would you use a service like this? Why or why not? What features would make this a must-have for you? Any foreseeable obstacles or considerations I'm missing? Suggestions for go-to-market strategy? Thank you!

What are your thoughts on this AI-Powered Interest Rate Negotiation Service Business Model?

Value Proposition: Helps homebuyers secure the best mortgage rates through AI-driven negotiation. Saves time and effort by automating communication with multiple lenders. Increases chances of approval at a favorable rate. Customer Segments: First-time homebuyers Homeowners refinancing their mortgages Investors seeking lower interest rates Revenue Streams: Subscription-based model (monthly/one-time fee for AI-powered negotiation) Success-based fee (small percentage of interest savings upon approval) Affiliate commissions from mortgage lenders for closed deals Channels: Website with a step-by-step AI-powered negotiation tool API integration with mortgage marketplaces Email and social media marketing targeting homebuyers Customer Relationships: AI-powered chatbot and live support for users Automated email sequences keeping users informed Personalized mortgage rate tracking & negotiation updates Key Activities: Developing AI models for lender negotiation Automating email and lender response handling Expanding partnerships with mortgage providers Key Resources: AI/ML engineers to refine the negotiation model CRM system for tracking lender-client interactions Email automation and lead generation tools Key Partners: Mortgage lenders willing to negotiate rates AI-powered email automation services Real estate and mortgage brokers Cost Structure: AI model training and maintenance Web platform hosting and development Compliance and legal expenses

What are your thoughts on this AI-Powered Interest Rate Negotiation Service Business Model?

Value Proposition: Helps homebuyers secure the best mortgage rates through AI-driven negotiation. Saves time and effort by automating communication with multiple lenders. Increases chances of approval at a favorable rate. Customer Segments: First-time homebuyers Homeowners refinancing their mortgages Investors seeking lower interest rates Revenue Streams: Subscription-based model (monthly/one-time fee for AI-powered negotiation) Success-based fee (small percentage of interest savings upon approval) Affiliate commissions from mortgage lenders for closed deals Channels: Website with a step-by-step AI-powered negotiation tool API integration with mortgage marketplaces Email and social media marketing targeting homebuyers Customer Relationships: AI-powered chatbot and live support for users Automated email sequences keeping users informed Personalized mortgage rate tracking & negotiation updates Key Activities: Developing AI models for lender negotiation Automating email and lender response handling Expanding partnerships with mortgage providers Key Resources: AI/ML engineers to refine the negotiation model CRM system for tracking lender-client interactions Email automation and lead generation tools Key Partners: Mortgage lenders willing to negotiate rates AI-powered email automation services Real estate and mortgage brokers Cost Structure: AI model training and maintenance Web platform hosting and development Compliance and legal expenses

I built an instant no-code AI tool for training & explaining regression/classification models

Hey everyone! I recently developed a no-code SaaS tool aimed at simplifying and speeding up machine learning workflows, particularly for regression and classification tasks. I’d love to get feedback from the community here, especially from those who are experienced with machine learning and data science workflows. I’ll give a quick rundown of the tool's features, but I want to emphasize that I’m here more to learn about what would be valuable for you than to promote anything. The basic idea: This tool allows you to go from a raw dataset (CSV or tabular text format) to a trained ML model in minutes, rather than needing weeks or months of coding, hyperparameter tuning, and visualization work. It's designed to be intuitive for users without a strong coding background but still offers the depth that experienced users would need. Here’s how it works: Data Upload & Prep: Start by uploading a CSV or other tabular format dataset. The tool includes data prep steps that are designed to be simple but cover essentials (e.g., missing value handling, scaling). Model Training & Tuning: You can choose between regression and classification models, with automatic hyperparameter tuning happening in the background (under a time limit that you can set). It aims to find a good balance without needing direct input but does allow for manual adjustments if desired. Performance Analysis: It provides aggregated performance metrics like F1, recall, precision, R2, and others, alongside charts like AUROC, confusion matrices, and feature importance charts. I also included SHAP plots for deeper insight into feature contributions, as I know they’re becoming a standard for interpretability. Inference Options: The tool lets you do inference on either manually entered data or batch data (again, via CSV). The UI is lightweight and tries to make this as seamless as possible. What I’m hoping to get feedback on: Are there core features that feel like they’re missing? My goal was to provide a well-rounded suite for non-technical users but with enough depth for data scientists to find value. Does this kind of tool fit into your workflow? Or would something like this be more of a beginner tool? How valuable is explainability? I know SHAP is popular, but I’m curious if it actually makes it into the workflows of many data scientists here. Anything else you’d like to see in a tool like this? I know that there are a lot of no-code ML tools out there, so I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel—I just tried to make something a bit more straightforward while still incorporating some flexibility and depth. If you’ve used similar tools or have thoughts on what would make something like this actually useful in practice, I’d really appreciate any insights! Thank you so much for reading, and looking forward to any feedback you’re willing to share. Beta testers are welcome, currently forming a list.

Platform to optimize Cash flow using AI models for small businesses - Survey

Hi , I’m building a AI-based financial platform for small businesses (forecasting, alerts, insights, recommendations) to optimize Cash flow. I’d love your input on this 2-min survey: \[https://forms.gle/EhxKK2v8vwJMLaUm6\] I’ll share anonymized insights back to the community. If you'd like early access, you can drop your email optionally. Appreciate your feedback and happy to return the favor!

[P][N] GPU-targeted vendor-agnostic AI library for Windows, and Mistral model implementation

Guide for the Mistral chat program: https://github.com/Const-me/Cgml/tree/master/Mistral/MistralChat Main repository: https://github.com/Const-me/Cgml

[P] A Simpler @PyTorch Annotated Implementation of EleutherAI's 20B Language Model GPT-NeoX.

Github: https://github.com/labmlai/neox Annotated implementation: https://lit.labml.ai/github/labmlai/neox/tree/main/src/neox/\\init\\.py Original repo from EleutherAI: https://github.com/EleutherAI/gpt-neox We have included samples showing how to generate text and to fine-tune. We haven't included a bunch of optimizations that were present in original GPT-NeoX to keep things simple.

[N] The Moral Uncertainty competition: $100,000 in prizes for training ML models to identify ethically ambiguous scenarios.

Website: https://moraluncertainty.mlsafety.org/ ML Systems often make real-world decisions that involve ethical considerations (modulating social media feeds, conversational AI agents or chatbots, etc). As ML systems automate more aspects of our lives, they should be able to identify moral ambiguity so that they are more likely to proceed cautiously or indicate an operator should intervene.

I created an AI Model that counts cards in blackjack automatically and can play perfect strategy blackjack. Thinking of selling how to replicate it

People have long ago figured out how to play blackjack via card counting. I haven’t seen anyone create a user-friendly tool for a layman to know exactly how to play any permutation of blackjack with any rule set (ie any amount of decks of cards, any cards shown, etc.) Anyway, I’ve developed that and am curious if people would be willing to buy it. How can i find out who to market the product to and how much to charge? Is it even a feasible idea to profit off of?

Have you tried the AI & Analytics Engine to build and deploy your ML models? It's no-code and definitely makes the ML process easier and faster! Here's a video on solving a multi-class classification problem with the Engine.

The Reef Model: AI Strategies to Resist Forgetting

[R] GLIDE: Towards Photorealistic Image Generation and Editing with Text-Guided Diffusion Models. Implementation and pre-trained model of ‘glide-text2im’ also released by OpenAI.

Airtable builds with Amazon Bedrock to transform workflows with generative AI | Amazon Web Services

Airtable, a cloud based low-code platform, enables non-programmers to build next-gen business applications. To democratize AI adoption for non-technical users across organizations, Airtable launched Airtable AI, powered by Amazon Bedrock. Through this partnership, Airtable AI seamlessly incorporates powerful foundation models like Anthropic's Claude and Amazon's Titan on Amazon Bedrock, allowing customers to choose models that best suits their use cases and workflows. Key benefits include a unified API for integrating AWS services, secure hosting of foundation models and data, access to cutting-edge technologies, fostering bottoms-up AI adoption among non-technical teams, and generative AI use cases including content generation, automation actions, and intelligent data Q&A. All this is unified within Airtable's intuitive low-code environment. Learn more at: https://go.aws/3Ta68X4 Subscribe: More AWS videos: https://go.aws/3m5yEMW More AWS events videos: https://go.aws/3ZHq4BK Do you have technical AWS questions? Ask the community of experts on AWS re:Post: https://go.aws/3lPaoPb ABOUT AWS Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform, offering over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. Millions of customers — including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies — are using AWS to lower costs, become more agile, and innovate faster. #AmazonBedrock #FoundationModels #generativeAI #AnthropicClaude #AmazonTitan #Airtable #AWS #AmazonWebServices #CloudComputing

Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT

ChatGPT and other large language models are going to be more important in your life and business than your smartphone, if you use them right. ChatGPT can tutor your child in math, generate a meal plan and recipes, write software applications for your business, help you improve your personal cybersecurity, and that is just in the first hour that you use it. This course will teach you how to be an expert user of these generative AI tools. The course will show amazing examples of how you can tap into these generative AI tools' emergent intelligence and reasoning, how you can use them to be more productive day to day, and give you insight into how they work.

OpenAI GPTs: Creating Your Own Custom AI Assistants

In the era of Generative AI, the demand for personalized and specialized Generative AI assistants is skyrocketing. Large language models like GPTs have demonstrated their remarkable capabilities, but what if you could harness their power to create custom AI assistants tailored to your specific needs? Welcome to the world of custom GPTs, where you can build intelligent systems that understand your domain, speak your language, and solve your unique challenges.

Introduction to Deep Learning & Neural Networks with Keras

Looking to start a career in Deep Learning? Look no further. This course will introduce you to the field of deep learning and help you answer many questions that people are asking nowadays, like what is deep learning, and how do deep learning models compare to artificial neural networks? You will learn about the different deep learning models and build your first deep learning model using the Keras library.

Introduction to AI for Cybersecurity

In "Introduction to AI for Cybersecurity," you'll gain foundational knowledge of how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the field of cybersecurity. This course covers key AI techniques and how they can be applied to enhance security measures, detect threats, and secure digital systems. Learners will explore hands-on implementations of AI models using tools like Jupyter Notebooks, allowing them to detect spam, phishing emails, and secure user authentication using biometric solutions.

Introduction to AI and Machine Learning on Google Cloud

This course introduces the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offerings on Google Cloud that support the data-to-AI lifecycle through AI foundations, AI development, and AI solutions. It explores the technologies, products, and tools available to build an ML model, an ML pipeline, and a generative AI project based on the different goals of users, including data scientists, AI developers, and ML engineers.

Finally Launched My First App Without Any Coding Experience

About Myself I am a structural engineer that are taught to design buildings in the day and I have been dreaming forever to build a SaaS business to get out of the rat race. However, as a structural engineer, coding is definitely not something I am capable of doing (I have some simple knowledge, but its no way close to building an app) The Journey As I've mentioned, I always wanted to build a SaaS business because in my mind the business model is most attractive to me, where you only need to build once and can sell to millions. So I started off searching and exploring on the internet and my first ever "SaaS" was from Wordpress. I am buying plugin from other user and then pluggin into my own Wordpress website. It was a project management tool SaaS. I was so excited about the website and can't even sleep well at night because I'm just so hype about it. But, the reality is because this is my first ever business, I totally didn't realise about the importance of UI UX or my business differentiation, thinking that everyone will be as excited as I am. Then, I went deeper and deeper into the journey (I can write more about this in another post if anyone is interested) and finally landed on Flutterflow to create my first ever app. No Code Journey Thanks to no code builder, I never thought that a non-coder like me can ever create an app and got accepted by the App Store/Play Store. Since that I am using a low-code builder, for any specific requirement that I need that are not covered natively, I will just talk to ChatGPT and boom I pretty much got most of the answer I needed. About The App As someone that always try to keep track of my expenses, I never able to find an app that are simple and interesting enough for me to continue on the journey. I realise that I could have incorporate AI into this journey and hence there go, I created an AI Money Tracker. Let me introduce Rolly: AI Money Tracker - a new AI expense tracker where you can easily record your transactions just by chatting with our bot Rolly and it will automatically record and categorise the transaction into the most suitable category (you can also create any of your own category and it will also take care of it in consideration). I am not sharing the app link here to avoid getting ban, but feel free to search up Rolly: AI Money Tracker on either App Store on Play Store. My Learnings As someone that can't code and never imagine that I could create a production app by myself and publish it on to the App Store and Play Store. Since I am not making any money yet and just at the beginning of my entrepreneur journey, I can't give any substantial advice, all I can say is just my own learnings and feelings. My advice is if you have a dream of building a business, just go for it, don't worry about all the problems that you can think of to convince yourself not making the start at all. From my point of view, as long as you're not giving up everything (eg, putting yourself in huge debt etc), why don't just go for it and you've got nothing much to lose. You'll only lose if you never even get started. And also, I believe that creating an app is always the easiest step out of the entreprenuership journey, marketing and distribution is the key to success. Even though you've spent days and nights on it and it might mean everything to you, the truth is people don't really cares and you'll need to market for it. I am still in journey to learn how to do marketing, content, building a business and everything. I think this is just a very beginning of my journey and hopefully there's more interesting one to share further down the road.

Technical founders - is "bulling" your way through learning right for a startup? [I will not promote]

Sup, This is a question for technical founders. \--a little backstory-- I am starting a company in AI field that creates something nobody has ever done before. 7 months in. \--- How most software companies are created - you have an improvement idea, then you have a thousand or so problems to solve to make that improvement happen, and for each one that you don't know, you go to Stackoverflow or ChatGPT to look for solutions for that problem. Which involves next-to-no upfront preparation because for vast majority of traditional software you can solve it on-the-go - "traditional" software is very easy compared to, say, mechanical, pharma or AI engineering. However, for more advanced disciplines - can you just "Google" it on-the-go? I'm a solo founder, and 8 months in, creating a foundational model, BECAUSE I did not know things upfront, I've wasted at least 3 months doing something which was mostly technically unviable in the first place. Out of 14000 lines of code that I've done (including tests), I had to scrap 10000 recently. Imagine the scale of it. Obviously I didn't even know how ML works when I've started. Major fuck-up. How do you operate in industries which you've done before? How do you determine that it's time to start creating you big technological leaps instead of continuing to learn? Cheers. Edit: No need to push me on business topics. I know how to create value very well. It's only a tech question, and I'm only asking because - well - to deliver my value, I need to do a lot of novel tech.

AI No Code

I want to create an artificial intelligence large language model for my startup but I don’t know how to code. Are there any no code tools I can use to accomplish that task or do I need to learn to code? If I need to know how to code what language, tech stacks, technologies etc do I need to know?

For anyone working on LLM / AI startups

My company (which I will not promote) wrote this blog post in compliance with rule #7 :) Introduction to fine-tuning Large Language Models, or LLMs, have become commonplace in the tech world. The number of applications that LLMs are revolutionizing is multiplying by the day — extraction use cases, chatbots, tools for creatives and engineers. In spite of this, at its core, the LLM is a multi-purpose neural network, dozens of layers deep, designed to simply predict one word after the next. It predicts words by performing billions of matrix multiplication steps based on so-called parameter weights, which are discovered during the model training process. Almost all open-source, open-weight models are trained on a massive amount of text from every conceivable genre and topic. How, then, do researchers and engineers create novel specialized applications? The answer is fine-tuning. In this post, we will demystify the process of fine-tuning and discuss the tradeoffs of other approaches to customizing an LLM. The history of fine-tuning In the ancient days of LLMs, by which we mean five years ago, the primary approaches to customizing an LLM was identical to the approaches to customizing any other deep learning model. A machine learning engineer would have two options: Retrain the entire LLM. This would mean discarding the trained weights and instead only using the open source model’s architecture to train it on a specialized dataset. As long as the amount and diversity of the specialized data is comparable to what the original model was trained on, this can be the ideal method of customizing a model. However, of course, this is a massive waste of resources due to the computational power required and the difficulty of collecting such a massive dataset. Even if an organization could provision enough GPUs, the cost of training modern-day models could cost up to $190 million. Retrain the last few layers of the LLM while keeping the rest of the weights frozen. This is a more efficient method in terms of time and computational power required because it significantly cuts down the number of parameters that need to be trained. However, for most tasks, this leads to subpar quality. Of course, almost everyone chooses to retrain the last few layers. And where there is only one option, the research community saw an opportunity to step in. Soon, the LLM space saw an enormous amount of activity in fine-tuning, which leads us to today. Modern approaches to fine-tuning Most fine-tuning approaches today are parameter-efficient. Deep neural networks are composed of matrices and vectors (generally called tensors), which are at their core arrays of floating point numbers. By training a small subset of these tensors, while the rest of the LLM’s weights are kept frozen, practitioners achieve good enough results without having to retrain the entire model. Generally, this method requires at least a hundred or so handcrafted examples of input-output pairs for fine-tuning. This is called supervised learning. The modern fine-tuning landscape involves an unsupervised learning step afterwards. Given a set of inputs, a practitioner gathers the various possible outputs from the LLM and casts votes among them. This preference data is then used to further train the LLM’s weights. Usually, this approach is used for LLM alignment and safety, which defends the application from malicious uses, outputs embarrassing to the organization, and prompt injection attacks. Fine-tuning’s relationship to prompt engineering A natural question arises: why fine-tune instead of crafting a well-considered system prompt? Wouldn’t that be easier and more efficient? The answer is no, it wouldn’t. Here’s why: Advanced techniques make prompt engineering obsolete: \[redacted\]'s product uses soft-prompting and other techniques to train the input layer itself. This obviates the need for prompt engineering entirely, which lets organizations avoid the time-consuming trial-and-error process to get the prompt just right. Prompt engineering has been a stopgap measure in the early days of LLM applications to convey the practitioner’s intent to the LLM. It is not the long-term solution for LLM application development. The system prompt is precious: the limited budget for system prompt length is better used for up-to-date information, e.g., Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). Even as context windows increase in size with each new open-source model, the system prompt is the least efficient place to provide the LLM model with verbose instructions and examples. The longer the prompt, the slower the application: an LLM must attend to the entire system prompt for each token generated. This pain becomes more acute in the chatbot case, where the length of the conversation so far is also counted toward the system context. The longer the conversation, and the longer your beautifully-crafted system prompt, the slower the bot becomes. Even in cases where the model allows for system prompts that are millions of tokens long, doubling the size of the context will quadruple the latency. This means adding a few hundred words to the system prompt may result in several seconds of additional latency in production, making a chatbot impossible to use. Edge case handling: the number of edge cases that the system prompt would need to consider and emphasize to the LLM is too large. The instructions would have to be too nuanced and long to cover them all. However, fine-tuning on a dataset that considers these edge cases would be more straightforward. Do I need to fine-tune the LLM in my production application? Every LLM application in production must be fine-tuned often, not just once at the beginning. Why fine-tune? The world in which the application exists is constantly evolving. New prompt injection attacks are being discovered every day, new ways of embarrassing a chatbot are emerging constantly. This data can be used to further train an LLM model, which protects the application from new failure modes and reputational risk. Like any software, LLM models are constantly improving. Smarter and faster models are open-sourced all the time. For a new model to get deployed to production, it must first be finetuned on the specific dataset of the organization building the application. Fine-tuning does not add latency to LLM applications. Rather than a solution that sits in the middle of the LLM and the rest of the application, fine-tuning leverages the power of the LLM itself to increase the quality of the output. In fact, fine-tuning allows for shorter system prompts, which speeds up the average response generation time.

The Drawing of the Three - Once you look through the veil, nothing is the same again. (I will not promote)

Originally published Nov 5, 2024 In my last post, I talked about assembling a series of filters to use to view the startup landscape, which led me to a few conclusions about what opportunities I should pursue. What did I see through those filters? What I saw through the moire pattern of those two lists overlaid by one another is what I think will be the third great monetization strategy for the internet, matching the pattern of: web1 => Ad monetization web2 => Subscription monetization web3 => For AI, neither of those work anymore, which demands something new. But what? Well that’s the important part, isn’t it? Should I just up and tell you? Yawn. The climax of a movie is at the climax, if they tell you the crux at the beginning, it’s a lot less fun (usually). The standard bearer for web1 and ads was Google (with countless followers), and essentially every website adopted that model for their first pass at content monetization. Google has been… let’s call it fairly successful… so it’s not a bad way to look at things. How many websites live and die by selling advertising? The standard bearers for web2 and subscriptions were Salesforce (for B2B SaaS) and Netflix (for B2C SaaS), with countless followers, to the extent that SaaS has been the dominant startup monetization thesis for the last 15+ years. It’s more old and tired by now than most American politicians, but how many websites live and die by people entering payment details for a monthly or annual subscription? Evidence proves those models for web1 and web2 worked well enough that countless businesses depend on them, and countless fortunes have been made and lost surfing the waves, or crashing against the shorelines, of ads and subs. But it’s also apparent (to me, at least) that now that AI is the dominant startup thesis, neither ads nor subs are going to prevail in an AI-centered world, and for one simple reason: Those monetization strategies are for humans, and AI bots are not humans. Changing Environments Require Changing Strategies Every so often, there’s a fundamental shift that demands everything in the ecosystem adapt to a new habitation strategy to survive. We’ve seen this repeatedly across Earth’s ecology (for instance, introducing free oxygen to the atmosphere, producing respiration while destroying all the life forms that existed before oxygen permeated the atmosphere), and across human society (for example, how nuclear bombs changed war, and how drones are changing it again, for less violent examples, consider the adoption of computers and the subsequent adoption of smartphones). Now the ecosystem of the internet has changed irrevocably, opening up countless new and interesting niches to occupy. Humans may see an ad and buy something stupid (or, occasionally, not-stupid), but an AI won’t unless its programmed to. And subscriptions are designed for humans to consume content at a human rate, not for an AI that can choke down an entire database of content (whatever it may be) at whatever speed the servers can manage. Changing conditions require changing strategies. It was clear to me that: The introduction of AI bots to the internet ecosystem was, is, and will be massively disruptive for a very long time The internet population of bots already exceeds humans and is growing faster than the human population The two dominant monetization strategies are not relevant to bots That disruption of expectations across the ecosystem demands a third strategy, a new strategy to handle a massive change in an existing system. And that strategy needs to accommodate, support, and monetize the new demands from the vast armies of new participants in the internet ecology. Therefore, a method that converts bots from an expense into a revenue source would become a dominant monetization strategy, and therefore whoever owns that strategy will be a dominant player in the internet ecosystem. Set the realization of semi-practical, semi-useful AI against a backdrop of technology cycles that have, in the distant past (in internet terms) produced ads and subs, and more recently produced enormous investment into fintech and crypto, I started to see a path that felt like it would grow over time to become a new monetization strategy that works in the AI ecosystem. Sun Tzu had a couple drinks, saw a couple things… There’s at least, and possibly only, two things I know about fighting: You cannot fight the tide, and it’s much harder to fight an uphill battle. If my whole thesis on this go-around was to go with the flow, and that trickle of insight was leading me from my overlook along a roaring flow of cash coursing through a valley filled with AI startups, where exactly would it lead me? Most rivers lead to the sea eventually, but they can take winding paths, and sometimes the quickest route from the mountain to the sea isn’t to follow the river, but to understand where the river leads and go there instead. Getting a view from on high can save you a lot of time on your journey. But before I get to where the path has led (or is leading) that will explain the objective I’ve identified, and the deliverables I have to produce to reach it, let’s talk about a few of the steps on the path I’ve been taking that highlight the process I followed. I figure if I explain the steps I’m taking, as I’m taking them, it may be easier for people who haven’t trod this route before to follow me and understand how to carve their own course towards their own objectives. And maybe the real treasure will be the friends we make along the way. (I will not promote)

How a founder built a B2B AI startup to serve with 65+ global brands (including Fortune500 companies) (I will not promote)

AI Palette is an AI-driven platform that helps food and beverage companies predict emerging product trends. I had the opportunity recently to sit down with the founder to get his advice on building an AI-first startup, which he'll be going through in this post. (I will not promote) About AI Palette: Co-founders: >!2 (Somsubhra GanChoudhuri, Himanshu Upreti)!!100+!!$12.7M USD!!AI-powered predictive analytics for the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry!!Signed first paying customer in the first year!!65+ global brands, including Cargill, Diageo, Ajinomoto, Symrise, Mondelez, and L’Oréal, use AI Palette!!Every new product launched has secured a paying client within months!!Expanded into Beauty & Personal Care (BPC), onboarding one of India’s largest BPC companies within weeks!!Launched multiple new product lines in the last two years, creating a unified suite for brand innovation!Identify the pain points in your industry for ideas* When I was working in the flavour and fragrance industry, I noticed a major issue CPG companies faced: launching a product took at least one to two years. For instance, if a company decided today to launch a new juice, it wouldn’t hit the market until 2027. This long timeline made it difficult to stay relevant and on top of trends. Another big problem I noticed was that companies relied heavily on market research to determine what products to launch. While this might work for current consumer preferences, it was highly inefficient since the product wouldn’t actually reach the market for several years. By the time the product launched, the consumer trends had already shifted, making that research outdated. That’s where AI can play a crucial role. Instead of looking at what consumers like today, we realised that companies should use AI to predict what they will want next. This allows businesses to create products that are ahead of the curve. Right now, the failure rate for new product launches is alarmingly high, with 8 out of 10 products failing. By leveraging AI, companies can avoid wasting resources on products that won’t succeed, leading to better, more successful launches. Start by talking to as many industry experts as possible to identify the real problems When we first had the idea for AI Palette, it was just a hunch, a gut feeling—we had no idea whether people would actually pay for it. To validate the idea, we reached out to as many people as we could within the industry. Since our focus area was all about consumer insights, we spoke to professionals in the CPG sector, particularly those in the insights departments of CPG companies. Through these early conversations, we began to see a common pattern emerge and identified the exact problem we wanted to solve. Don’t tell people what you’re building—listen to their frustrations and challenges first. Going into these early customer conversations, our goal was to listen and understand their challenges without telling them what we were trying to build. This is crucial as it ensures that you can gather as much data about the problem to truly understand it and that you aren't biasing their answers by showing your solution. This process helped us in two key ways: First, it validated that there was a real problem in the industry through the number of people who spoke about experiencing the same problem. Second, it allowed us to understand the exact scale and depth of the problem—e.g., how much money companies were spending on consumer research, what kind of tools they were currently using, etc. Narrow down your focus to a small, actionable area to solve initially. Once we were certain that there was a clear problem worth solving, we didn’t try to tackle everything at once. As a small team of two people, we started by focusing on a specific area of the problem—something big enough to matter but small enough for us to handle. Then, we approached customers with a potential solution and asked them for feedback. We learnt that our solution seemed promising, but we wanted to validate it further. If customers are willing to pay you for the solution, it’s a strong validation signal for market demand. One of our early customer interviewees even asked us to deliver the solution, which we did manually at first. We used machine learning models to analyse the data and presented the results in a slide deck. They paid us for the work, which was a critical moment. It meant we had something with real potential, and we had customers willing to pay us before we had even built the full product. This was the key validation that we needed. By the time we were ready to build the product, we had already gathered crucial insights from our early customers. We understood the specific information they wanted and how they wanted the results to be presented. This input was invaluable in shaping the development of our final product. Building & Product Development Start with a simple concept/design to validate with customers before building When we realised the problem and solution, we began by designing the product, but not by jumping straight into coding. Instead, we created wireframes and user interfaces using tools like InVision and Figma. This allowed us to visually represent the product without the need for backend or frontend development at first. The goal was to showcase how the product would look and feel, helping potential customers understand its value before we even started building. We showed these designs to potential customers and asked for feedback. Would they want to buy this product? Would they pay for it? We didn’t dive into actual development until we found a customer willing to pay a significant amount for the solution. This approach helped us ensure we were on the right track and didn’t waste time or resources building something customers didn’t actually want. Deliver your solution using a manual consulting approach before developing an automated product Initially, we solved problems for customers in a more "consulting" manner, delivering insights manually. Recall how I mentioned that when one of our early customer interviewees asked us to deliver the solution, we initially did it manually by using machine learning models to analyse the data and presenting the results to them in a slide deck. This works for the initial stages of validating your solution, as you don't want to invest too much time into building a full-blown MVP before understanding the exact features and functionalities that your users want. However, after confirming that customers were willing to pay for what we provided, we moved forward with actual product development. This shift from a manual service to product development was key to scaling in a sustainable manner, as our building was guided by real-world feedback and insights rather than intuition. Let ongoing customer feedback drive iteration and the product roadmap Once we built the first version of the product, it was basic, solving only one problem. But as we worked closely with customers, they requested additional features and functionalities to make it more useful. As a result, we continued to evolve the product to handle more complex use cases, gradually developing new modules based on customer feedback. Product development is a continuous process. Our early customers pushed us to expand features and modules, from solving just 20% of their problems to tackling 50–60% of their needs. These demands shaped our product roadmap and guided the development of new features, ultimately resulting in a more complete solution. Revenue and user numbers are key metrics for assessing product-market fit. However, critical mass varies across industries Product-market fit (PMF) can often be gauged by looking at the size of your revenue and the number of customers you're serving. Once you've reached a certain critical mass of customers, you can usually tell that you're starting to hit product-market fit. However, this critical mass varies by industry and the type of customers you're targeting. For example, if you're building an app for a broad consumer market, you may need thousands of users. But for enterprise software, product-market fit may be reached with just a few dozen key customers. Compare customer engagement and retention with other available solutions on the market for product-market fit Revenue and the number of customers alone isn't always enough to determine if you're reaching product-market fit. The type of customer and the use case for your product also matter. The level of engagement with your product—how much time users are spending on the platform—is also an important metric to track. The more time they spend, the more likely it is that your product is meeting a crucial need. Another way to evaluate product-market fit is by assessing retention, i.e whether users are returning to your platform and relying on it consistently, as compared to other solutions available. That's another key indication that your solution is gaining traction in the market. Business Model & Monetisation Prioritise scalability Initially, we started with a consulting-type model where we tailor-made specific solutions for each customer use-case we encountered and delivered the CPG insights manually, but we soon realized that this wasn't scalable. The problem with consulting is that you need to do the same work repeatedly for every new project, which requires a large team to handle the workload. That is not how you sustain a high-growth startup. To solve this, we focused on building a product that would address the most common problems faced by our customers. Once built, this product could be sold to thousands of customers without significant overheads, making the business scalable. With this in mind, we decided on a SaaS (Software as a Service) business model. The benefit of SaaS is that once you create the software, you can sell it to many customers without adding extra overhead. This results in a business with higher margins, where the same product can serve many customers simultaneously, making it much more efficient than the consulting model. Adopt a predictable, simplistic business model for efficiency. Look to industry practices for guidance When it came to monetisation, we considered the needs of our CPG customers, who I knew from experience were already accustomed to paying annual subscriptions for sales databases and other software services. We decided to adopt the same model and charge our customers an annual upfront fee. This model worked well for our target market, aligning with industry standards and ensuring stable, recurring revenue. Moreover, our target CPG customers were already used to this business model and didn't have to choose from a huge variety of payment options, making closing sales a straightforward and efficient process. Marketing & Sales Educate the market to position yourself as a thought leader When we started, AI was not widely understood, especially in the CPG industry. We had to create awareness around both AI and its potential value. Our strategy focused on educating potential users and customers about AI, its relevance, and why they should invest in it. This education was crucial to the success of our marketing efforts. To establish credibility, we adopted a thought leadership approach. We wrote blogs on the importance of AI and how it could solve problems for CPG companies. We also participated in events and conferences to demonstrate our expertise in applying AI to the industry. This helped us build our brand and reputation as leaders in the AI space for CPG, and word-of-mouth spread as customers recognized us as the go-to company for AI solutions. It’s tempting for startups to offer products for free in the hopes of gaining early traction with customers, but this approach doesn't work in the long run. Free offerings don’t establish the value of your product, and customers may not take them seriously. You should always charge for pilots, even if the fee is minimal, to ensure that the customer is serious about potentially working with you, and that they are committed and engaged with the product. Pilots/POCs/Demos should aim to give a "flavour" of what you can deliver A paid pilot/POC trial also gives you the opportunity to provide a “flavour” of what your product can deliver, helping to build confidence and trust with the client. It allows customers to experience a detailed preview of what your product can do, which builds anticipation and desire for the full functionality. During this phase, ensure your product is built to give them a taste of the value you can provide, which sets the stage for a broader, more impactful adoption down the line. Fundraising & Financial Management Leverage PR to generate inbound interest from VCs When it comes to fundraising, our approach was fairly traditional—we reached out to VCs and used connections from existing investors to make introductions. However, looking back, one thing that really helped us build momentum during our fundraising process was getting featured in Tech in Asia. This wasn’t planned; it just so happened that Tech in Asia was doing a series on AI startups in Southeast Asia and they reached out to us for an article. During the interview, they asked if we were fundraising, and we mentioned that we were. As a result, several VCs we hadn’t yet contacted reached out to us. This inbound interest was incredibly valuable, and we found it far more effective than our outbound efforts. So, if you can, try to generate some PR attention—it can help create inbound interest from VCs, and that interest is typically much stronger and more promising than any outbound strategies because they've gone out of their way to reach out to you. Be well-prepared and deliberate about fundraising. Keep trying and don't lose heart When pitching to VCs, it’s crucial to be thoroughly prepared, as you typically only get one shot at making an impression. If you mess up, it’s unlikely they’ll give you a second chance. You need to have key metrics at your fingertips, especially if you're running a SaaS company. Be ready to answer questions like: What’s your retention rate? What are your projections for the year? How much will you close? What’s your average contract value? These numbers should be at the top of your mind. Additionally, fundraising should be treated as a structured process, not something you do on the side while juggling other tasks. When you start, create a clear plan: identify 20 VCs to reach out to each week. By planning ahead, you’ll maintain momentum and speed up the process. Fundraising can be exhausting and disheartening, especially when you face multiple rejections. Remember, you just need one investor to say yes to make it all worthwhile. When using funds, prioritise profitability and grow only when necessary. Don't rely on funding to survive. In the past, the common advice for startups was to raise money, burn through it quickly, and use it to boost revenue numbers, even if that meant operating at a loss. The idea was that profitability wasn’t the main focus, and the goal was to show rapid growth for the next funding round. However, times have changed, especially with the shift from “funding summer” to “funding winter.” My advice now is to aim for profitability as soon as possible and grow only when it's truly needed. For example, it’s tempting to hire a large team when you have substantial funds in the bank, but ask yourself: Do you really need 10 new hires, or could you get by with just four? Growing too quickly can lead to unnecessary expenses, so focus on reaching profitability as soon as possible, rather than just inflating your team or burn rate. The key takeaway is to spend your funds wisely and only when absolutely necessary to reach profitability. You want to avoid becoming dependent on future VC investments to keep your company afloat. Instead, prioritize reaching break-even as quickly as you can, so you're not reliant on external funding to survive in the long run. Team-Building & Leadership Look for complementary skill sets in co-founders When choosing a co-founder, it’s important to find someone with a complementary skill set, not just someone you’re close to. For example, I come from a business and commercial background, so I needed someone with technical expertise. That’s when I found my co-founder, Himanshu, who had experience in machine learning and AI. He was a great match because his technical knowledge complemented my business skills, and together we formed a strong team. It might seem natural to choose your best friend as your co-founder, but this can often lead to conflict. Chances are, you and your best friend share similar interests, skills, and backgrounds, which doesn’t bring diversity to the table. If both of you come from the same industry or have the same strengths, you may end up butting heads on how things should be done. Having diverse skill sets helps avoid this and fosters a more collaborative working relationship. Himanshu (left) and Somsubhra (right) co-founded AI Palette in 2018 Define roles clearly to prevent co-founder conflict To avoid conflict, it’s essential that your roles as co-founders are clearly defined from the beginning. If your co-founder and you have distinct responsibilities, there is no room for overlap or disagreement. This ensures that both of you can work without stepping on each other's toes, and there’s mutual respect for each other’s expertise. This is another reason as to why it helps to have a co-founder with a complementary skillset to yours. Not only is having similar industry backgrounds and skillsets not particularly useful when building out your startup, it's also more likely to lead to conflicts since you both have similar subject expertise. On the other hand, if your co-founder is an expert in something that you're not, you're less likely to argue with them about their decisions regarding that aspect of the business and vice versa when it comes to your decisions. Look for employees who are driven by your mission, not salary For early-stage startups, the first hires are crucial. These employees need to be highly motivated and excited about the mission. Since the salary will likely be low and the work demanding, they must be driven by something beyond just the paycheck. The right employees are the swash-buckling pirates and romantics, i.e those who are genuinely passionate about the startup’s vision and want to be part of something impactful beyond material gains. When employees are motivated by the mission, they are more likely to stick around and help take the startup to greater heights. A litmus test for hiring: Would you be excited to work with them on a Sunday? One of the most important rounds in the hiring process is the culture fit round. This is where you assess whether a candidate shares the same values as you and your team. A key question to ask yourself is: "Would I be excited to work with this person on a Sunday?" If there’s any doubt about your answer, it’s likely not a good fit. The idea is that you want employees who align with the company's culture and values and who you would enjoy collaborating with even outside of regular work hours. How we structure the team at AI Palette We have three broad functions in our organization. The first two are the big ones: Technical Team – This is the core of our product and technology. This team is responsible for product development and incorporating customer feedback into improving the technology Commercial Team – This includes sales, marketing, customer service, account managers, and so on, handling everything related to business growth and customer relations. General and Administrative Team – This smaller team supports functions like finance, HR, and administration. As with almost all businesses, we have teams that address the two core tasks of building (technical team) and selling (commercial team), but given the size we're at now, having the administrative team helps smoothen operations. Set broad goals but let your teams decide on execution What I've done is recruit highly skilled people who don't need me to micromanage them on a day-to-day basis. They're experts in their roles, and as Steve Jobs said, when you hire the right person, you don't have to tell them what to do—they understand the purpose and tell you what to do. So, my job as the CEO is to set the broader goals for them, review the plans they have to achieve those goals, and periodically check in on progress. For example, if our broad goal is to meet a certain revenue target, I break it down across teams: For the sales team, I’ll look at how they plan to hit that target—how many customers they need to sell to, how many salespeople they need, and what tactics and strategies they plan to use. For the technical team, I’ll evaluate our product offerings—whether they think we need to build new products to attract more customers, and whether they think it's scalable for the number of customers we plan to serve. This way, the entire organization's tasks are cascaded in alignment with our overarching goals, with me setting the direction and leaving the details of execution to the skilled team members that I hire.

Joined an AI Startup with Ex-ShipStation Team - Need Tips on Finding Early Users

Hey Reddit, My name’s Welcome (Yes, that’s really my name), and I’ve been in tech for most of my career, mostly at bigger companies with established brands and resources. But recently, I decided to join a small startup called BotDojo. It’s my first time being part of a small team, and it’s been a pretty eye-opening experience so far. But, like with anything new, I’ve hit a few bumps along the way, and I’m hoping you all might have some advice. A little backstory: BotDojo was started by some of the engineers who used to work together at ShipStation. After ShipStation sold, they spent some time experimenting with AI but kept running into the same problems—having to patch together tools, getting inconsistent results, handling data ingestion, and struggling to track performance. So, they decided to build a platform to help developers build, test, and deploy AI solutions. Since I came on board, my focus has been on finding early users, and it’s been a mixed bag of wins and frustrations. We’ve got a solid group of people using the free version (which is great), but only a few have upgraded to the paid plan so far (ranging from startups to large enterprises). The cool thing is that those who have become paying customers absolutely love the product. It’s just been hard getting more people to that point. We’ve tried a bunch of things: Attending industry events, doing cold email outreach, running social ads (the usual stuff). And while we’ve seen some interest, we’re running into a few challenges:   Learning curve: The software is really powerful, but it takes a week or two for users to really see what it can do. Without a dedicated sales team to walk them through it, it’s been tough getting people to stick around long enough to see the value. Standing out is hard: The AI space is super crowded right now. I think a lot of people see “AI tool” and assume it’s just like everything else out there (even though BotDojo has some awesome features that really set it apart).  Sign-ups, but limited engagement: We’re on a freemium model to make it easy for people to try it out, but that also means we get a lot of bots and people who sign up but don’t really dive in. So, I thought I’d reach out here and see if anyone has been through this early stage before. How did you manage to break through and find those first paying users who really saw the value in what you were building?  Are there any strategies, communities, or tactics that worked particularly well for you? And if you had to do it all over again, what would you focus on? I figure I’m not the only one trying to navigate these waters, so I’m hoping this can be a helpful thread for others too. Thanks so much for reading, and I’d be super grateful for any advice or insights you can share! 🙏

How to get funding for startup ? I will not promote

I will not promote. Software startup based out of Minnesota us. I've built and launched a product that is gaining traction, solving a problem that has frustrated software developers and product teams for years. The problem: Software development is slow, expensive, and full of inefficiencies. Developers spend hours on repetitive coding tasks, project managers struggle with bottlenecks, and businesses waste time translating product requirements into actual code. The solution: My product automates a large portion of software development. It acts as an AI-powered assistant for developers, taking high-level requirements and turning them into functional code while integrating with existing codebases. It can read, understand, and modify software projects in a structured way—cutting development time drastically. The potential: Businesses are always looking for ways to cut costs and speed up development. With the rise of AI, companies are increasingly adopting automation, and this tool fits perfectly into that wave. Imagine a world where software teams are 10x more efficient because AI handles the grunt work, and developers focus on the bigger picture. It’s not about replacing developers—it’s about supercharging them. The current status: The product is live and in use. The user base is growing, and I’ve proven demand. Now, I need to figure out the best funding model to scale—whether that’s bootstrapping, VC, grants, or some hybrid approach. If you have experience in startup funding or have scaled a tech product, I'd love to hear your insights. DM me if you're open to discussing strategies!

No revenue for 6 months, then signed $10k MRR in 2 weeks with a new strategy. Here’s what I changed.

This is my first company so I made A LOT of mistakes when starting out. I'll explain everything I did that worked so you don't have to waste your time either. For context, I built a SaaS tool that helps companies scale their new client outreach 10x (at human quality with AI) so they can secure more sales meetings. Pricing I started out pricing it way too low (1/10 as much as competitors) so that it'd be easier to get customers in the beginning. This is a HUGE mistake and wasted me a bunch of time. First, this low pricing meant that I was unable to pay for the tools I needed to make sure my product could be great. I was forced to use low-quality databases, AI models, sending infrastructure -- you name it. Second, my customers were less invested in the product, and I received less input from them to make the product better. None ended up converting from my free trial because my product sucked, and I couldn't even get good feedback from them. I decided to price my product much higher, which allowed me to use best-in class tools to make my product actually work well. Outreach Approach The only issue is that it's a lot harder to get people to pay $500/month than $50/month. I watched every single video on the internet about cold email for getting B2B clients and built up an outbound MACHINE for sending thousands of emails a day. I tried all the top recommended sales email formats and tricks (intro, painpoint, testimonial, CTA, etc). Nothing. I could send 1k emails and get a few out of office responses and a handful of 'F off' responses. I felt bad and decided I couldn't just spam the entire world and expect to make any progress. I decided I needed to take a step back and learn from people who'd succeeded before in sales. I started manually emailing CEOs/founders that fit my customer profile with personal messages asking for feedback on my product -- not even trying to sell them anything. Suddenly I was getting 4-6 meetings a day and just trying to learn from them (turns out people love helping others). And without even prompting, many of them said 'hey, I actually could use this for my own sales' and asked how they could start trying it out. That week I signed 5 clients between $500-$4k/month (depending how many contacts they want to reach). I then taught my product to do outreach the same way I did that worked (include company signals, make sure the person is a great match with web research, and DONT TALK SALESY). Now, 6 of my first 10 clients (still figuring out who it works for, lol) have converted from the free trial and successfully used it to book sales meetings. I'm definitely still learning, but this one change in my sales approach changed everything for me, so I wanted to share. If anyone has any other tips/advice that changed their business's sales, would love to hear!

AI And Google's Algorithm Updates Push Us To Adopt New Customer Acquisition Strategies

Hello everyone, More and more founders seem to be struggling with SEO and organic traffic… Google has made tons of changes these last 2 years. Their zero-click policy, combined with their own generative AI model now answering questions in the search results, makes it more challenging than ever to attract new customers on Google. I made a post about that and I explore alternative solutions that still work well in 2024: https://kwatch.io/the-impact-of-ai-and-google-algorithm-updates-on-seo-pushes-us-to-adopt-new-strategies As a startup founder continuously exploring new customer acquisition strategies, I would love to hear your opinion/advice. Do you have success with SEO? Would you mind sharing your best customer acquisition strategies? Arthur

I just had my best month after 18 months as a solopreneur

Last month I reached important milestones both financially (60+ sales) and in terms of my personal brand (2.500+ new followers) But the most important part is that it has reinforced a belief in myself: it is possible, as long as I keep going, improving, learning and iterating. For the last year and a half, I've been grinding and launching project after project. But there was always something wrong: Product didn't solve a real problem Bad marketing (very often lol) Target market had low purchasing power Super-competitive niche (usually b2c) It's difficult to have failure after failure and keep going on. At times it would feel like everyone was making money, except for me. I was hacking on my projects every single day before and after my 9-5 and had mostly given up all my free time for this. But results were far from being what I wanted. So I would doubt myself all the time. One thing I had going for me is that I really enjoy building things - so that helped me a lot in staying consistent. I always knew this was a long-term thing and that I'd probably have to fail again and again before seeing some success. But even so, it was really hard to keep up the spirits at all time, especially after working so hard for so long. I wasn't going to give up but I also knew that continuing like this would lead nowhere. So I decided that for my next project I would do 2 things: 1) prioritize marketing and 2) build something strategic 1) Prioritize marketing I decided I was going to put in the same amount of effort into marketing as I put into building. Usually my time would be split 90% coding - 10% marketing. Now, for the first time ever it's probably 65% coding - 35% marketing. I organized myself and made an entire gameplan for it. This forced me to learn a lot about: Video editing Cold emails Copywriting Running ads Short-form content There are a lot of items I still need to execute on - but at least I have a good idea of how to approach most things. 2) Build something strategic I had to build something that I would be able to use even if nobody else did. For the last year and a half I had been building AI apps and my plan was to continue doing that. So I decided to leverage that and thought about how I could build something that would give me an unfair advantage + have a compounding effect over the long term: a) Unfair advantage Having AI demo apps that cover all type of AI functionalities would make my life easier & would allow me to ship new apps quickly, regardless of the required model/functionality So even if nobody bought this - I'd have built something really useful for myself & would have a slight edge over other people b) Compound over the long term Building "AnotherWrapper' (my new project) would have a good synergy with my future projects: It would allow me to build new projects faster While building new projects, I'd learn new things, which I would then be able to implement into AnotherWrapper and improve the product that way A win-win. Closing thoughts I did not expect things to go this well - it's been an amazing month and I'm truly grateful to everyone that has been supporting me. But at the end of the day, there is still a lot of work to be done. The initial 'hype' & effects from some viral tweets are starting to wear off. I still don't have a reliable distribution channel that guarantees me traffic. So I need to figure that out. I think the product has a lot of potential - it has been well received and has been a success so far, but my distribution is still lacking. The good thing is that I now have some extra cash to spend on things like ads, influencers, freelancers etc. So it opens some new doors that were previously closed! I also have some other projects down the pipeline which are coming soon. Will keep you guys updated!

For the Herd-Investor(Formerly Me)

Hey guys. my friend and I developed a model that looks over SEC filings and instead of just summarizing what they say like the existing “AI” solutions do(which are really just read-write programs), it infers and reads between the lines and analyzes what type of strategy the company is using(revenue recognition timing, the company's history,etc.) and many other factors. We used a different approach. Instead of basically making a GPT wrapper, we trained it from scratch based on not only summarizing filings but inferring on key information that is glossed over a lot. We plan to scale this into a model that accounts for not only filings, but recent news, public sentiment, and other factors. And instead of people having to upload files to get analyzed, we plan to automatically aggregate files on all public companies on the US markets and train the model on those to provide a one- stop shop financial search engine platform for retail investors to access digestable financial information(like an AlphaSense but for retail investors) because right now, the average retail investor has to access on average 5 services to get this info and then has to interpret the info as well. Obviously, the retail investor these days is also tied to a sense of community so plan to implement a moderated almost newletter like platform where verified creators can publish posts regarding their interests to further serve the retail investor. The gist is basically simplifying high-level finance to the point where the beginner investor can understand while preserving the technical value. Do you guys have any extra thoughts on this? I am trying to ask if you guys would actually pay for a service like this, and what it should additionally offer to make it more valuable to the average retail investor. Thanks again!

From “Green” to “Smart” – Tom Gorski’s Word of Advice

Sharing this interview with entrepreneur Tom Gorski. I think it contains a few nice tips for beginner entrepreneurs. What is the problem with the term “Green?” what are the top 3 mistakes entrepreneurs make that can prevent them from enjoying the sweet taste of success? And what should young entrepreneurs always keep in mind? Continuing our expert interview series, we asked entrepreneur Tom Gorski to share some of his secrets to success with us. Gorski is the CEO and Co-Founder at SaaSGenius.com, and an Inbound Marketer & Growth Hacker at InboundWay.com. His career spans over 12 years of developing and implementing online marketing, SEO and conversion optimization campaigns. He defines his biggest accomplishment to date as “achieving 4500% growth for one of my clients over a three­year period.” logo-saasgenius Q: It’s no secret that the SaaS market is saturated, as new companies are having very hard time acquiring, retaining and monetizing users. In your view – what are the top 3 mistakes SaaS companies make? What are some key differentiators you recognize in a successful product? A: Mistake No. 1: Product-market fit is not good enough There are a number of reasons for this, including the fact that inertia, incumbency and bureaucracy are all working against you. For emerging companies, this means finding a way to be exponentially better with fewer resources. As a result, focus is key. Mistake No. 2: Not Specializing Your Sales Roles When you specialize your sales people, you allow them to focus, which creates greater output form your sales team. Mistake No. 3: You Need a Niche To be able to market and sell well, you need to have a niche. The world is noisy and messy, and you’ll struggle if you don’t have a sharp, direct message. When you try to speak to everyone, no one can hear you. Q: Which innovative trends do you recognize in the high tech world nowadays? A: “Green” was a mega trend of the last decade and while it will continue to be very important, there will be a shift towards “smart” solutions, which are intelligent, connected and have the ability to sense, report, and take the right action. Smart solutions will be everywhere around us from smart clothing, phones, to smart homes and smart cities. Q: What is the most significant advice you can give young entrepreneurs? A: Being very successful means learning from those who have already achieved success. Having a mentor is an amazing blessing to an entrepreneur, but not everyone can find one in person. My advice is to work smarter, not harder. This is the most non-intuitive observation I will probably make. If you want to compete in the arena, hard work isn’t enough. And judging yourself on how hard you work, rather than how smart you work can be fatal. Q: We are flooded with buzzwords lately – VR / AI / Bots… where do you think the software world is heading? A: AI and bots are a very hot topic in 2016 and it’s sometimes hard to distinguish the real potential behind the hype. My point of view is that, like with many things, there’s no revolution but evolution. It’s unrealistic to think that AI can become mainstream in SaaS products without proper AI infrastructure. SaaS delivery will significantly outpace traditional software product delivery, growing nearly five times faster than the traditional software market and will become a significant growth driver for all functional software markets. By 2019, the SaaS software model will account for $1 of every $4 spent on software. Q: Let us in on some of your secrets… where do you look for innovation? For inspiration and revolutionary ideas? A: Ideas for new startups often begin with a real problem that needs to be solved. And they don’t come while you’re sitting around sipping coffee and contemplating life. They tend to reveal themselves while you’re at work on something else. Start with brainstorming with problems that you are personally invested in. Building a business is hard and takes the kind of relentless dedication that comes from personal passion. Perhaps the greatest factor that determines whether or not an entrepreneur will be successful isn’t the business idea itself, but rather the entrepreneur’s willingness to try to turn the idea into reality. Great ideas are abundant, but it’s what we decide to do with them that counts. Original post: http://saasaddict.walkme.com/from-green-to-smart-tom-gorskis-words-of-advice/

Need advice: Getting first paid customers for our AI subtitle generator[i will not promote]

we've built an AI-animated subtitle generator that helps content creators and video editors make viral-ready short-form videos in just a few taps. Here's where we are right now: 4,400+ signups in our first month after launch 70%+ activation rate (people actually processing and exporting videos) Industry-best word-by-word timestamp accuracy Support for 100+ languages (while competitors offer only 58+) Currently getting about 10 new organic signups daily (zero marketing) Users create \~25 projects per day on average The problem? Zero paying customers so far. Despite solid engagement metrics and what seems like a product people actually use, we haven't converted anyone to a paid plan. I'm guessing our pricing, packaging, or conversion strategy needs work. For those who've been through this stage: what was your breakthrough moment in getting those first paid users? Did you have to change your pricing model, add specific features, or implement particular conversion tactics? Any advice from those who've successfully crossed this milestone would be incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance!

Content aggregation that acts as a middleman for content discovery via third-party marketplace & revenue sharing (i will not promote but I'm looking for fellow researchers)

High level I’m considering a content aggregation business model, but one that acts as an open marketplace where third party devs and where world class data scientists compete to build the best recommenders for different use cases. (E.g. the incentives can be ad revenue sharing or subscription based for niche professional markets.) The idea is to facilitate more bottom up innovation from third party data scientists. The platform itself just acts as the middleman. (Also something that strips out original ads and makes it easy to skip paid sponsorship sections would be great.)  I’ve seen startups building web crawlers and content aggregation systems for other AI startups. My proposal is better in the sense that third party devs are instead responsible for implementing whatever questionable hacks are necessarily to scrape platforms that don’t necessarily want to be scraped.  Personally, I’m more concerned about getting the right information than ever before, to this end I can’t rely on platform specific recommenders. The solution is more bottom up innovation in content promotion. More generally, if you’re also concerned about consuming game changing information that’s too easily missed: we need a platform that incentivizes bottom up innovation of content promotion. What we need is a platform that functions like a marketplace where third party devs and where world class data scientists compete to build the best recommenders for different use cases. Here’s some elevator pitches I’m considering:  Did you know that the magic behind YouTube is its recommendation engine? Now, imagine an open platform where independent engines compete to deliver the most personalized content feed—from news to local events—directly to you. Interested in rethinking how we find content? “In today’s fragmented digital landscape, a single platform no longer holds sway over content discovery. The Network Effect is dead: audiences are more mobile than ever; and big tech killed it. In such a fragmented landscape we’re building a bottom-up, decentralized marketplace for recommendation engines—a solution that taps into diverse revenue streams through subscriptions, ad revenue, and affiliate partnerships. Invest in the future of personalized content aggregation.” “Are you a developer passionate about algorithms and content discovery? Our open marketplace lets you build and monetize your own recommendation engine, competing to deliver the most engaging, personalized feeds. Join a revolution where your innovation can directly shape how the world finds content.” “Are you tired of being told what to watch or read by one mysterious algorithm? Imagine taking control—choosing from a marketplace of smart recommendation engines that curate content just for you. It’s a revolution in content discovery where you hold the power.” (As a Utahn this one is interesting because even mormons are talking about the dangers of “doom scrolling” though it’s seldom discussed in society at large.) As far as simple hooks I’m considering:  One platform to rule them all and in the darkness bind them.  Choose how you discover—content recommenders that work for you.  The area where recommender engines battle to win your feed. Request I would love to start prototyping this idea and see what else I can uncover from such preliminary research. But I want to get a couple other likeminded individuals onboard.  I'm the best when it comes to iOS/macOS development, but there's tons of backend work that needs to be done which I wouldn’t have the time for if i'm focused on the native clients. Who am I 'ideally' looking for?  I’ve heard of weird stats to the effect that if you scale up a population to billions of people, the number of life overlaps starts skyrocketing. Not just physical lookalikes, but people with eerily similar life paths, personalities, habits, and even thoughts — without ever knowing each other. Where are my clones? Such is whom I’m looking for in an ideal world.  Take a hunch  People nowadays have no concept of going out on a limb, taking a ‘hunch’, and backing their instincts. Everything has to be calculated, proven, and guaranteed before they make a move. In contrast consider the success of the Chinese DeepSeek project: According to Asianometry’s YouTube video on DeepSeek, their “memory-saving multi-head latent architecture” (whatever that means, just quoting the name) came about from a researchers ‘hunch’, which the company bet big on and the result was drastically improved performance on low end hardware…  Here in the west the idea of betting on a hunch is inconceivable. We have no balls to chase long term insights. My own instincts when it comes to software is such because I’ve wasted too much of my life on small scale projects. All I’m trying to do is attempt a more scaled up experiment based on some hunches with me and a few other likeminded individuals.  Just as the early oil prospectors didn’t have precise maps—just intuition and test drills. They had to drill, analyze the pressure, and adjust. The best oil fields weren’t found by foresight alone, but by adaptive exploration. The startup space itself is liken to the first prospectors who got the gold nuggets lying in the riverbed. In such an environment moving first has its advantages but nowadays I wish I could have all those shitty ‘engineers’ sent to their maker.  Today the reality is such that you’ve got to dig deep—where vast stores of wealth can be found—or go home, and those who dig into the depths cannot use mere forethought, for what lies beneath cannot be seen by the mind’s eye.  I will not promote but I'm looking for fellow research oriented minds.

Using Claude.. I think I may have built something - suggested next steps, maybe get a dev house to build it? (I will not promote)

So, for context, I am an IT manager (non code) so I can converse all around tech, but I've just never had the nack for coding. My brain doesn't like it. I've been using different AI's for a while for general stuff, but I thought I would give Claude a go to build something that just popped into my head. Took me a while to figure out how to prompt it correctly, but it appears to have built each of the sections of this browser extension tool and even wrote me a business plan on it (which I didn't ask it to do). I had to pay for premium but boy did it just go to work. It has absolutely given me more than any other AI model yet including deepseek, chatgpt (free) and google gemini advanced (pro), I just don't know if it is good. Claude gave me the code as requested for the admin dashboard, backend implementation, browser extension, and security implementation - though I do recognise it probably won't be perfect and there will still be loads to do to get a fully functioning mvp together. So, I have this code... that I don't know how to use :D I'm a business mind that can speak technical, and I am looking to progress this forward. What are your suggestions to get it fully implemented? Find a partner/CTO (up for 50/50 split preferably in the UK), engage a dev shop to build it out, or I've heard places like fiverr are decent? Thoughts?

Looking for a tech cofounder. Revoltionary (yes really!) gig economy app. I will not promote.

Hey everyone! I’m building a new gig-work app that cuts out the hassles of interviews, applications, and sky-high fees. We’re aiming to make it easy for businesses to hire qualified freelancers for short shifts or one-off tasks—and for freelancers to set their own rates and get paid quickly. Why This App? Time-Saving Model: Instead of posting jobs and conducting multiple interviews, employers can instantly book from a list of KYC-verified freelancers who showcase their skills via 30-second video bios. Cost Leadership: We plan to charge only 5%, far below the 15–50% common in other gig platforms. This keeps more money in the pockets of both freelancers and businesses. Proven Demand: A beta test in 2018 drew nearly 600 active users, validating that there’s appetite for a simpler, fairer way to fill short shifts. About Me 20+ years’ experience in payroll, workforce management, and operations for Fortune 500 companies. Led cross-functional teams, implemented large-scale solutions, and believe in building with a user-first mindset. Offering meaningful equity—I want a true partner, not a hired gun. Who I’m Looking For Full-Stack Developer (comfortable with Node.js, React, Python, or similar and ML/Ai) who can manage everything from front-end to database integration (ideally Postgres/MySQL) and build a same day payments system. Passion for creating solutions that genuinely help gig workers and small businesses. Excitement to collaborate on the product roadmap, from the booking interface to same-day payment features. The Opportunity Major Market: The gig economy is huge and still growing. If we nail speed, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use, we can capture a significant share of it. Remote-Friendly: We can work together from anywhere, though I’m planning to relaunch in London where the initial beta gained momentum. If this sounds like your kind of challenge, drop a comment or DM me. Let’s chat about how we can merge our strengths—my operations background and your technical expertise—to build a platform that truly transforms the gig-work experience. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to creating something impactful together!

Enterprise folks how are you implementing AI in your company? Any success cases?

Curious to hear how you’re currently implementing AI company-wide? Use-cases, workflows, et al. We are on the path to adopting AI-enabled workflows across different departments, from sales and marketing to operations (eg. extracting data via IoT, generating reports, implementing custom AI chatbots, etc.) Also, we’re looking into custom AI solutions as opposed to going the generic route (OpenAi et al.) From what we’ve looked into, despite seemingly convenient, closed-source models (OpenAI and other competitors) lack certain capabilities that can quickly become a headache for enterprise adoption. Compliance, customization, fine-tuning, and systems integration, in particular, have all been a bottleneck with the ChatGPT's of the world. We’re looking into several custom AI solution providers that can meet our budget, compliance requirements, and timelines. Bigger firms (BCG, et al.) tend to charge a “reputational” premium and the onboarding process is an absolute nightmare from what I’ve heard. As an alternative, we're currently considering implementing custom AI solutions via multimodal. dev. Thoughts on this? Also how are you implementing AI in your company?

Lessons from 139 YC AI startups (S23)

YC's Demo Day was last week, and with it comes another deluge of AI companies. A record-breaking 139 startups were in some way related to AI or ML - up from 112 in the last batch. Here are 5 of my biggest takeaways: AI is (still) eating the world. It's remarkable how diverse the industries are - over two dozen verticals were represented, from materials science to social media to security. However, the top four categories were: AI Ops: Tooling and platforms to help companies deploy working AI models. We'll discuss more below, but AI Ops has become a huge category, primarily focused on LLMs and taming them for production use cases. Developer Tools: Apps, plugins, and SDKs making it easier to write code. There were plenty of examples of integrating third-party data, auto-generating code/tests, and working with agents/chatbots to build and debug code. Healthcare + Biotech: It seems like healthcare has a lot of room for automation, with companies working on note-taking, billing, training, and prescribing. And on the biotech side, there are some seriously cool companies building autonomous surgery robots and at-home cancer detection. Finance + Payments: Startups targeting banks, fintechs, and compliance departments. This was a wide range of companies, from automated collections to AI due diligence to "Copilot for bankers." Those four areas covered over half of the startups. The first two make sense: YC has always filtered for technical founders, and many are using AI to do what they know - improve the software developer workflow. But it's interesting to see healthcare and finance not far behind. Previously, I wrote: Large enterprises, healthcare, and government are not going to send sensitive data to OpenAI. This leaves a gap for startups to build on-premise, compliant \[LLMs\] for these verticals. And we're now seeing exactly that - LLMs focused on healthcare and finance and AI Ops companies targeting on-prem use cases. It also helps that one of the major selling points of generative AI right now is cost-cutting - an enticing use case for healthcare and finance. Copilots are king. In the last batch, a lot of startups positioned themselves as "ChatGPT for X," with a consumer focus. It seems the current trend, though, is "Copilot for X" - B2B AI assistants to help you do everything from KYC checks to corporate event planning to chip design to negotiate contracts. Nearly two dozen companies were working on some sort of artificial companion for businesses - and a couple for consumers. It's more evidence for the argument that AI will not outright replace workers - instead, existing workers will collaborate with AI to be more productive. And as AI becomes more mainstream, this trend of making specialized tools for specific industries or tasks will only grow. That being said - a Bing-style AI that lives in a sidebar and is only accessible via chat probably isn't the most useful form factor for AI. But until OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google change their approach (or until another company steps up), we'll probably see many more Copilots. AI Ops is becoming a key sector. "AI Ops" has been a term for only a few years. "LLM Ops" has existed for barely a year. And yet, so many companies are focused on training, fine-tuning, deploying, hosting, and post-processing LLMs it's quickly becoming a critical piece of the AI space. It's a vast industry that's sprung up seemingly overnight, and it was pretty interesting to see some of the problems being solved at the bleeding edge. For example: Adding context to language models with as few as ten samples. Pausing and moving training runs in real-time. Managing training data ownership and permissions. Faster vector databases. Fine-tuning models with synthetic data. But as much ~~hype~~ enthusiasm and opportunity as there might be, the size of the AI Ops space also shows how much work is needed to really productionalize LLMs and other models. There are still many open questions about reliability, privacy, observability, usability, and safety when it comes to using LLMs in the wild. Who owns the model? Does it matter? Nine months ago, anyone building an LLM company was doing one of three things: Training their own model from scratch. Fine-tuning a version of GPT-3. Building a wrapper around ChatGPT. Thanks to Meta, the open-source community, and the legions of competitors trying to catch up to OpenAI, there are now dozens of ways to integrate LLMs. However, I found it interesting how few B2B companies mentioned whether or not they trained their own model. If I had to guess, I'd say many are using ChatGPT or a fine-tuned version of Llama 2. But it raises an interesting question - if the AI provides value, does it matter if it's "just" ChatGPT behind the scenes? And once ChatGPT becomes fine-tuneable, when (if ever) will startups decide to ditch OpenAI and use their own model instead? "AI" isn't a silver bullet. At the end of the day, perhaps the biggest lesson is that "AI" isn't a magical cure-all - you still need to build a defensible company. At the beginning of the post-ChatGPT hype wave, it seemed like you just had to say "we're adding AI" to raise your next round or boost your stock price. But competition is extremely fierce. Even within this batch, there were multiple companies with nearly identical pitches, including: Solving customer support tickets. Negotiating sales contracts. Writing drafts of legal documents. Building no-code LLM workflows. On-prem LLM deployment. Automating trust and safety moderation. As it turns out, AI can be a competitive advantage, but it can't make up for a bad business. The most interesting (and likely valuable) companies are the ones that take boring industries and find non-obvious use cases for AI. In those cases, the key is having a team that can effectively distribute a product to users, with or without AI. Where we’re headed I'll be honest - 139 companies is a lot. In reviewing them all, there were points where it just felt completely overwhelming. But after taking a step back, seeing them all together paints an incredibly vivid picture of the current AI landscape: one that is diverse, rapidly evolving, and increasingly integrated into professional and personal tasks. These startups aren't just building AI for the sake of technology or academic research, but are trying to address real-world problems. Technology is always a double-edged sword - and some of the startups felt a little too dystopian for my taste - but I'm still hopeful about AI's ability to improve productivity and the human experience.

The #1 Mistake Entrepreneurs Make – And How to Avoid It Before Launching Your Startup (I will not promote)

Why So Many Startups Fail Before They Even Begin A huge number of early-stage entrepreneurs fall into the same trap: They get excited about their idea but don’t validate if the market actually wants it. They invest time and money building something nobody will pay for. They focus on execution first instead of proof of demand. By the time reality hits, they’ve burned months (or years) and thousands of dollars—just to learn the hard way that they started wrong. How do we prevent this? What’s the best way to validate a business idea before wasting resources? According to your unique experiences, what’s the Smartest Way to Validate a Startup Idea? I’ve been working on new approaches to validation that combine: ✔ AI-powered feasibility analysis to assess business potential instantly. ✔ Market research frameworks that help test demand before launching. ✔ Lean execution models that prevent unnecessary risk. But I want to hear from you: How did YOU validate your startup idea before launching? What methods have actually worked to confirm demand? What’s one mistake you made in your early-stage startup that others can avoid? The best insights come from real founders who’ve been in the trenches. Let’s break down what actually works. Drop your thoughts below! 👇 (I will not promote).

Does this sound useful? [I will not promote]

My idea is an AI model that helps business owner make smart decisions no matter their size. (Mentor in your pocket) No more spending ours researching, Validating, planning, time wasting decision discussions etc 🕑Save Time > Saving Money💰 ⬇️Read for a better understanding⬇️ 1) give it context about your business( the more specific the better) 2) ask it a question. E.g "I need a marketing strategy that appeals to the X audience more " E.g "At the current rate is my business dying?" E.g "give me a step by step guide using the resources I have that can get my business up and running" 3) results aren't just pulled out of the air but are pulled from a database with answers and case studies to back up the answer. E.g "company Y had competition with company X in [2012] to get a larger market share so company Y...[The decisions that company made to get the result similar to the problem your facing]" This would even be friendly for people who wish to start a new business. •E.g prompt: "[ input idea] please validate my idea, does it suck?" Result could even be from a specific entrepreneur. E.g • "Alex Hormozi states that ... in the book $100M Offers. And it seems you are missing ... from his framework." Here is what you can do to [Desired result]. (You can specify which entrepreneur or the AI will select the most relevant one to you.)

Finally Launched My First App Without Any Coding Experience

About Myself I am a structural engineer that are taught to design buildings in the day and I have been dreaming forever to build a SaaS business to get out of the rat race. However, as a structural engineer, coding is definitely not something I am capable of doing (I have some simple knowledge, but its no way close to building an app) The Journey As I've mentioned, I always wanted to build a SaaS business because in my mind the business model is most attractive to me, where you only need to build once and can sell to millions. So I started off searching and exploring on the internet and my first ever "SaaS" was from Wordpress. I am buying plugin from other user and then pluggin into my own Wordpress website. It was a project management tool SaaS. I was so excited about the website and can't even sleep well at night because I'm just so hype about it. But, the reality is because this is my first ever business, I totally didn't realise about the importance of UI UX or my business differentiation, thinking that everyone will be as excited as I am. Then, I went deeper and deeper into the journey (I can write more about this in another post if anyone is interested) and finally landed on Flutterflow to create my first ever app. No Code Journey Thanks to no code builder, I never thought that a non-coder like me can ever create an app and got accepted by the App Store/Play Store. Since that I am using a low-code builder, for any specific requirement that I need that are not covered natively, I will just talk to ChatGPT and boom I pretty much got most of the answer I needed. About The App As someone that always try to keep track of my expenses, I never able to find an app that are simple and interesting enough for me to continue on the journey. I realise that I could have incorporate AI into this journey and hence there go, I created an AI Money Tracker. Let me introduce Rolly: AI Money Tracker - a new AI expense tracker where you can easily record your transactions just by chatting with our bot Rolly and it will automatically record and categorise the transaction into the most suitable category (you can also create any of your own category and it will also take care of it in consideration). I am not sharing the app link here to avoid getting ban, but feel free to search up Rolly: AI Money Tracker on either App Store on Play Store. My Learnings As someone that can't code and never imagine that I could create a production app by myself and publish it on to the App Store and Play Store. Since I am not making any money yet and just at the beginning of my entrepreneur journey, I can't give any substantial advice, all I can say is just my own learnings and feelings. My advice is if you have a dream of building a business, just go for it, don't worry about all the problems that you can think of to convince yourself not making the start at all. From my point of view, as long as you're not giving up everything (eg, putting yourself in huge debt etc), why don't just go for it and you've got nothing much to lose. You'll only lose if you never even get started. And also, I believe that creating an app is always the easiest step out of the entreprenuership journey, marketing and distribution is the key to success. Even though you've spent days and nights on it and it might mean everything to you, the truth is people don't really cares and you'll need to market for it. I am still in journey to learn how to do marketing, content, building a business and everything. I think this is just a very beginning of my journey and hopefully there's more interesting one to share further down the road.

Have you ever heard of a successful startup where the founder was way out of their depth?

Hello everyone, I'm an aspiring entrepreneur with a business idea, but I'm currently facing a dilemma and would appreciate some advice from those who have been in similar situations. My business idea involves creating a web app that leverages AI to provide users with insights and personalized recommendations based on their uploaded video. The goal is to help users improve their performance in video. While I believe in the potential of this idea, I’m finding the technical complexity daunting, particularly the development and maintenance of the AI models required to analyze user input effectively. (I haven’t got an experience with ai models, so I would have to use over the counter models & I would rely on chat gpt for insight in how to fix problems with it). I have some technical background, but I’m concerned that I could be outmatched in this space, which has made me question whether this is the right path to pursue. Is it realistic to assume that I could get investors to back me if I gain enough traction even with my lack of technical experience?

Selling equity - what’s next?

Hey all, Seeking some guidance / advice as I plan my exit from a marketing agency I helped grow to $5M Long story short, I was hired part time to build their digital marketing department that sat at around 40k annual agency revenue. Since then I’ve become a minority equity partner, and at one point the agency was above $5M in gross agency revenue. The digital department that I run had up to 13 FTE employees at one point And digital revenue accounted for 60% of all agency revenue for the last 3-4 years. So, why am I leaving? Things are groovy, right? Well, we have dropped from $5M to now $3M this year and we’ll be lucky to hit that. As a minority equity party it’s been hard to watch leadership continue to disregard our agency as a digital agency. They don’t want to niche down, and they don’t want to identify as a digital agency, but instead by a full service “strategic agency”. Clients have felt our lack of expertise and direction, so they leave for someone who is an expert in xyz platform or industry. I no longer see their vision, and so I’m planning a sale of my equity and looking for new venture opportunities. While I am perfectly capable of running Google ads and Facebook ads campaigns, and as an accomplished SEO I know how to rank sites, and still find it fun. But I’m not interested in the labor arbitrage model of agency work anymore. I’d rather build a portfolio of in-house properties or digital assets where I have more control. Lately my obsession has been using AI and zapier to automate business processes, documentation, project management etc. Agency life has also exposed me to a lot of industries and business models, which I am always fascinated by. Eventually I will launch my own business, but I’m supporting my partner while they finish school. So I’m a single income household.. Therefore a W2 would be ideal but I’m open to contract work. So my question is- what positions or roles would I fill? I’ve done my share of research but this community has always given me new things to consider. Any feedback or questions are welcomed.

10y of product development, 2 bankruptcies, and 1 Exit — what next? [Extended Story]

10 years of obsessive pursuit from the bottom to impressive product-market fit and exit. Bootstrapping tech products as Software Developer and 3x Startup Founder (2 bankruptcies and 1 exit). Hi everyone, your motivation has inspired me to delve deeper into my story. So, as promised to some of you, I've expanded on it a bit more, along with my brief reflections. There are many founders, product creators, and proactive individuals, I’ve read many of your crazy stories and lessons so I decided to share mine and the lessons I learned from the bottom to impressive product-market fit and exit. I've spent almost the past 10 years building tech products as a Corporate Team Leader, Senior Software Developer, Online Course Creator, Programming Tutor, Head of Development/CTO, and 3x Startup Founder (2 bankruptcies, and 1 exit). And what next? good question... A brief summary of my journey: Chapter 1: Software Developer / Team Leader / Senior Software Developer I’ve always wanted to create products that win over users’ hearts, carry value, and influence users. Ever since my school days, I’ve loved the tech part of building digital products. At the beginning of school, I started hosting servers for games, blogs and internet forums, and other things that did not require much programming knowledge. My classmates and later even over 100 people played on servers that I hosted on my home PC. Later, as the only person in school, I passed the final exam in computer science. During my computer science studies, I started my first job as a software developer. It was crazy, I was spending 200–300 hours a month in the office attending also to daily classes. Yes, I didn’t have a life, but it truly was the fulfillment of my dreams. I was able to earn good money doing what I love, and I devoted fully myself to it. My key to effectively studying IT and growing my knowledge at rocket speed was learning day by day reading guides, building products to the portfolio, watching youtube channels and attending conferences, and even watching them online, even if I didn’t understand everything at the beginning. In one year we’ve been to every possible event within 400km. We were building healthcare products that were actually used in hospitals and medical facilities. It was a beautiful adventure and tons of knowledge I took from this place. That time I built my first product teams, hired many great people, and over the years became a senior developer and team leader. Even I convinced my study mates to apply to this company and we studied together and worked as well. Finally, there were 4 of us, when I left a friend of mine took over my position and still works there. If you’re reading this, I’m sending you a flood of love and appreciation. I joined as the 8th person, and after around 4 years, when I left hungry for change, there were already over 30 of us, now around 100. It was a good time, greetings to everyone. I finished my Master’s and Engineering degrees in Computer Science, and it was time for changes. Chapter 2: 1st time as a Co-founder — Marketplace In the meantime, there was also my first startup (a marketplace) with four of my friends. We all worked on the product, each of us spent thousands of hours, after hours, entire weekends… and I think finally over a year of work. As you might guess, we lacked the most important things: sales, marketing, and product-market fit. We thought users think like us. We all also worked commercially, so the work went very smoothly, but we didn’t know what we should do next with it… Finally, we didn’t have any customers, but you know what, I don’t regret it, a lot of learning things which I used many times later. The first attempts at validating the idea with the market and business activities. In the end, the product was Airbnb-sized. Landing pages, listings, user panels, customer panels, admin site, notifications, caches, queues, load balancing, and much more. We wanted to publish the fully ready product to the market. It was a marketplace, so if you can guess, we had to attract both sides to be valuable. “Marketplace” — You can imagine something like Uber, if you don’t have passengers it was difficult to convince taxi drivers, if you don’t have a large number of taxi drivers you cannot attract passengers. After a year of development, we were overloaded, and without business, marketing, sales knowledge, and budget. Chapter 3: Corp Team Lead / Programming Tutor / Programming Architecture Workshop Leader Working in a corporation, a totally different environment, an international fintech, another learning experience, large products, and workmates who were waiting for 5 pm to finish — it wasn’t for me. Very slow product development, huge hierarchy, being an ant at the bottom, and low impact on the final product. At that time I understood that being a software developer is not anything special and I compared my work to factory worker. Sorry for that. High rates have been pumped only by high demand. Friends of mine from another industry do more difficult things and have a bigger responsibility for lower rates. That’s how the market works. This lower responsibility time allowed for building the first online course after hours, my own course platform, individual teaching newbies programming, and my first huge success — my first B2C customers, and B2B clients for workshops. I pivoted to full focus on sales, marketing, funnels, advertisements, demand, understanding the market, etc. It was 10x easier than startups but allowed me to learn and validate my conceptions and ideas on an easier market and showed me that it’s much easier to locate their problem/need/want and create a service/product that responds to it than to convince people of your innovative ideas. It’s just supply and demand, such a simple and basic statement, in reality, is very deep and difficult to understand without personal experience. If you’re inexperienced and you think you understand, you don’t. To this day, I love to analyze this catchword in relation to various industries / services / products and rediscover it again and again... While writing this sentence, I’m wondering if I’m not obsessed. Chapter 4: Next try — 2nd time as a founder — Edtech Drawing upon my experiences in selling services, offering trainings, and teaching programming, I wanted to broaden my horizons, delve into various fields of knowledge, involve more teachers, and so on. We started with simple services in different fields of knowledge, mainly relying on teaching in the local area (without online lessons). As I had already gathered some knowledge and experience in marketing and sales, things were going well and were moving in the right direction. The number of teachers in various fields was growing, as was the number of students. I don’t remember the exact statistics anymore, but it was another significant achievement that brought me a lot of satisfaction and new experiences. As you know, I’m a technology lover and couldn’t bear to look at manual processes — I wanted to automate everything: lessons, payments, invoices, customer service, etc. That’s when I hired our first developers (if you’re reading this, I’m sending you a flood of love — we spent a lot of time together and I remember it as a very fruitful and great year) and we began the process of tool and automation development. After a year we had really extended tools for students, teachers, franchise owners, etc. We had really big goals, we wanted to climb higher and higher. Maybe I wouldn’t even fully call it Startup, as the client was paying for the lessons, not for the software. But it gave us positive income, bootstrap financing, and tool development for services provided. Scaling this model was not as costless as SaaS because customer satisfaction was mainly on the side of the teacher, not the quality of the product (software). Finally, we grew to nearly 10 people and dozens of teachers, with zero external funding, and almost $50k monthly revenue. We worked very hard, day and night, and by November 2019, we were packed with clients to the brim. And as you know, that’s when the pandemic hit. It turned everything upside down by 180 degrees. Probably no one was ready for it. With a drastic drop in revenues, society started to save. Tired from the previous months, we had to work even harder. We had to reduce the team, change the model, and save what we had built. We stopped the tool’s development and sales, and with the developers, we started supporting other product teams to not fire them in difficult times. The tool worked passively for the next two years, reducing incomes month by month. With a smaller team providing programming services, we had full stability and earned more than relying only on educational services. At the peak of the pandemic, I promised myself that it was the last digital product I built… Never say never… Chapter 5: Time for fintech — Senior Software Developer / Team Lead / Head of Development I worked for small startups and companies. Building products from scratch, having a significant impact on the product, and complete fulfillment. Thousands of hours and sacrifices. This article mainly talks about startups that I built, so I don’t want to list all the companies, products, and applications that I supported as a technology consultant. These were mainly start-ups with a couple of people up to around 100 people on board. Some of the products were just a rescue mission, others were building an entire tech team. I was fully involved in all of them with the hope that we would work together for a long time, but I wasn’t the only one who made mistakes when looking for a product-market fit. One thing I fully understood: You can’t spend 8–15 hours a day writing code, managing a tech team, and still be able to help build an audience. In marketing and sales, you need to be rested and very creative to bring results and achieve further results and goals. If you have too many responsibilities related to technology, it becomes ineffective. I noticed that when I have more free time, more time to think, and more time to bounce the ball against the wall, I come up with really working marketing/sales strategies and solutions. It’s impossible when you are focused on code all day. You must know that this chapter of my life was long and has continued until now. Chapter 6: 3rd time as a founder — sold Never say never… right?\\ It was a time when the crypto market was really high and it was really trending topic. You know that I love technology right? So I cannot miss the blockchain world. I had experience in blockchain topics by learning on my own and from startups where I worked before. I was involved in crypto communities and I noticed a “starving crowd”. People who did things manually and earned money(crypto) on it.I found potential for building a small product that solves a technological problem. I said a few years before that I don’t want to start from scratch. I decided to share my observations and possibilities with my good friend. He said, “If you gonna built it, I’m in”. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had thought and planned every aspect of marketing and sales. And you know what. On this huge mindmap “product” was only one block. 90% of the mindmap was focused on marketing and sales. Now, writing this article, I understood what path I went from my first startup to this one. In the first (described earlier) 90% was the product, but in the last one 90% was sales and marketing. Many years later, I did this approach automatically. What has changed in my head over the years and so many mistakes? At that time, the company for which I provided services was acquired. The next day I got a thank you for my hard work and all my accounts were blocked. Life… I was shocked. We were simply replaced by their trusted technology managers. They wanted to get full control. They acted a bit unkindly, but I knew that they had all my knowledge about the product in the documentation, because I’m used to drawing everything so that in the moment of my weakness (illness, whatever) the team could handle it. That’s what solid leaders do, right? After a time, I know that these are normal procedures in financial companies, the point is that under the influence of emotions, do not do anything inappropriate. I quickly forgot about it, that I was brutally fired. All that mattered was to bring my plan to life. And it has been started, 15–20 hours a day every day. You have to believe me, getting back into the game was incredibly satisfying for me. I didn’t even know that I would be so excited. Then we also noticed that someone was starting to think about the same product as me. So the race began a game against time and the market. I assume that if you have reached this point, you are interested in product-market fit, marketing, and sales, so let me explain my assumptions to you: Product: A very very small tool that allowed you to automate proper tracking and creation of on-chain transactions. Literally, the whole app for the user was located on only three subpages. Starving Crowd: We tapped into an underserved market. The crypto market primarily operates via communities on platforms like Discord, Reddit, Twitter, Telegram, and so on. Therefore, our main strategy was directly communicating with users and demonstrating our tool. This was essentially “free marketing” (excluding the time we invested), as we did not need to invest in ads, promotional materials, or convince people about the efficacy of our tool. The community could directly observe on-chain transactions executed by our algorithms, which were processed at an exceptionally fast rate. This was something they couldn’t accomplish manually, so whenever someone conducted transactions using our algorithm, it was immediately noticeable and stirred a curiosity within the community (how did they do that!). Tests: I conducted the initial tests of the application on myself — we had already invested significantly in developing the product, but I preferred risking my own resources over that of the users. I provided the tool access to my wallet, containing 0.3ETH, and went to sleep. Upon waking up, I discovered that the transactions were successful and my wallet had grown to 0.99ETH. My excitement knew no bounds, it felt like a windfall. But, of course, there was a fair chance I could have lost it too. It worked. As we progressed, some users achieved higher results, but it largely hinged on the parameters set by them. As you can surmise, the strategy was simple — buy low, sell high. There was considerable risk involved. Churn: For those versed in marketing, the significance of repeat visitors cannot be overstated. Access to our tool was granted only after email verification and a special technique that I’d prefer to keep confidential. And this was all provided for free. While we had zero followers on social media, we saw an explosion in our email subscriber base and amassed a substantial number of users and advocates. Revenue Generation: Our product quickly gained popularity as we were effectively helping users earn — an undeniable value proposition. Now, it was time to capitalize on our efforts. We introduced a subscription model charging $300 per week or $1,000 per month — seemingly high rates, but the demand was so intense that it wasn’t an issue. Being a subscriber meant you were prioritized in the queue, ensuring you were among the first to reap benefits — thus adding more “value”. Marketing: The quality of our product and its ability to continually engage users contributed to it achieving what can best be described as viral. It was both a source of pride and astonishment to witness users sharing charts and analyses derived from our tool in forum discussions. They weren’t actively promoting our product but rather using screenshots from our application to illustrate certain aspects of the crypto world. By that stage, we had already assembled a team to assist with marketing, and programming, and to provide round-the-clock helpdesk support. Unforgettable Time: Despite the hype, my focus remained steadfast on monitoring our servers, their capacity, and speed. Considering we had only been on the market for a few weeks, we were yet to implement alerts, server scaling, etc. Our active user base spanned from Japan to the West Coast of the United States. Primarily, our application was used daily during the evenings, but considering the variety of time zones, the only time I could afford to sleep was during the evening hours in Far Eastern Europe, where we had the least users. However, someone always needed to be on guard, and as such, my phone was constantly by my side. After all, we couldn’t afford to let our users down. We found ourselves working 20 hours a day, catering to thousands of users, enduring physical fatigue, engaging in talks with VCs, and participating in conferences. Sudden Downturn: Our pinnacle was abruptly interrupted by the war in Ukraine (next macroeconomic shot straight in the face, lucky guy), a precipitous drop in cryptocurrency value, and swiftly emerging competition. By this time, there were 5–8 comparable tools had infiltrated the market. It was a challenging period as we continually stumbled upon new rivals. They immediately embarked on swift fundraising endeavors — a strategy we overlooked, which in retrospect was a mistake. Although our product was superior, the competitors’ rapid advancement and our insufficient funds for expeditious scaling posed significant challenges. Nonetheless, we made a good decision. We sold the product (exit) to competitors. The revenue from “exit” compensated for all the losses, leaving us with enough rest. We were a small team without substantial budgets for rapid development, and the risk of forming new teams without money to survive for more than 1–2 months was irresponsible. You have to believe me that this decision consumed us sleepless nights. Finally, we sold it. They turned off our app but took algorithms and users. Whether you believe it or not, after several months of toiling day and night, experiencing burnout, growing weary of the topic, and gaining an extra 15 kg in weight, we finally found our freedom… The exit wasn’t incredibly profitable, but we knew they had outdone us. The exit covered all our expenses and granted us a well-deserved rest for the subsequent quarter. It was an insane ride. Despite the uncertainty, stress, struggles, and sleepless nights, the story and experience will remain etched in my memory for the rest of my life. Swift Takeaways: Comprehending User Needs: Do you fully understand the product-market fit? Is your offering just an accessory or does it truly satisfy the user’s needs? The Power of Viral Marketing: Take inspiration from giants like Snapchat, ChatGPT, and Clubhouse. While your product might not attain the same scale (but remember, never say never…), the closer your concept is to theirs, the easier your journey will be. If your user is motivated to text a friend saying, “Hey, check out how cool this is” (like sharing ChatGPT), then you’re on the best track. Really. Even if it doesn’t seem immediately evident, there could be a way to incorporate this into your product. Keep looking until you find it. Niche targeting — the more specific and tailored your product is to a certain audience, the easier your journey will be People love buying from people — establishing a personal brand and associating yourself with the product can make things easier. Value: Seek to understand why users engage with your product and keep returning. The more specific and critical the issue you’re aiming to solve, the easier your path will be. Consider your offerings in terms of products and services and focus on sales and marketing, regardless of personal sentiments. These are just a few points, I plan to elaborate on all of them in a separate article. Many products undergo years of development in search of market fit, refining the user experience, and more. And guess what? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Each product and market follows its own rules. Many startups have extensive histories before they finally make their mark (for instance, OpenAI). This entire journey spanned maybe 6–8 months. I grasped and capitalized on the opportunity, but we understood from the start that establishing a startup carried a significant risk, and our crypto product was 10 times riskier. Was it worth it? Given my passion for product development — absolutely. Was it profitable? — No, considering the hours spent — we lose. Did it provide a stable, problem-free life — nope. Did this entire adventure offer a wealth of happiness, joy, and unforgettable experiences — definitely yes. One thing is certain — we’ve amassed substantial experience and it’s not over yet :) So, what lies ahead? Chapter 7: Reverting to the contractor, developing a product for a crypto StartupReturning to the past, we continue our journey… I had invested substantial time and passion into the tech rescue mission product. I came on board as the technical Team Leader of a startup that had garnered over $20M in seed round funding, affiliated with the realm of cryptocurrencies. The investors were individuals with extensive backgrounds in the crypto world. My role was primarily technical, and there was an abundance of work to tackle. I was fully immersed, and genuinely devoted to the role. I was striving for excellence, knowing that if we secured another round of financing, the startup would accelerate rapidly. As for the product and marketing, I was more of an observer. After all, there were marketing professionals with decades of experience on board. These were individuals recruited from large crypto-related firms. I had faith in them, kept an eye on their actions, and focused on my own responsibilities. However, the reality was far from satisfactory. On the last day, the principal investor for the Series A round withdrew. The board made the tough decision to shut down. It was a period of intense observation and gaining experience in product management. This was a very brief summary of the last 10 years. And what next? (Last) Chapter 8: To be announced — Product Owner / Product Consultant / Strategist / CTO After spending countless hours and days deliberating my next steps, one thing is clear: My aspiration is to continue traversing the path of software product development, with the hopeful anticipation that one day, I might ride the crest of the next big wave and ascend to the prestigious status of a unicorn company. I find myself drawn to the process of building products, exploring product-market fit, strategizing, engaging in software development, seeking out new opportunities, networking, attending conferences, and continuously challenging myself by understanding the market and its competitive landscape. Product Owner / Product Consultant / CTO / COO: I’m not entirely sure how to categorize this role, as I anticipate that it will largely depend on the product to which I will commit myself fully. My idea is to find one startup/company that wants to build a product / or already has a product, want to speed up, or simply doesn’t know what’s next. Alternatively, I could be a part of an established company with a rich business history, which intends to invest in digitization and technological advancements. The goal would be to enrich their customer experience by offering complementary digital products Rather than initiating a new venture from ground zero with the same team, I am receptive to new challenges. I am confident that my past experiences will prove highly beneficial for the founders of promising, burgeoning startups that already possess a product, or are in the initial phases of development. ‘Consultant’ — I reckon we interpret this term differently. My aim is to be completely absorbed in a single product, crafting funnels, niches, strategies, and all that is necessary to repeatedly achieve the ‘product-market fit’ and significant revenue. To me, ‘consultant’ resonates more akin to freelancing than being an employee. My current goal is to kickstart as a consultant and aide, dealing with facilitating startups in their journey from point A to B. Here are two theoretical scenarios to illustrate my approach: Scenario 1: (Starting from point A) You have a product but struggle with marketing, adoption, software, strategy, sales, fundraising, or something else. I conduct an analysis and develop a strategy to reach point B. I take on the “dirty work” and implement necessary changes, including potential pivots or shifts (going all-in) to guide the product to point B. The goal is to reach point B, which could involve achieving a higher valuation, expanding the user base, increasing sales, or generating monthly revenue, among other metrics. Scenario 2: (Starting from point A) You have a plan or idea but face challenges with marketing, adoption, strategy, software, sales, fundraising, or something else. I analyze the situation and devise a strategy to reach point B. I tackle the necessary tasks, build the team, and overcome obstacles to propel the product to point B. I have come across the view that finding the elusive product-market fit is the job of the founder, and it’s hard for me to disagree. However, I believe that my support and experiences can help save money, many failures, and most importantly, time. I have spent a great deal of time learning from my mistakes, enduring failure after failure, and even had no one to ask for support or opinion, which is why I offer my help. Saving even a couple of years, realistically speaking, seems like a value I’m eager to provide… I invite you to share your thoughts and insights on these scenarios :) Closing Remarks: I appreciate your time and effort in reaching this point. This has been my journey, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I had an extraordinary adventure, and now I’m ready for the next exciting battle with the market and new software products. While my entire narrative is centered around startups, especially the ones I personally built, I’m planning to share more insights drawn from all of my experiences, not just those as a co-founder. If you’re currently developing your product or even just considering the idea, I urge you to reach out to me. Perhaps together, we can create something monumental :) Thank you for your time and insights. I eagerly look forward to engaging in discussions and hearing your viewpoints. Please remember to like and subscribe. Nothing motivates to write more than positive feedback :) Matt.

36 startup ideas found by analyzing podcasts (problem, solution & source episode)

Hey, I've been a bit of a podcast nerd for a long time. Around a year ago I began experimenting with transcription of podcasts for a SaaS I was running. I realized pretty quickly that there's a lot of knowledge and value in podcast discussions that is for all intents and purposes entirely unsearchable or discoverable to most people. I ended up stopping work on that SaaS product (party for lack of product/market fit, and partly because podcasting was far more interesting), and focusing on the podcast technology full-time instead. I'm a long-time lurker and poster of r/startups and thought this would make for some interesting content and inspiration for folks. Given I'm in this space, have millions of transcripts, and transcribe thousands daily... I've been exploring fun ways to expose some of the interesting knowledge and conversations taking place that utilize our own data/API. I'm a big fan of the usual startup podcasts (My First Million, Greg Isenberg, etc. etc.) and so I built an automation that turns all of the startup ideas discussed into a weekly email digest. I always struggle to listen to as many episodes as I'd actually like to, so I thought I'd summarise the stuff I care about instead (startup opportunities being discussed). I thought it would be interesting to post some of the ideas extracted so far. They range from being completely whacky and blue sky, to pretty boring but realistic. A word of warning before anyone complains – this is a big mixture of tech, ai, non-tech, local services, etc. ideas: Some of the ideas are completely mundane, but realistic (e.g. local window cleaning service) Some of the ideas are completely insane, blue sky, but sound super interesting Here's the latest 36 ideas: |Idea Name|Problem|Solution|Source| |:-|:-|:-|:-| |SalesForce-as-a-Service - White Label Enterprise Sales Teams|White-label enterprise sales teams for B2B SaaS. Companies need sales but can't hire/train. Recruit retail sellers, train for tech, charge 30% of deals closed.|Create a white-label enterprise sales team by recruiting natural salespeople from retail and direct sales backgrounds (e.g. mall kiosks, cutco knives). Train them specifically in B2B SaaS sales techniques and processes. Offer this trained sales force to tech companies on a contract basis.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |TechButler - Mobile Device Maintenance Service|Mobile tech maintenance service. Clean/optimize devices, improve WiFi, basic support. $100/visit to homes. Target affluent neighborhoods.|Mobile tech support service providing in-home device cleaning, optimization, and setup. Focus on common issues like WiFi improvement, device maintenance, and basic tech support.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |MemoryBox - At-Home Video Digitization Service|Door-to-door VHS conversion service. Parents have boxes of old tapes. Pick up, digitize, deliver. $30/tape with minimum order. Going extinct.|Door-to-door VHS to digital conversion service that handles everything from pickup to digital delivery. Make it extremely convenient for customers to preserve their memories.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |Elite Match Ventures - Success-Based Luxury Matchmaking|High-end matchmaking for 50M+ net worth individuals. Only charge $1M+ when they get married. No upfront fees. Extensive vetting process.|Premium matchmaking service exclusively for ultra-high net worth individuals with a pure contingency fee model - only get paid ($1M+) upon successful marriage. Focus on quality over quantity with extensive vetting and personalized matching.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |LocalHost - Simple Small Business Websites|Simple WordPress sites for local businesses. $50/month includes hosting, updates, security. Target restaurants and shops. Recurring revenue play.|Simplified web hosting and WordPress management service targeting local small businesses. Focus on basic sites with standard templates, ongoing maintenance, and reliable support for a fixed monthly fee.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |VoiceJournal AI - Voice-First Smart Journaling|Voice-to-text journaling app with AI insights. 8,100 monthly searches. $15/month subscription. Partners with journaling YouTubers.|AI-powered journaling app that combines voice recording, transcription, and intelligent insights. Users can speak their thoughts, which are automatically transcribed and analyzed for patterns, emotions, and actionable insights.|Where It Happens - "7 $1M+ AI startup ideas you can launch tomorrow with $0"| |AIGenAds - AI-Generated UGC Content Platform|AI platform turning product briefs into UGC-style video ads. Brands spending $500/video for human creators. Generate 100 variations for $99/month.|AI platform that generates UGC-style video ads using AI avatars and scripting. System would allow rapid generation of multiple ad variations at a fraction of the cost. Platform would use existing AI avatar technology combined with script generation to create authentic-looking testimonial-style content.|Where It Happens - "7 $1M+ AI startup ideas you can launch tomorrow with $0"| |InfographAI - Automated Infographic Generation Platform|AI turning blog posts into branded infographics. Marketers spending hours on design. $99/month unlimited generation.|AI-powered platform that automatically converts blog posts and articles into visually appealing infographics. System would analyze content, extract key points, and generate professional designs using predefined templates and brand colors.|Where It Happens - "7 $1M+ AI startup ideas you can launch tomorrow with $0"| |KidFinance - Children's Financial Education Entertainment|Children's media franchise teaching financial literacy. Former preschool teacher creating 'Dora for money'. Books, videos, merchandise potential.|Character-driven financial education content for kids, including books, videos, and potentially TV show. Focus on making money concepts fun and memorable.|The Side Hustle Show - "How a Free Challenge Turned Into a $500,000 a Year Business (Greatest Hits)"| |FinanceTasker - Daily Financial Task Challenge|Free 30-day financial challenge with daily action items. People overwhelmed by money management. Makes $500k/year through books, speaking, and premium membership.|A free 30-day financial challenge delivering one simple, actionable task per day via email. Each task includes detailed scripts and instructions. Participants join a Facebook community for support and accountability. The program focuses on quick wins to build momentum. Automated delivery allows scaling.|The Side Hustle Show - "How a Free Challenge Turned Into a $500,000 a Year Business (Greatest Hits)"| |FinanceAcademy - Expert Financial Training Platform|Premium financial education platform. $13/month for expert-led courses and live Q&As. 4000+ members generating $40k+/month.|Premium membership site with expert-led courses, live Q&As, and community support. Focus on specific topics like real estate investing, business creation, and advanced money management.|The Side Hustle Show - "How a Free Challenge Turned Into a $500,000 a Year Business (Greatest Hits)"| |SecurityFirst Compliance - Real Security + Compliance Platform|Security-first compliance platform built by hackers. Companies spending $50k+ on fake security. Making $7M/year showing why current solutions don't work.|A compliance platform built by security experts that combines mandatory compliance requirements with real security measures. The solution includes hands-on security testing, expert guidance, and a focus on actual threat prevention rather than just documentation. It merges traditional compliance workflows with practical security implementations.|In the Pit with Cody Schneider| |LinkedInbound - Automated Professional Visibility Engine|LinkedIn automation for inbound job offers. Professionals spending hours on manual outreach. $99/month per job seeker.|Automated system for creating visibility and generating inbound interest on LinkedIn through coordinated profile viewing and engagement. Uses multiple accounts to create visibility patterns that trigger curiosity and inbound messages.|In the Pit with Cody Schneider| |ConvoTracker - Community Discussion Monitoring Platform|Community discussion monitoring across Reddit, Twitter, HN. Companies missing sales opportunities. $499/month per brand tracked.|Comprehensive monitoring system that tracks competitor mentions and industry discussions across multiple platforms (Reddit, Twitter, Hacker News, etc.) with automated alerts and engagement suggestions.|In the Pit with Cody Schneider| |ContentAds Pro - Smart Display Ad Implementation|Display ad implementation service for content creators. Bloggers losing thousands in ad revenue monthly. Makes $3-5k per site setup plus ongoing optimization fees.|Implementation of professional display advertising through networks like Mediavine that specialize in optimizing ad placement and revenue while maintaining user experience. Include features like turning off ads for email subscribers and careful placement to minimize impact on core metrics.|The Side Hustle Show - "636: Is Business Coaching Worth It? A Look Inside the last 12 months of Side Hustle Nation"| |MoneyAppReviews - Professional Side Hustle App Testing|Professional testing service for money-making apps. People wasting time on low-paying apps. Makes $20k/month from affiliate commissions and ads.|Professional app testing service that systematically reviews money-making apps and creates detailed, honest reviews including actual earnings data, time investment, and practical tips.|The Side Hustle Show - "636: Is Business Coaching Worth It? A Look Inside the last 12 months of Side Hustle Nation"| |LightPro - Holiday Light Installation Service|Professional Christmas light installation service. Homeowners afraid of ladders. $500-2000 per house plus storage.|Professional Christmas light installation service targeting residential and commercial properties. Full-service offering including design, installation, maintenance, removal and storage. Focus on safety and premium aesthetic results.|The Side Hustle Show - "639: 30 Ways to Make Extra Money for the Holidays"| |FocusMatch - Research Participant Marketplace|Marketplace connecting companies to paid research participants. Companies spending weeks finding people. $50-150/hour per study.|Online platform connecting companies directly with paid research participants. Participants create detailed profiles and get matched to relevant studies. Companies get faster access to their target demographic while participants earn money sharing opinions.|The Side Hustle Show - "639: 30 Ways to Make Extra Money for the Holidays"| |SolarShine Pro - Specialized Solar Panel Cleaning Service|Solar panel cleaning service using specialized equipment. Panels lose 50% efficiency when dirty. $650 per job, automated scheduling generates $18k/month from repeat customers.|Professional solar panel cleaning service using specialized deionized water system and European cleaning equipment. Includes automated 6-month scheduling, professional liability coverage, and warranty-safe cleaning processes. Service is bundled with inspection and performance monitoring.|The UpFlip Podcast - "156. $18K/Month with This ONE Service — Niche Business Idea"| |ExteriorCare Complete - One-Stop Exterior Maintenance Service|One-stop exterior home cleaning service (solar, windows, gutters, bird proofing). Automated scheduling. $650 average ticket. 60% repeat customers on 6-month contracts.|All-in-one exterior cleaning service offering comprehensive maintenance packages including solar, windows, gutters, roof cleaning and bird proofing. Single point of contact, consistent quality, and automated scheduling for all services.|The UpFlip Podcast - "156. $18K/Month with This ONE Service — Niche Business Idea"| |ContentMorph - Automated Cross-Platform Content Adaptation|AI platform converting blog posts into platform-optimized social content. Marketing teams spending 5hrs/post on manual adaptation. $199/mo per brand with 50% margins.|An AI-powered platform that automatically transforms long-form content (blog posts, podcasts, videos) into platform-specific formats (Instagram reels, TikToks, tweets). The system would preserve brand voice while optimizing for each platform's unique requirements and best practices.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "Digital Threads: The Entrepreneur Playbook for Digital-First Marketing with Neal Schaffer"| |MarketerMatch - Verified Digital Marketing Talent Marketplace|Marketplace for pre-vetted digital marketing specialists. Entrepreneurs spending 15hrs/week on marketing tasks. Platform takes 15% commission averaging $900/month per active client.|A specialized marketplace exclusively for digital marketing professionals, pre-vetted for specific skills (video editing, social media, SEO, etc.). Platform includes skill verification, portfolio review, and specialization matching.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "Digital Threads: The Entrepreneur Playbook for Digital-First Marketing with Neal Schaffer"| |Tiger Window Cleaning - Premium Local Window Service|Local window cleaning service targeting homeowners. Traditional companies charging 2x market rate. Making $10k/month from $200 initial investment.|Local window cleaning service combining competitive pricing ($5/pane), excellent customer service, and quality guarantees. Uses modern tools like water-fed poles for efficiency. Implements systematic approach to customer communication and follow-up.|The Side Hustle Show - "630: How this College Student’s Side Hustle Brings in $10k a Month"| |RealViz3D - Real Estate Visualization Platform|3D visualization service turning architectural plans into photorealistic renderings for real estate agents. Agents struggling with unbuilt property sales. Making $30-40k/year per operator.|Professional 3D modeling and rendering service that creates photorealistic visualizations of properties before they're built or renovated. The service transforms architectural plans into immersive 3D representations that show lighting, textures, and realistic details. This helps potential buyers fully understand and connect with the space before it physically exists.|Side Hustle School - "#2861 - TBT: An Architect’s Side Hustle in 3D Real Estate Modeling"| |Somewhere - Global Talent Marketplace|Platform connecting US companies with vetted overseas talent. Tech roles costing $150k locally filled for 50% less. Grew from $15M to $52M valuation in 9 months.|Platform connecting US companies with pre-vetted overseas talent at significantly lower rates while maintaining high quality. Handles payments, contracts, and quality assurance to remove friction from global hiring.|My First Million - "I Lost Everything Twice… Then Made $26M In 18 Months| |GymLaunch - Rapid Gym Turnaround Service|Consultants flying to struggling gyms to implement proven member acquisition systems. Gym owners lacking sales expertise. Made $100k in first 21 days.|Expert consultants fly in to implement proven member acquisition systems, train staff, and rapidly fill gyms with new members. The service combines sales training, marketing automation, and proven conversion tactics to transform struggling gyms into profitable businesses within weeks.|My First Million - "I Lost Everything Twice… Then Made $26M In 18 Months| |PublishPlus - Publishing Backend Monetization|Backend monetization system for publishing companies. One-time customers becoming recurring revenue. Grew business from $2M to $110M revenue.|Add complementary backend products and services to increase customer lifetime value. Develop software tools and additional services that natural extend from initial publishing product. Focus on high-margin recurring revenue streams.|My First Million - "I Lost Everything Twice… Then Made $26M In 18 Months| |WelcomeBot - Automated Employee Onboarding Platform|Automated employee welcome platform. HR teams struggling with consistent onboarding. $99/month per 100 employees.|An automated onboarding platform that creates personalized welcome experiences through pre-recorded video messages, scheduled check-ins, and automated swag delivery. The platform would ensure consistent high-quality onboarding regardless of timing or location.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "Free Training on Building Systems and Processes to Scale Your Business with Chris Ronzio: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |ProcessBrain - Business Knowledge Documentation Platform|SaaS platform turning tribal knowledge into documented processes. Business owners spending hours training new hires. $199/month per company.|A software platform that makes it easy to document and delegate business processes and procedures. The platform would include templates, guided documentation flows, and tools to easily share and update procedures. It would help businesses create a comprehensive playbook of their operations.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "Free Training on Building Systems and Processes to Scale Your Business with Chris Ronzio: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |TradeMatch - Modern Manufacturing Job Marketplace|Modern job board making manufacturing sexy again. Factory jobs paying $40/hr but can't recruit. $500 per successful referral.|A specialized job marketplace and recruitment platform focused exclusively on modern manufacturing and trade jobs. The platform would combine TikTok-style content marketing, referral programs, and modern UX to make manufacturing jobs appealing to Gen Z and young workers. Would leverage existing $500 referral fees and industry demand.|My First Million - "He Sold His Company For $15M, Then Got A Job At McDonald’s"| |GroundLevel - Executive Immersion Program|Structured program putting CEOs in front-line jobs. Executives disconnected from workers. $25k per placement.|A structured program that places executives and founders in front-line jobs (retail, warehouse, service) for 2-4 weeks with documentation and learning framework. Similar to Scott Heiferman's McDonald's experience but productized.|My First Million - "He Sold His Company For $15M, Then Got A Job At McDonald’s"| |OneStepAhead - Micro-Mentorship Marketplace|Marketplace for 30-min mentorship calls with people one step ahead. Professionals seeking specific guidance. Takes 15% of session fees.|MicroMentor Marketplace - Platform connecting people with mentors who are just one step ahead in their journey for focused, affordable micro-mentorship sessions.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "How to Create an Unbroken Business with Michael Unbroken: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |VulnerableLeader - Leadership Authenticity Training Platform|Leadership vulnerability training platform. Leaders struggling with authentic communication. $2k/month per company subscription.|Leadership Vulnerability Platform - A digital training platform combining assessment tools, guided exercises, and peer support to help leaders develop authentic communication skills. The platform would include real-world scenarios, video coaching, and measurable metrics for tracking leadership growth through vulnerability.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "How to Create an Unbroken Business with Michael Unbroken: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |NetworkAI - Smart Network Intelligence Platform|AI analyzing your network to find hidden valuable connections. Professionals missing opportunities in existing contacts. $49/month per user.|AI Network Navigator - Smart tool that analyzes your professional network across platforms, identifies valuable hidden connections, and suggests specific actionable ways to leverage relationships for mutual benefit.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "How to Create an Unbroken Business with Michael Unbroken: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |Porch Pumpkins - Seasonal Decoration Service|Full-service porch pumpkin decoration. Homeowners spend $300-1350 per season. One operator making $1M in 8 weeks seasonal revenue.|Full-service seasonal porch decoration service focused on autumn/Halloween, including design, installation, maintenance, and removal. Offering premium curated pumpkin arrangements with various package tiers.|My First Million - "The guy who gets paid $80K/yr to do nothing"| |Silent Companion - Professional Presence Service|Professional silent companions for lonely people. Huge problem in Japan/globally. $68/session, $80k/year per companion. Non-sexual, just presence.|A professional companion service where individuals can rent a non-judgmental, quiet presence for various activities. The companion provides silent company without the pressure of conversation or social performance. They accompany clients to events, meals, or just sit quietly together.|My First Million - "The guy who gets paid $80K/yr to do nothing"| Hope this is useful. If anyone would like to ensure I include any particular podcasts or episodes etc. in future posts, very happy to do so. I'll generally send \~5 ideas per week in a short weekly digest format (you can see the format I'd usually use in here: podcastmarketwatch.beehiiv.com). I find it mindblowing that the latest models with large context windows make it even possible to analyze full transcripts at such scale. It's a very exciting time we're living through! Would love some feedback on this stuff, happy to iterate and improve the analysis/ideas... or create a new newsletter on a different topic if anyone would like. Cheers!

From "There's an App for that" to "There's YOUR App for that" - AI workflows will transform generic apps into deeply personalized experiences

I will not promote. For the past decade mobile apps were a core element of daily life for entertainment, productivity and connectivity. However, as the ecosystem saturated the general desire to download "just one more app" became apprehensive. There were clear monopolistic winners in different categories, such as Instagram and TikTok, which completely captured the majority of people's screentime. The golden age of creating indie apps and becoming a millionaire from them was dead. Conceptual models of these popular apps became ingrained in the general consciousness, and downloading new apps where re-learning new UI layouts was required, became a major friction point. There is high reluctance to download a new app rather than just utilizing the tooling of the growing market share of the existing winners. Content marketing and white labeled apps saw a resurgence of new app downloads, as users with parasympathetic relationships with influencers could be more easily persuaded to download them. However, this has led to a series of genericized tooling that lacks the soul of the early indie developer apps from the 2010s (Flappy bird comes to mind). A seemingly grim spot to be in, until everything changed on November 30th 2022. Sam Altman, Ilya Sutskever and team announced chatGPT, a Large Language Model that was the first publicly available generative AI tool. The first non-deterministic tool that could reason probablisitically in a similar (if flawed) way, to the human mind. At first, it was a clear paradigm shift in the world of computing, this was obvious from the fact that it climbed to 1 Million users within the first 5 days of its launch. However, despite the insane hype around the AI, its utility was constrained to chatbot interfaces for another year or more. As the models reasoning abilities got better and better, engineers began to look for other ways of utilizing this new paradigm shift, beyond chatbots. It became clear that, despite the powerful abilities to generate responses to prompts, the LLMs suffered from false hallucinations with extreme confidence, significantly impacting the reliability of their use, in search, coding and general utility. Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) was coined to provide a solution to this. Now, the LLM would apply a traditional search for data, via a database, a browser or other source of truth, and then feed that information into the prompt as it generates, allowing for more accurate results. Furthermore, it became clear that you could enhance an LLM by providing them metadata to interact with tools such as APIs for other services, allowing LLMs to perform actions typically reserved for humans, like fetching data, manipulating it and acting as an independent Agent. This prompted engineers to start treating LLMs, not as a database and a search engine, but rather a reasoning system, that could be part of a larger system of inputs and feedback to handle workflows independently. These "AI Agents" are poised to become the core technology in the next few years for hyper-personalizing and automating processes for specific users. Rather than having a generic B2B SaaS product that is somewhat useful for a team, one could standup a modular system of Agents that can handle the exactly specified workflow for that team. Frameworks such as LlangChain and LLamaIndex will help enable this for companies worldwide. The power is back in the hands of the people. However, it's not just big tech that is going to benefit from this revolution. AI Agentic workflows will allow for a resurgence in personalized applications that work like personal digital employee's. One could have a Personal Finance agent keeping track of their budgets, a Personal Trainer accountability coaching you making sure you meet your goals, or even a silly companion that roasts you when you're procrastinating. The options are endless ! At the core of this technology is the fact that these agents will be able to recall all of your previous data and actions, so they will get better at understanding you and your needs as a function of time. We are at the beginning of an exciting period in history, and I'm looking forward to this new period of deeply personalized experiences. What are your thoughts ? Let me know in the comments !

Looking for a Marketing Partner for an Innovative AI Mobile App [i will not promote]

Hello everyone! I'm a software engineer and AI developer working on something great in the mobile AI space. If you have been following the trends on TikTok and similar platforms, you have probably noticed the explosion of AI apps (like Rizz AI and similar) that follow the simple "scan → solve" concept. These apps have been massively successful because they solve specific problems with minimal user friction. Here's what makes my project different: I have identified an unique market where there is currently zero competition for this app idea that I'm creating and the potential user base is massive - we are talking about 200M+ potential users in the US alone (60% of the US population could use this app). Even capturing just 0.05% of this market could generate significant revenue, considering similar apps typically charge $4-6 per user. What I'm looking for: A marketing partner (preferably US-based or someone familiar with the US market/audience) who can help grow this app. Initially, it requires about 30–60 minutes per day for content creation and posting. No experience is required. If you don't have marketing experience, don't worry. In today's marketing, passion is often more important than skills (and a bit of luck, haha). What I'm offering: For now, it's a revenue share partnership. I have invested my savings into the development of the app and the necessary equipment and I'm offering a revenue share until we generate enough profit for paid positions. Once we gain traction, the goal is to transition this into a part-time or full-time role. If you have zero creativity skills, I can provide you with my automated content generation tool to assist with marketing. It is basically a script that generates the type of content that gets the most views on other AI apps promoted on social media platforms. This is also a long-term partnership, if we achieve some results but not good enough with one app, we can try a new niche or just continue on this one. About the project: The app is almost complete and will likely launch in mid-February. It is a self-funded venture, meaning all profits will be reinvested into growth, including ads, revenue sharing and potentially useful tools to improve marketing. Also, the app is unique, I made a deep research and there is no similar app in this niche and it is very easy to promote. Overall, it follows a simple and effective business model with a clear monetization strategy. If you're interested in being part of something with genuine growth potential and want to learn more, DM me. We can discuss details on Reddit, Discord, LinkedIn, anything you like. The app launches in mid-February so I'm looking to bring someone on board soon to help out. Note: I will share specific details about the niche and app functionality in private messages to protect the idea before launch.

How a founder built a B2B AI startup to serve with 65+ global brands (including Fortune500 companies) (I will not promote)

AI Palette is an AI-driven platform that helps food and beverage companies predict emerging product trends. I had the opportunity recently to sit down with the founder to get his advice on building an AI-first startup, which he'll be going through in this post. (I will not promote) About AI Palette: Co-founders: >!2 (Somsubhra GanChoudhuri, Himanshu Upreti)!!100+!!$12.7M USD!!AI-powered predictive analytics for the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry!!Signed first paying customer in the first year!!65+ global brands, including Cargill, Diageo, Ajinomoto, Symrise, Mondelez, and L’Oréal, use AI Palette!!Every new product launched has secured a paying client within months!!Expanded into Beauty & Personal Care (BPC), onboarding one of India’s largest BPC companies within weeks!!Launched multiple new product lines in the last two years, creating a unified suite for brand innovation!Identify the pain points in your industry for ideas* When I was working in the flavour and fragrance industry, I noticed a major issue CPG companies faced: launching a product took at least one to two years. For instance, if a company decided today to launch a new juice, it wouldn’t hit the market until 2027. This long timeline made it difficult to stay relevant and on top of trends. Another big problem I noticed was that companies relied heavily on market research to determine what products to launch. While this might work for current consumer preferences, it was highly inefficient since the product wouldn’t actually reach the market for several years. By the time the product launched, the consumer trends had already shifted, making that research outdated. That’s where AI can play a crucial role. Instead of looking at what consumers like today, we realised that companies should use AI to predict what they will want next. This allows businesses to create products that are ahead of the curve. Right now, the failure rate for new product launches is alarmingly high, with 8 out of 10 products failing. By leveraging AI, companies can avoid wasting resources on products that won’t succeed, leading to better, more successful launches. Start by talking to as many industry experts as possible to identify the real problems When we first had the idea for AI Palette, it was just a hunch, a gut feeling—we had no idea whether people would actually pay for it. To validate the idea, we reached out to as many people as we could within the industry. Since our focus area was all about consumer insights, we spoke to professionals in the CPG sector, particularly those in the insights departments of CPG companies. Through these early conversations, we began to see a common pattern emerge and identified the exact problem we wanted to solve. Don’t tell people what you’re building—listen to their frustrations and challenges first. Going into these early customer conversations, our goal was to listen and understand their challenges without telling them what we were trying to build. This is crucial as it ensures that you can gather as much data about the problem to truly understand it and that you aren't biasing their answers by showing your solution. This process helped us in two key ways: First, it validated that there was a real problem in the industry through the number of people who spoke about experiencing the same problem. Second, it allowed us to understand the exact scale and depth of the problem—e.g., how much money companies were spending on consumer research, what kind of tools they were currently using, etc. Narrow down your focus to a small, actionable area to solve initially. Once we were certain that there was a clear problem worth solving, we didn’t try to tackle everything at once. As a small team of two people, we started by focusing on a specific area of the problem—something big enough to matter but small enough for us to handle. Then, we approached customers with a potential solution and asked them for feedback. We learnt that our solution seemed promising, but we wanted to validate it further. If customers are willing to pay you for the solution, it’s a strong validation signal for market demand. One of our early customer interviewees even asked us to deliver the solution, which we did manually at first. We used machine learning models to analyse the data and presented the results in a slide deck. They paid us for the work, which was a critical moment. It meant we had something with real potential, and we had customers willing to pay us before we had even built the full product. This was the key validation that we needed. By the time we were ready to build the product, we had already gathered crucial insights from our early customers. We understood the specific information they wanted and how they wanted the results to be presented. This input was invaluable in shaping the development of our final product. Building & Product Development Start with a simple concept/design to validate with customers before building When we realised the problem and solution, we began by designing the product, but not by jumping straight into coding. Instead, we created wireframes and user interfaces using tools like InVision and Figma. This allowed us to visually represent the product without the need for backend or frontend development at first. The goal was to showcase how the product would look and feel, helping potential customers understand its value before we even started building. We showed these designs to potential customers and asked for feedback. Would they want to buy this product? Would they pay for it? We didn’t dive into actual development until we found a customer willing to pay a significant amount for the solution. This approach helped us ensure we were on the right track and didn’t waste time or resources building something customers didn’t actually want. Deliver your solution using a manual consulting approach before developing an automated product Initially, we solved problems for customers in a more "consulting" manner, delivering insights manually. Recall how I mentioned that when one of our early customer interviewees asked us to deliver the solution, we initially did it manually by using machine learning models to analyse the data and presenting the results to them in a slide deck. This works for the initial stages of validating your solution, as you don't want to invest too much time into building a full-blown MVP before understanding the exact features and functionalities that your users want. However, after confirming that customers were willing to pay for what we provided, we moved forward with actual product development. This shift from a manual service to product development was key to scaling in a sustainable manner, as our building was guided by real-world feedback and insights rather than intuition. Let ongoing customer feedback drive iteration and the product roadmap Once we built the first version of the product, it was basic, solving only one problem. But as we worked closely with customers, they requested additional features and functionalities to make it more useful. As a result, we continued to evolve the product to handle more complex use cases, gradually developing new modules based on customer feedback. Product development is a continuous process. Our early customers pushed us to expand features and modules, from solving just 20% of their problems to tackling 50–60% of their needs. These demands shaped our product roadmap and guided the development of new features, ultimately resulting in a more complete solution. Revenue and user numbers are key metrics for assessing product-market fit. However, critical mass varies across industries Product-market fit (PMF) can often be gauged by looking at the size of your revenue and the number of customers you're serving. Once you've reached a certain critical mass of customers, you can usually tell that you're starting to hit product-market fit. However, this critical mass varies by industry and the type of customers you're targeting. For example, if you're building an app for a broad consumer market, you may need thousands of users. But for enterprise software, product-market fit may be reached with just a few dozen key customers. Compare customer engagement and retention with other available solutions on the market for product-market fit Revenue and the number of customers alone isn't always enough to determine if you're reaching product-market fit. The type of customer and the use case for your product also matter. The level of engagement with your product—how much time users are spending on the platform—is also an important metric to track. The more time they spend, the more likely it is that your product is meeting a crucial need. Another way to evaluate product-market fit is by assessing retention, i.e whether users are returning to your platform and relying on it consistently, as compared to other solutions available. That's another key indication that your solution is gaining traction in the market. Business Model & Monetisation Prioritise scalability Initially, we started with a consulting-type model where we tailor-made specific solutions for each customer use-case we encountered and delivered the CPG insights manually, but we soon realized that this wasn't scalable. The problem with consulting is that you need to do the same work repeatedly for every new project, which requires a large team to handle the workload. That is not how you sustain a high-growth startup. To solve this, we focused on building a product that would address the most common problems faced by our customers. Once built, this product could be sold to thousands of customers without significant overheads, making the business scalable. With this in mind, we decided on a SaaS (Software as a Service) business model. The benefit of SaaS is that once you create the software, you can sell it to many customers without adding extra overhead. This results in a business with higher margins, where the same product can serve many customers simultaneously, making it much more efficient than the consulting model. Adopt a predictable, simplistic business model for efficiency. Look to industry practices for guidance When it came to monetisation, we considered the needs of our CPG customers, who I knew from experience were already accustomed to paying annual subscriptions for sales databases and other software services. We decided to adopt the same model and charge our customers an annual upfront fee. This model worked well for our target market, aligning with industry standards and ensuring stable, recurring revenue. Moreover, our target CPG customers were already used to this business model and didn't have to choose from a huge variety of payment options, making closing sales a straightforward and efficient process. Marketing & Sales Educate the market to position yourself as a thought leader When we started, AI was not widely understood, especially in the CPG industry. We had to create awareness around both AI and its potential value. Our strategy focused on educating potential users and customers about AI, its relevance, and why they should invest in it. This education was crucial to the success of our marketing efforts. To establish credibility, we adopted a thought leadership approach. We wrote blogs on the importance of AI and how it could solve problems for CPG companies. We also participated in events and conferences to demonstrate our expertise in applying AI to the industry. This helped us build our brand and reputation as leaders in the AI space for CPG, and word-of-mouth spread as customers recognized us as the go-to company for AI solutions. It’s tempting for startups to offer products for free in the hopes of gaining early traction with customers, but this approach doesn't work in the long run. Free offerings don’t establish the value of your product, and customers may not take them seriously. You should always charge for pilots, even if the fee is minimal, to ensure that the customer is serious about potentially working with you, and that they are committed and engaged with the product. Pilots/POCs/Demos should aim to give a "flavour" of what you can deliver A paid pilot/POC trial also gives you the opportunity to provide a “flavour” of what your product can deliver, helping to build confidence and trust with the client. It allows customers to experience a detailed preview of what your product can do, which builds anticipation and desire for the full functionality. During this phase, ensure your product is built to give them a taste of the value you can provide, which sets the stage for a broader, more impactful adoption down the line. Fundraising & Financial Management Leverage PR to generate inbound interest from VCs When it comes to fundraising, our approach was fairly traditional—we reached out to VCs and used connections from existing investors to make introductions. However, looking back, one thing that really helped us build momentum during our fundraising process was getting featured in Tech in Asia. This wasn’t planned; it just so happened that Tech in Asia was doing a series on AI startups in Southeast Asia and they reached out to us for an article. During the interview, they asked if we were fundraising, and we mentioned that we were. As a result, several VCs we hadn’t yet contacted reached out to us. This inbound interest was incredibly valuable, and we found it far more effective than our outbound efforts. So, if you can, try to generate some PR attention—it can help create inbound interest from VCs, and that interest is typically much stronger and more promising than any outbound strategies because they've gone out of their way to reach out to you. Be well-prepared and deliberate about fundraising. Keep trying and don't lose heart When pitching to VCs, it’s crucial to be thoroughly prepared, as you typically only get one shot at making an impression. If you mess up, it’s unlikely they’ll give you a second chance. You need to have key metrics at your fingertips, especially if you're running a SaaS company. Be ready to answer questions like: What’s your retention rate? What are your projections for the year? How much will you close? What’s your average contract value? These numbers should be at the top of your mind. Additionally, fundraising should be treated as a structured process, not something you do on the side while juggling other tasks. When you start, create a clear plan: identify 20 VCs to reach out to each week. By planning ahead, you’ll maintain momentum and speed up the process. Fundraising can be exhausting and disheartening, especially when you face multiple rejections. Remember, you just need one investor to say yes to make it all worthwhile. When using funds, prioritise profitability and grow only when necessary. Don't rely on funding to survive. In the past, the common advice for startups was to raise money, burn through it quickly, and use it to boost revenue numbers, even if that meant operating at a loss. The idea was that profitability wasn’t the main focus, and the goal was to show rapid growth for the next funding round. However, times have changed, especially with the shift from “funding summer” to “funding winter.” My advice now is to aim for profitability as soon as possible and grow only when it's truly needed. For example, it’s tempting to hire a large team when you have substantial funds in the bank, but ask yourself: Do you really need 10 new hires, or could you get by with just four? Growing too quickly can lead to unnecessary expenses, so focus on reaching profitability as soon as possible, rather than just inflating your team or burn rate. The key takeaway is to spend your funds wisely and only when absolutely necessary to reach profitability. You want to avoid becoming dependent on future VC investments to keep your company afloat. Instead, prioritize reaching break-even as quickly as you can, so you're not reliant on external funding to survive in the long run. Team-Building & Leadership Look for complementary skill sets in co-founders When choosing a co-founder, it’s important to find someone with a complementary skill set, not just someone you’re close to. For example, I come from a business and commercial background, so I needed someone with technical expertise. That’s when I found my co-founder, Himanshu, who had experience in machine learning and AI. He was a great match because his technical knowledge complemented my business skills, and together we formed a strong team. It might seem natural to choose your best friend as your co-founder, but this can often lead to conflict. Chances are, you and your best friend share similar interests, skills, and backgrounds, which doesn’t bring diversity to the table. If both of you come from the same industry or have the same strengths, you may end up butting heads on how things should be done. Having diverse skill sets helps avoid this and fosters a more collaborative working relationship. Himanshu (left) and Somsubhra (right) co-founded AI Palette in 2018 Define roles clearly to prevent co-founder conflict To avoid conflict, it’s essential that your roles as co-founders are clearly defined from the beginning. If your co-founder and you have distinct responsibilities, there is no room for overlap or disagreement. This ensures that both of you can work without stepping on each other's toes, and there’s mutual respect for each other’s expertise. This is another reason as to why it helps to have a co-founder with a complementary skillset to yours. Not only is having similar industry backgrounds and skillsets not particularly useful when building out your startup, it's also more likely to lead to conflicts since you both have similar subject expertise. On the other hand, if your co-founder is an expert in something that you're not, you're less likely to argue with them about their decisions regarding that aspect of the business and vice versa when it comes to your decisions. Look for employees who are driven by your mission, not salary For early-stage startups, the first hires are crucial. These employees need to be highly motivated and excited about the mission. Since the salary will likely be low and the work demanding, they must be driven by something beyond just the paycheck. The right employees are the swash-buckling pirates and romantics, i.e those who are genuinely passionate about the startup’s vision and want to be part of something impactful beyond material gains. When employees are motivated by the mission, they are more likely to stick around and help take the startup to greater heights. A litmus test for hiring: Would you be excited to work with them on a Sunday? One of the most important rounds in the hiring process is the culture fit round. This is where you assess whether a candidate shares the same values as you and your team. A key question to ask yourself is: "Would I be excited to work with this person on a Sunday?" If there’s any doubt about your answer, it’s likely not a good fit. The idea is that you want employees who align with the company's culture and values and who you would enjoy collaborating with even outside of regular work hours. How we structure the team at AI Palette We have three broad functions in our organization. The first two are the big ones: Technical Team – This is the core of our product and technology. This team is responsible for product development and incorporating customer feedback into improving the technology Commercial Team – This includes sales, marketing, customer service, account managers, and so on, handling everything related to business growth and customer relations. General and Administrative Team – This smaller team supports functions like finance, HR, and administration. As with almost all businesses, we have teams that address the two core tasks of building (technical team) and selling (commercial team), but given the size we're at now, having the administrative team helps smoothen operations. Set broad goals but let your teams decide on execution What I've done is recruit highly skilled people who don't need me to micromanage them on a day-to-day basis. They're experts in their roles, and as Steve Jobs said, when you hire the right person, you don't have to tell them what to do—they understand the purpose and tell you what to do. So, my job as the CEO is to set the broader goals for them, review the plans they have to achieve those goals, and periodically check in on progress. For example, if our broad goal is to meet a certain revenue target, I break it down across teams: For the sales team, I’ll look at how they plan to hit that target—how many customers they need to sell to, how many salespeople they need, and what tactics and strategies they plan to use. For the technical team, I’ll evaluate our product offerings—whether they think we need to build new products to attract more customers, and whether they think it's scalable for the number of customers we plan to serve. This way, the entire organization's tasks are cascaded in alignment with our overarching goals, with me setting the direction and leaving the details of execution to the skilled team members that I hire.

Serious B2B businesses will not try to create a solution using AI - This is why. [i will not promote]

After architecting and developing multiple B2B SaaS platforms and resolving countless challenges, here's why I don't think a proper B2B solution can be developed using AI. You must have senior tech-folks in your teams - even if you choose to leverage AI for expediting some code generation. This isn't theory - this is battle-tested reality. You can use this as a template if you're building one. Core Considerations: Multi-Tenancy Foundation (B2B) Proper tenant isolation at every layer (data, compute, networking) Flexible deployment models (pooled vs. silo) based on customer tier Tenant-aware everything (logging, metrics, tracing) Identity & Security (B2B/Standalone) Enterprise-grade authentication, often with SSO support Role-based access control (RBAC) at tenant level (may need dynamic policy generation for resource access) Audit trails for all system actions (specially if you're in a regulated domain) Client/Tenant Management (B2B) Self-service onboarding with admin approval workflows Automated tenant provisioning/deprovisioning Tenant-specific configurations and customizations Cross-tenant analytics and administration Operational Excellence (B2B/Standalone) Zero-downtime deployments (helps with canary releases) Tenant-isolated debugging capabilities Resource quotas and throttling by tenant tier Automated backup and disaster recovery per tenant Scalability Architecture (B2B) Independent scaling of tenant workloads Resource isolation for "noisy neighbor" prevention Tier-based performance guarantees (SLAs) Dynamic resource allocation Each of these topics can be as complicated as you can think of - depends on the solution you're building. I have seen many seasoned architects and developers struggle also because of their "single-tenant" mindset. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid (B2B/Standalone): Standalone - mindset in database design Hard-coded configurations Lack of context in logging/monitoring Insufficient tenant isolation in shared services (B2B) Missing tenant-aware cost allocation (B2B) You need people great with infrastructure as well. They need to consider: Tenant-aware routing (API Gateway or whatever you're using) Code with isolation when/if required Data storage with proper partitioning Shared services vs. dedicated services strategy There are a number of common problems I have seen people often make. Often it's because of a pressure from high above. But every architectural decision must considered in terms of the solution you're building. In many cases, security cannot be bolted on later, observability must be tenant-aware from day one, operations must scale. This is just the foundation. Your actual business logic sits ON TOP of all this. Now, would you think these can be done by AI? I'll be waiting for that day. :-)

App ideas. im dry. i will not promote.

Since november ive tried solo creating an app or mini startup but after weeks of work i end up in dead ends. The last one was facebook restricting my whatsapp business for using automated answers, and im not sure when or if its gonna be liberated or not. Another time my computer simply couldn't handle it, and other times the project just got too big and messy for me and the AI to complete. I know you are supposed to copy a working business model and market it, but im not great at marketing. I mean it doesn't seem difficult to market something, but having the account to market with the right number of viral capacity is just very hard to do. I have music, design, data analysis, writing, and other skills, along with minimal coding skills. I need to come up with something that works for at least $1,000 a month. That it takes a month to build. its not too much to ask, is it? how do i find that app or saas? How did you do it? i will not promote

How to get funding for startup ? I will not promote

I will not promote. Software startup based out of Minnesota us. I've built and launched a product that is gaining traction, solving a problem that has frustrated software developers and product teams for years. The problem: Software development is slow, expensive, and full of inefficiencies. Developers spend hours on repetitive coding tasks, project managers struggle with bottlenecks, and businesses waste time translating product requirements into actual code. The solution: My product automates a large portion of software development. It acts as an AI-powered assistant for developers, taking high-level requirements and turning them into functional code while integrating with existing codebases. It can read, understand, and modify software projects in a structured way—cutting development time drastically. The potential: Businesses are always looking for ways to cut costs and speed up development. With the rise of AI, companies are increasingly adopting automation, and this tool fits perfectly into that wave. Imagine a world where software teams are 10x more efficient because AI handles the grunt work, and developers focus on the bigger picture. It’s not about replacing developers—it’s about supercharging them. The current status: The product is live and in use. The user base is growing, and I’ve proven demand. Now, I need to figure out the best funding model to scale—whether that’s bootstrapping, VC, grants, or some hybrid approach. If you have experience in startup funding or have scaled a tech product, I'd love to hear your insights. DM me if you're open to discussing strategies!

Solo technical founders, has not having a business cofounder even screwed you up? "I will not promote"

I’m creating an AI startup; a reinforcement learning model designed to do a certain thing in a big field. I’ve basically developed code for a prototype (I hope to start training in two weeks) I do believe YC advice for taking a cofounder, but risk of getting a bad one is too high. In my life I also haven't met people with my grit, at least from my countries, so I'll have to "date down", I guess. At least in technical sense. So, has not having a business cofounder actually screwed anyone up badly?  (Looking at people who are doing ventures with $20m+ potential/real ARR,)

I feel Ai is mostly marketing - I will not promote

I run into this on X an made me think about it… the post says “AI is effectively ‘useless’ and it’s created a ‘fake it till you make it’ bubble that could end in disaster”. I think this is true. I haven't seen a product that really solves anything specifically except for the gimmicks. It needs a product normally people can use. Also the AI startups have cash burn rates 3x to 10x their revenue. No business model. It's very focused on getting acquired.

We received 25k investment offer, need advice [I will not promote]

We received a $25k for 2.5% on a convertible note offer from a US based investor. The note matures in 18 months with an interest rate of 5%, but the investor said they can extend it further. It’s an AI SaaS in graphic design. We have been bootstrapping till now, and we feel that this money could help us hire better engineers and marketeers, we want to grow it to a good revenue, but don't see it becoming a billion dollar startup as such. Our initial plans were to build it like an indie-hacker, grow it a decent revenue and sell it to someone who can take better care of it. We built it as a side project with full time jobs. We already have decent traction with 10k+ signups and $600+ in revenue per month with <100 dollars spent on marketing. But our AI model costs are high, 0.2 USD per user that we onboard and provide free credits. But we as founders are more interested in another idea that we have been thinking about and see a bigger potential + founder market fit in. The current product is good, and we can foresee that with better hiring and marketing, we can grow our revenue to about 10-20k a month, like a regular online business. What should we do? We don't want to simply let go of the product because it's not that it doesn't work, it's just that we as founders are better fit for something else. We can't sell it yet as the revenue isn't too high and we haven't even incorporated. Is it okay if we think of growing it to 10-20k+ a month and then intend to sell it to someone who can take better care of it? Should we take the investment in such a case, given this investment is definitely gonna help us grow? Process of incorporation will also help us in selling this business later I think?

Looking for a tech cofounder. Revoltionary (yes really!) gig economy app. I will not promote.

Hey everyone! I’m building a new gig-work app that cuts out the hassles of interviews, applications, and sky-high fees. We’re aiming to make it easy for businesses to hire qualified freelancers for short shifts or one-off tasks—and for freelancers to set their own rates and get paid quickly. Why This App? Time-Saving Model: Instead of posting jobs and conducting multiple interviews, employers can instantly book from a list of KYC-verified freelancers who showcase their skills via 30-second video bios. Cost Leadership: We plan to charge only 5%, far below the 15–50% common in other gig platforms. This keeps more money in the pockets of both freelancers and businesses. Proven Demand: A beta test in 2018 drew nearly 600 active users, validating that there’s appetite for a simpler, fairer way to fill short shifts. About Me 20+ years’ experience in payroll, workforce management, and operations for Fortune 500 companies. Led cross-functional teams, implemented large-scale solutions, and believe in building with a user-first mindset. Offering meaningful equity—I want a true partner, not a hired gun. Who I’m Looking For Full-Stack Developer (comfortable with Node.js, React, Python, or similar and ML/Ai) who can manage everything from front-end to database integration (ideally Postgres/MySQL) and build a same day payments system. Passion for creating solutions that genuinely help gig workers and small businesses. Excitement to collaborate on the product roadmap, from the booking interface to same-day payment features. The Opportunity Major Market: The gig economy is huge and still growing. If we nail speed, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use, we can capture a significant share of it. Remote-Friendly: We can work together from anywhere, though I’m planning to relaunch in London where the initial beta gained momentum. If this sounds like your kind of challenge, drop a comment or DM me. Let’s chat about how we can merge our strengths—my operations background and your technical expertise—to build a platform that truly transforms the gig-work experience. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to creating something impactful together!

AI Startups: Are We in a Gold Rush or a Bubble? (I will not promote)

AI is everywhere—from automating workflows to building fully autonomous agents, startups are racing to integrate AI into everything. Funding is still flowing, and AI-powered tools are disrupting multiple industries. But here’s the reality: not all AI startups will survive. Many are just wrappers around existing models, offering little real innovation. The cost of running AI at scale is massive, and monetization is still a challenge. The ones that will last? Startups solving real problems, not just riding the hype. I see AI as a long-term game, but not every startup will make it. The ones that truly integrate AI as a value-add, rather than just a marketing buzzword, will thrive. What do you think—is AI the future, or are we in for a reality check? (I will not promote)

How to get funding for startup ? I will not promote

I will not promote. Software startup based out of Minnesota us. I've built and launched a product that is gaining traction, solving a problem that has frustrated software developers and product teams for years. The problem: Software development is slow, expensive, and full of inefficiencies. Developers spend hours on repetitive coding tasks, project managers struggle with bottlenecks, and businesses waste time translating product requirements into actual code. The solution: My product automates a large portion of software development. It acts as an AI-powered assistant for developers, taking high-level requirements and turning them into functional code while integrating with existing codebases. It can read, understand, and modify software projects in a structured way—cutting development time drastically. The potential: Businesses are always looking for ways to cut costs and speed up development. With the rise of AI, companies are increasingly adopting automation, and this tool fits perfectly into that wave. Imagine a world where software teams are 10x more efficient because AI handles the grunt work, and developers focus on the bigger picture. It’s not about replacing developers—it’s about supercharging them. The current status: The product is live and in use. The user base is growing, and I’ve proven demand. Now, I need to figure out the best funding model to scale—whether that’s bootstrapping, VC, grants, or some hybrid approach. If you have experience in startup funding or have scaled a tech product, I'd love to hear your insights. DM me if you're open to discussing strategies!

Good at coding, bad at marketing. Summary

Hello. I posted a question on what to do if you are good at coding but bad at marketing four days ago, and I received so many responses and tips. The original post is here. I was really glad and excited to read comments. To return the favor to the community and add some more value, I’ve summarized all the comments I got on the original post. Here are they, with my personal comments on some of the advice I got. You’ll never believe it, but the most common advice was to learn. Really, the first and only thing you should start with if you’re bad at marketing is learning. Yet learning could be different. I highlighted 5 main areas. Educate yourself on general questions. Learn more about some basics. For example, start by finding out what the 4P’s of marketing are, and afterward, you’ll inevitably run into YouTube videos, seminars, Udemy courses, or any other resource that resonates with you on some ideas/avenues you could pursue. Read books and watch videos. There are tons of books on marketing and sales. People shared in the comments books by Dan Kennedy and “Cashvertising”, written by Drew Eric Whitman. (I’ve never heard of them, but already ordered on Amazon). For sales, the most common idea was to start with YouTube videos. For example, Alex Hormozi videos and Startup school delivered by Ycombinator videos. Check out Indie Hackers and scrutinize it for a piece of good advice from developers in the same situation. Also, there was advice to follow up and read some guy on Twitter. (Don't want to get unfairly banned from here, so won't post it) Educate yourself and hire a professional or find a co-founder to help you: Hire a seasoned marketer in this field to help you out. He will help you achieve cost-efficient scales. But it could be a real problem to find the right person. Marketing agencies are expensive. Try to look on LinkedIn or among your acquaintances. Look for professionals with credentials or extensive experience. Seek marketing referrals from startups of a similar size/industry. If you don't have those, try to bring a trusted/experienced marketer friend into the intro meetings to help assess whether the service provider knows what they are doing. Talented freelancers can often get the job done for less than hiring an entire agency. Look for a co-founder who is savvy in marketing, passionate, and ready to work hard towards mutual success. Educate and DIY Being the face of your business is way better than having faceless communication. The startup checklist is made based on the comments is next: At least have your product defined. Define your target audience. Set up the goals you want to achieve. Make domain expertise and understand the market and the direction of its development. The next stage is answering tricky questions: Have you created a business model? How do you plan to compete? What’s your unique selling point? How much do you plan to budget for marketing? Are you planning to work alone, or will you need other devs? Then you start thinking about clients… You need the exposure to truly understand the customer's pain points and build a product that they love. You need to think about how your clients would think, and you should tailor each step you take for them. Get feedback from your early users if you already have a product. Interview your potential customers to learn how they buy. This will help you narrow your choice of marketing channels. Get your product or service used by several startups and help them achieve their goals. Endorsements are very valuable marketing assets. You need a landing to validate your value proposition and start sending traffic, or you can run meta instant form campaigns... It would depend on the category of your startup. You need a benchmark of the competition's ads both in Meta and Google, blog posts, domain authority, their landing page, and average search volumes. Do affiliate marketing for your product since it's an effective strategy. Educate and use AI tools for dealing with marketing. Build an LLM-based product to automate marketing. (Sounds like an idea for a startup, right?) Learn following ChatGPT advice. In 1–3 months, you will be another updated person. Look at marketowl, an AI marketing department for startups and microbusinesses that have no budget or time to do marketing. It will automate the basic tasks your business needs, but it doesn't require your marketing expertise. Check out AI tools that are delivering very good marketing content (gocharlie, jasper, copyai). Educate yourself and run socials Start a blog or YouTube channel where you can share your expertise in coding or anything else you are good at and how your product simplifies life. Engage with your audience on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, where you can showcase your industry knowledge. Start a page on Twitter and an account on Reddit. Follow and read subreddits and pages where your potential customers are. Learn the pain from the inside. Do not simply promote, people will lose interest immediately. Start by taking focused time to create informational content, so people will eventually be naturally intrigued by what you do and want to support you when they start to “know” you. Educate your potential users about the value of your product. Create content based on what ideal customers are asking at the various stages of marketing. e.g., if they are at the beginning of the process, they may use basic language; if they are further down the process, maybe they’ll be specific. Try to get on podcasts and build as many social links as you can. In other words, don’t live in a shell! Post regularly, and eventually you’ll find sites or people that are willing to promote for you. I omitted here all personal help offers and newsletters, however you could find them in the original post. Hope that will be helpful!

Stable Video 3D creates orbiting videos of objects

The introduction of Stable Video 3D (SV3D) by Stability AI could significantly change how we interact with digital content in several straightforward ways: \- Online Shopping: Products can be viewed in 360-degree videos, making shopping online more like seeing the item in person. This could help shoppers make better decisions and feel more confident about their purchases. \- Design and Gaming: Designers and game developers can quickly turn images into 3D models, speeding up their work and improving the quality of their designs and games. \- Augmented and Virtual Reality: Creating content for AR and VR could become easier and more accessible, leading to more immersive and engaging experiences in these platforms. \- Accessibility for Creators: With SV3D available for non-commercial use, more people can experiment with 3D content creation, potentially leading to innovative applications and uses in various fields. This literally just happened if you want AI news as it drops it launches here first. The whole article has been extrapolated here as well for convenience.

My app has gone viral and I grew from 1k users (take 5months) to 100k user in 5 days

I've always dreamt of building an online side business where I can build once and sell to millions. I love that business model but have never dreamt that I can achieve that, given that I am not a programmer in my career. I have been following side hustle school and some other business podcast for the past years as a drive and motivation to create my own business.  Over the years, I've delve a little on to web development using WordPress and in the hope of earning some money from that. I learnt in the hard way but is a good learning story and journey. I realised that what you put all your efforts building and excited for doesn't mean anything for anyone else and also learnt the importance of UI UX.  Fast forward to 5 months ago (July 2024), I've came across several low code app builder. With the help of the low code tools in combination with chatgpt, I've finally launched my first mobile app - Rolly: AI Money Tracker. But the business challenges doesn't end here, but it's just the beginning. I got no experience and skills on marketing but I've got my drive and passion that keep propelling me forward. By keep listening on people sharing their journey, looking at different apps to brainstorm etc, I've managed to now grow my user base from 1k (in 5 months) to 100k (in 5days). What's happening was my app somehow got viral in Vietnam when people are getting interest funny comments from my AI during entering the transaction and it has been sharing around in the social media and even featured on the news. What a crazy journey as the inflow of users has been too sudden, my server has been down for a few times until I progressively upgrade it until it got stable these couple of days. As for my advice to people dreaming the to be entreprenuer - Don't overthinking about all the problems you will face before starting. You will encounter hundreds of problems along the way and you just need to solve them one by one. You will never start if you think about what's not working and there will never be an answer for everything - even I don't have an answer for everything now.

Seeking Feedback: Would a No-Code AI Solution Benefit Your Business?

Hi, fellow small business owners. I'm currently working on an AI startup, with the goal of providing small businesses a seamless and intuitive way to integrate AI into operations without the need for any coding or tech expertise. We're designing an auto machine learning application that's user-friendly and tailored to the unique needs of small businesses. Before we scale, I would really appreciate any insights and feedback. Here are a few questions that would be helpful to get answers to: Pain Points: Are there specific tasks or processes in your operations that you think could be automated or enhanced using AI? This could be anything from customer service chatbots, inventory management, sales forecasting, or anything else you might think of. Features: What features would you want in a no-code AI solution? Perhaps easy integration with existing software? Drag-and-drop model training? Pre-built models for common tasks? Training & Support: How important would training and support be for you in implementing and using an AI solution? Would you prefer video tutorials, live-chat support, or hands-on workshops? Pricing: Would you be willing to invest in such a tool? If so, what would be a reasonable price point for you? We're considering a tiered model based on usage, with a potential starting point of $X/month. Does that sound feasible? Trial Period: Would a free trial period be beneficial for you? How long would you need to assess the tool's impact on your business? Data Concerns: How comfortable are you with sharing data with an AI application? What privacy and security measures would make you feel at ease? Your feedback is really useful. We're building this solution with you in mind, and your insights will guide the next steps. In appreciation for your time and input, we're offering a special discount for early adopters from this community once we launch. Just drop a comment below, and I'll make sure to get in touch when we are ready. Many Thanks, Chris Parker

Feedback: Building a no-code platform to help users build GenAI functionalities within their existing product. Would you use it?

I’m building a product which allows users to build GenAI capabilities (currently: summaries, synthetic data generation and knowledge base querying) into their existing products without the need to code. You can either upload data from files or set up a webhook to read from an API and it constantly keeps updating results (served both on the dashboard as well as through api). You can also rapidly prototype by switching models (currently: GPT, Claude and Gemini). Either use our api keys (used for prototyping) or, provide your own API keys (built for enterprise), so you don’t pay for token consumption. If you are a developer/ non-tech person/ work for an enterprise, would love your thoughts on the idea along with how much would you pay for a product like this. Thanks in advance!

AI for Business Consultancy

Good morning folks, I am doing some research on the impact of AI on business consultancy. I want to initially try out existing models to first learn how to improve my datasets before diving into building my own model. I'm specifically looking for ideas about parameters or metrics that I should be covering for a small cafe business. Since I'm coming from a CS background, my knowledge of the restaurant/cafe industry is pretty limited, so I thought I'd reach out to this community for some guidance. What kind of parameters should I be considering besides the obvious ones like customer and sale data, Inventory information, etc. Pricing strategy analysis? I'm really open to any suggestions! I appreciate any help or direction you all could provide. Just trying to get my bearings in this space before going too deep down any particular path. Thanks in advance!

Ai C-Level team

I've been exploring ways to run a company where I'm essentially the only internal team member, relying entirely on a suite of specialized AIs for executive roles, supported occasionally by external consultants for niche expertise. My goal is to stay lean, agile, and highly creative, especially in a fashion/tech brand context. Essentially, I'm building an AI-driven C-Level team, or what I like to call a "C-Level AI Wallet." Here's what I'm thinking for the key executive roles I'd need to cover with AI: CEO AI – Responsible for overall strategy, decision-making, trend analysis, and guiding the company's vision. I'd probably lean on something advanced like Gemini, GPT-4, or similar models, fine-tuned with market-specific data. COO AI (Operations): I'd need tools that streamline and automate logistics, supply chain management, and day-to-day operations (think something along the lines of Zapier AI integrations or Make). CMO AI (Marketing & Content): For branding, content creation, digital marketing, and consumer insights, I'd use Jasper or Copy.ai, combined with predictive analytics tools like Google Vertex AI to understand trends better. Additionally, for generating engaging visual and multimedia content, tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, Adobe Firefly, and Runway ML would be perfect. CFO AI (Financial Management): For financial management, cash flow control, and investment decisions, I'd probably leverage AI tools like Bloomberg GPT, combined with AI-powered forecasting platforms. CHRO AI (Human Resources & Culture): Although the internal team is minimal (just myself!), I'd still rely on AI for tasks like project management, freelancer hiring, and performance tracking—tools like HireVue AI, Motion, or even Notion's AI could be beneficial here. CSO AI (Sustainability & Compliance): Since sustainability and ethical sourcing are critical, I'd integrate ESG-focused AI tools to ensure transparency and responsible sourcing. My idea is that, with the right AI tools seamlessly integrated, I can manage the strategic vision and creative direction personally, leveraging external consultants only when necessary. This setup would ideally allow me to operate as a one-person internal team supported by a robust "wallet" of AI executives. Has anyone tried a similar approach? What AI tools would you recommend for a truly lean, innovative brand structure? I'm very curious about your experiences or suggestions—let me know your thoughts!

What CRM system works best for commercial loan brokers?

Setting up any business model needs a solid CRM that can also work with other software tools that automate the back office. In this new tech world AI has become a good tool that can help find this answers many entrepreneurs are looking for to maximize their time. So I recently asked and AI system the question on this post title and it came up with this: Selecting the right Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is crucial for commercial loan brokers to efficiently manage client relationships, streamline loan processes, and enhance overall productivity. Here are some CRM solutions tailored for commercial loan brokers: • AscendixRE CRM for Capital Markets • BNTouch Mortgage CRM • LendingWise CRM • Salesforce Financial Services Cloud I personally do not have experience with these, but I used NetSuite for many years for a different industry and it great but it is very expensive for a small business. If you work in this space or have experience with CRMs, what works best yet affordable?

Impact of AI on business valuation?

I see many businesses thinking and experimenting with how AI can help improve their business processes. I seem to find far fewer thinking about how AI could impact or even demolish their actual product. I’ve been thinking about this a lot as (thankfully?) I sold my 15 year old business last year. We have teams of specialists that create digital content in narrow but very high value topic areas. Our value has been the ability of our team of experts to distill and explain the impact of the topic. Now, just a few months later, we’ve shown how three specialist AI systems can basically do the same for near zero cost. Our business and model is highly threatened. Anyone else worried about AI on their product, and thereby the value of their business, and perhaps even looking at exiting while the value is high? And yes, I do expect AI will also create new opportunities to create value. Already thinking of ideas…!

Seeking Feedback on My Business Idea – SaaS + Lead Generation for Small Businesses

Edit: TL;DR I’m Sarvesh, a digital marketer with 10 years of experience in paid ads. After losing my job last year, I started freelancing and discovered how much small businesses struggle with getting reviews (Google, Yelp, TrustPilot, etc.). My Business Idea – SaaS + Paid Ads Free Plan: Businesses can track & reply to reviews across 40+ platforms in one dashboard. Paid Plan ($99/month): Automates review collection, AI-powered responses, social media posting, and spam detection. Custom Plan: Paid ads to generate leads, offered only to businesses on my paid plan for 3+ months. Goal: SaaS platform attracts users → Some upgrade to paid plan → Best clients get lead-generation help → More leads → More reviews → More organic customers → A profitable business cycle. Need Feedback: Does this idea have potential? How can I get my first beta users? Any features I should add/remove? Would love your thoughts—thanks for reading! 😊 TL: Hi everyone, I’m Sarvesh, and I’m in the process of starting my own business. Since my target audience is small businesses, I’d love to get some input, advice, or critiques from this community. A Little About Me I’ve spent the last 10 years working in paid advertising, helping medium and large businesses generate leads through Facebook and Google Ads. I also have experience running e-commerce campaigns. You can check out my background on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile Last year, my second daughter was born, and around the same time, my company shut down all its offices (India & UK), leaving me without a job. I decided to take a break and spend time with my wife and newborn, something I regretted not doing with my first child. By November, I started job hunting again, but in the meantime, I got some freelance work through Reddit, helping small businesses with ads for the first time. For context, in my previous jobs, I managed ad campaigns with daily budgets of £4K–£8K. Working with small businesses was a new challenge, but to my surprise, I was able to generate solid leads for beauty salons, hair salons, and nail salons, helping them grow. What stood out to me was how much impact my work had—unlike my corporate job, where I was just another person in the system, here I felt truly valued. That feeling led me to explore starting my own business. The Problem I Noticed While working with small businesses, I realized that online reviews (Google, Yelp, Trustpilot, etc.) are critical for them, yet many struggle to get them. Customers often don’t leave reviews, and employees are either too shy or don’t prioritize asking for them. This gave me an idea—to build a system that helps businesses get more genuine Google reviews from customers. I developed the system but struggled to find businesses willing to test it, even for free. My target audience is U.S. small businesses, but since I’m based in India, cold emails and Reddit outreach didn’t get much traction. My Business Idea – SaaS + Custom Plans I’m now thinking of pivoting my business model into a SaaS platform with optional paid upgrades. Here’s how it would work: Free Plan (Review Tracking & Management) Businesses can track their reviews across 40+ platforms (Google, Yelp, Facebook, Trustpilot, TripAdvisor, etc.) in one dashboard. They can reply to reviews manually from a single place instead of switching between platforms. This will be completely free forever. Paid Plan ($99/month, Plus SMS/Email Costs) For businesses that struggle to get reviews, they can upgrade to a paid plan that includes: Automated Review Requests – Automatically send review requests via SMS & email. Website Widget – Showcase 4- and 5-star reviews dynamically. Social Media Automation – Automatically post positive reviews on Facebook/Instagram. AI-Powered Responses – AI can reply to reviews automatically. Spam Detection – The system will notify businesses of suspicious reviews (but won’t take direct action). Custom Plan (Lead Generation via Paid Ads) I will personally manage paid ad campaigns to generate leads. Pricing depends on the niche, budget, and contract duration. Money-Back Guarantee – If I don’t deliver results, I refund the month’s fee. Small businesses can’t afford wasted ad spend, and I want to ensure I provide real value. Limited spots per month to maintain quality and avoid burnout. How Everything Ties Together The SaaS platform serves as a lead generation tool for my custom plans: Businesses use the free plan to track their reviews. Some upgrade to the paid plan to automate and improve reviews. A select few, after 3 months on the paid plan, can join my custom plan for paid ads to generate more leads. More leads → More reviews → Better Google Maps ranking → More organic customers → A more profitable business. Would Love Your Feedback! What do you think about this approach? Do you see potential for this business to take off? Any features I should add or remove? Any suggestions on how I can get my first beta users to test the SaaS platform? What about pricing? Do you think $99 is good pricing? I know this is a long post, but I really appreciate anyone taking the time to read and share their thoughts. Thanks in advance!

Ai C-Level team

I've been exploring ways to run a company where I'm essentially the only internal team member, relying entirely on a suite of specialized AIs for executive roles, supported occasionally by external consultants for niche expertise. My goal is to stay lean, agile, and highly creative, especially in a fashion/tech brand context. Essentially, I'm building an AI-driven C-Level team, or what I like to call a "C-Level AI Wallet." Here's what I'm thinking for the key executive roles I'd need to cover with AI: CEO AI – Responsible for overall strategy, decision-making, trend analysis, and guiding the company's vision. I'd probably lean on something advanced like Gemini, GPT-4, or similar models, fine-tuned with market-specific data. COO AI (Operations): I'd need tools that streamline and automate logistics, supply chain management, and day-to-day operations (think something along the lines of Zapier AI integrations or Make). CMO AI (Marketing & Content): For branding, content creation, digital marketing, and consumer insights, I'd use Jasper or Copy.ai, combined with predictive analytics tools like Google Vertex AI to understand trends better. Additionally, for generating engaging visual and multimedia content, tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, Adobe Firefly, and Runway ML would be perfect. CFO AI (Financial Management): For financial management, cash flow control, and investment decisions, I'd probably leverage AI tools like Bloomberg GPT, combined with AI-powered forecasting platforms. CHRO AI (Human Resources & Culture): Although the internal team is minimal (just myself!), I'd still rely on AI for tasks like project management, freelancer hiring, and performance tracking—tools like HireVue AI, Motion, or even Notion's AI could be beneficial here. CSO AI (Sustainability & Compliance): Since sustainability and ethical sourcing are critical, I'd integrate ESG-focused AI tools to ensure transparency and responsible sourcing. My idea is that, with the right AI tools seamlessly integrated, I can manage the strategic vision and creative direction personally, leveraging external consultants only when necessary. This setup would ideally allow me to operate as a one-person internal team supported by a robust "wallet" of AI executives. Has anyone tried a similar approach? What AI tools would you recommend for a truly lean, innovative brand structure? I'm very curious about your experiences or suggestions—let me know your thoughts!

AI for Business Consultancy

Good morning folks, I am doing some research on the impact of AI on business consultancy. I want to initially try out existing models to first learn how to improve my datasets before diving into building my own model. I'm specifically looking for ideas about parameters or metrics that I should be covering for a small cafe business. Since I'm coming from a CS background, my knowledge of the restaurant/cafe industry is pretty limited, so I thought I'd reach out to this community for some guidance. What kind of parameters should I be considering besides the obvious ones like customer and sale data, Inventory information, etc. Pricing strategy analysis? I'm really open to any suggestions! I appreciate any help or direction you all could provide. Just trying to get my bearings in this space before going too deep down any particular path. Thanks in advance!

The case for micro PE [x-post from r/micro_pe]

Any SMB owners considering a sale? What have your challenges been so far? \-- The high-flying venture capital party is quieting down. The pullback in the public tech valuations and high-profile failures have made venture capitalists more cautious, doing fewer deals, no doubt stemming from antsy LPs. But at the same time, real tech has been built that improves business efficiency. AI to cut costs, target customers, improve products. SaaS products to automate everything from billing to marketing. New platforms that open up new modes of customer acquisition. Some of the hyped venture-backed companies from the past decade, while not quite achieving world domination, demonstrated models that provided real value to customers. The on-demand universe - rides, rooms, meals, home services, pets, leisure, showed that customers value convenience and experience. On another front, there's a silver tsunami on the horizon as aging business owners start to cash out. Nearly 60% of private companies are run by the 55+ crowd. Trillions in assets will change hands in the next 15 years as they retire. The tech layoffs have flooded the labor market with brainpower. No shortage of sharp operators looking for their next act. Put it together and you have the ingredients for a new investment approach: micro private equity. Modest valuations, reasonable return expectations, solid companies with positive cash flow or a clear path to profitability. Maybe with debt financing or an acquisition of an existing business at the outset. More targeted, grounded bets are emerging as an alternative to the high-risk venture model. r/micro_pe

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐋𝐋𝐌𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡

“ChatGPT” is everywhere—it’s a tool we use daily to boost productivity, streamline tasks, and spark creativity. But have you ever wondered how it knows so much and performs across such diverse fields? Like many, I've been curious about how it really works and if I could create a similar tool to fit specific needs. 🤔 To dive deeper, I found a fantastic resource: “Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch)” by Sebastian Raschka, which is explained with an insightful YouTube series “Building LLM from Scratch” by Dr. Raj Dandekar (MIT PhD). This combination offers a structured, approachable way to understand the mechanics behind LLMs—and even to try building one ourselves! https://preview.redd.it/35sdlxdb2m0e1.jpg?width=1037&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dd228136fbf7cbdeeae253118ee7a46b04948c24 While AI and generative language models architecture shown in the figure can seem difficult to understand, I believe that by taking it step-by-step, it’s achievable—even for those without a tech background. 🚀 Learning one concept at a time can open the doors to this transformative field, and we at Vizuara.ai are excited to take you through the journey where each step is explained in detail for creating an LLM. For anyone interested, I highly recommend going through the following videos:  Lecture 1: Building LLMs from scratch: Series introduction https://youtu.be/Xpr8D6LeAtw?si=vPCmTzfUY4oMCuVl  Lecture 2: Large Language Models (LLM) Basics https://youtu.be/3dWzNZXA8DY?si=FdsoxgSRn9PmXTTz  Lecture 3: Pretraining LLMs vs Finetuning LLMs https://youtu.be/-bsa3fCNGg4?si=j49O1OX2MT2k68pl  Lecture 4: What are transformers? https://youtu.be/NLn4eetGmf8?si=GVBrKVjGa5Y7ivVY  Lecture 5: How does GPT-3 really work? https://youtu.be/xbaYCf2FHSY?si=owbZqQTJQYm5VzDx  Lecture 6: Stages of building an LLM from Scratch https://youtu.be/z9fgKz1Drlc?si=dzAqz-iLKaxUH-lZ  Lecture 7: Code an LLM Tokenizer from Scratch in Python https://youtu.be/rsy5Ragmso8?si=MJr-miJKm7AHwhu9  Lecture 8: The GPT Tokenizer: Byte Pair Encoding https://youtu.be/fKd8s29e-l4?si=aZzzV4qT\nbQ1lzk  Lecture 9: Creating Input-Target data pairs using Python DataLoader https://youtu.be/iQZFH8dr2yI?si=lH6sdboTXzOzZXP9  Lecture 10: What are token embeddings? https://youtu.be/ghCSGRgVB\o?si=PM2FLDl91ENNPJbd  Lecture 11: The importance of Positional Embeddings https://youtu.be/ufrPLpKnapU?si=cstZgif13kyYo0Rc  Lecture 12: The entire Data Preprocessing Pipeline of Large Language Models (LLMs) https://youtu.be/mk-6cFebjis?si=G4Wqn64OszI9ID0b  Lecture 13: Introduction to the Attention Mechanism in Large Language Models (LLMs) https://youtu.be/XN7sevVxyUM?si=aJy7Nplz69jAzDnC  Lecture 14: Simplified Attention Mechanism - Coded from scratch in Python | No trainable weights https://youtu.be/eSRhpYLerw4?si=1eiOOXa3V5LY-H8c  Lecture 15: Coding the self attention mechanism with key, query and value matrices https://youtu.be/UjdRN80c6p8?si=LlJkFvrC4i3J0ERj  Lecture 16: Causal Self Attention Mechanism | Coded from scratch in Python https://youtu.be/h94TQOK7NRA?si=14DzdgSx9XkAJ9Pp  Lecture 17: Multi Head Attention Part 1 - Basics and Python code https://youtu.be/cPaBCoNdCtE?si=eF3GW7lTqGPdsS6y  Lecture 18: Multi Head Attention Part 2 - Entire mathematics explained https://youtu.be/K5u9eEaoxFg?si=JkUATWM9Ah4IBRy2  Lecture 19: Birds Eye View of the LLM Architecture https://youtu.be/4i23dYoXp-A?si=GjoIoJWlMloLDedg  Lecture 20: Layer Normalization in the LLM Architecture https://youtu.be/G3W-LT79LSI?si=ezsIvNcW4dTVa29i  Lecture 21: GELU Activation Function in the LLM Architecture https://youtu.be/d\PiwZe8UF4?si=IOMD06wo1MzElY9J  Lecture 22: Shortcut connections in the LLM Architecture https://youtu.be/2r0QahNdwMw?si=i4KX0nmBTDiPmNcJ  Lecture 23: Coding the entire LLM Transformer Block https://youtu.be/dvH6lFGhFrs?si=e90uX0TfyVRasvel  Lecture 24: Coding the 124 million parameter GPT-2 model https://youtu.be/G3-JgHckzjw?si=peLE6thVj6bds4M0  Lecture 25: Coding GPT-2 to predict the next token https://youtu.be/F1Sm7z2R96w?si=TAN33aOXAeXJm5Ro  Lecture 26: Measuring the LLM loss function https://youtu.be/7TKCrt--bWI?si=rvjeapyoD6c-SQm3  Lecture 27: Evaluating LLM performance on real dataset | Hands on project | Book data https://youtu.be/zuj\NJNouAA?si=Y\vuf-KzY3Dt1d1r  Lecture 28: Coding the entire LLM Pre-training Loop https://youtu.be/Zxf-34voZss?si=AxYVGwQwBubZ3-Y9  Lecture 29: Temperature Scaling in Large Language Models (LLMs) https://youtu.be/oG1FPVnY0pI?si=S4N0wSoy4KYV5hbv  Lecture 30: Top-k sampling in Large Language Models https://youtu.be/EhU32O7DkA4?si=GKHqUCPqG-XvCMFG

"No Coding" AI And Machine Learning through Excel

Hi All, I am looking for some feedback from users on our new product. If you are looking for an easy way to build and execute machine learning, AI, and analytics through Excel please register for a free account and trial on axcel.io. Please note that you do not need any coding skills and all the computation is in the cloud. So you are not limited to Excel functionality. We have already built more than 70 models and are looking to expand based on your feedback. Thanks! Axcel Team

Free No code AI to learn on

Does anyone here have experience using no code AI models that are actually useful and versatile? And cheap or free... I want to learn AI without coding. I don't plan on being an AI engineer. I just want to use it in everyday life. I won't sit down and learn to code python, and then learn AI theory, and then learn statistics, and then experiment with all the tools, and then learn experiment with all the algorithms. It ain't gonna happen charlie.

No-code AI platform?

Hey there, A group of like-minded people and I are working on a no-code AI platform. Our goal is to make machine learning technologies accessible to people without any specific knowledge. The workflow would look like the following: Select a task and data types. Upload data (with annotation or annotate it in our platform). Wait for a model to be trained automatically (up to 30-40 minutes). Use the created model (through API, through integration with other no-/low-code platforms, or as a docker image). What do you think about our idea? Would anybody use it? I'd really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts.

What do you think about no-code AI development

A team of like-minded people and I are working on a no-code AI development platform. Our goal is to make deep learning technologies accessible for everyone, not just for machine learning engineers and big companies. We've decided to start with computer vision tasks. The workflow would look like the following: Select task (image classification, object detection, image tagging). Upload data (with annotation or annotate it in our platform). Wait for a model to be trained automatically (about 10 minutes). Integrate the created model into your product (through API, docker image, or through integration with other no-/low-code platforms). What do you think is there any future for no-code AI development platforms? I'd really appreciate it if you could share your thoughts.

My Manager Thinks ML Projects Takes 5 Minutes 🤦‍♀️

Hey, everyone! I’ve got to vent a bit because work has been something else lately. I’m a BI analyst at a bank, and I’m pretty much the only one dealing with machine learning and AI stuff. The rest of my team handles SQL and reporting—no Python, no R, no ML knowledge AT ALL. You could say I’m the only one handling data science stuff So, after I did a Python project for retail, my boss suddenly decided I’m the go-to for all things ML. Since then, I’ve been getting all the ML projects dumped on me (yay?), but here’s the kicker: my manager, who knows nothing about ML, acts like he’s some kind of expert. He keeps making suggestions that make zero sense and setting unrealistic deadlines. I swear, it’s like he read one article and thinks he’s cracked the code. And the best part? Whenever I finish a project, he’s all “we completed this” and “we came up with these insights.” Ummm, excuse me? We? I must’ve missed all those late-night coding sessions you didn’t show up for. The higher-ups know it’s my work and give me credit, but my manager just can’t help himself. Last week, he set a ridiculous deadline of 10 days for a super complex ML project. TEN DAYS! Like, does he even know that data preprocessing alone can take weeks? I’m talking about cleaning up messy datasets, handling missing values, feature engineering, and then model tuning. And that’s before even thinking about building the model! The actual model development is like the tip of the iceberg. But I just nodded and smiled because I was too exhausted to argue. 🤷‍♀️ And then, this one time, they didn’t even invite me to a meeting where they were presenting my work! The assistant manager came to me last minute, like, “Hey, can you explain these evaluation metrics to me so I can present them to the heads?” I was like, excuse me, what? Why not just invite me to the meeting to present my own work? But nooo, they wanted to play charades on me So, I gave the most complicated explanation ever, threw in all the jargon just to mess with him. He came back 10 minutes later, all flustered, and was like, “Yeah, you should probably do the presentation.” I just smiled and said, “I know… data science isn’t for everyone.” Anyway, they called me in at the last minute, and of course, I nailed it because I know my stuff. But seriously, the nerve of not including me in the first place and expecting me to swoop in like some kind of superhero. I mean, at least give me a cape if I’m going to keep saving the day! 🤦‍♀️ Honestly, I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. I love the work, but dealing with someone who thinks they’re an ML guru when they can barely spell Python is just draining. I have built like some sort of defense mechanism to hit them with all the jargon and watch their eyes glaze over How do you deal with a manager who takes credit for your work and sets impossible deadlines? Should I keep pushing back or just let it go and keep my head down? Any advice! TL;DR: My manager thinks ML projects are plug-and-play, takes credit for my work, and expects me to clean and process data, build models, and deliver results in 10 days. How do I deal with this without snapping? #WorkDrama

No-Code AI: Integrate the NLP Cloud API Into A Bubble.io App

Hello, Thanks to the rise of no-code platforms like Bubble.io and the creation of brand new cutting-edge AI models based on Transformers, like GPT-3, GPT-J, GPT-NeoX, Bart, and more, it is now possible to create advanced AI applications without writing a single line of code. I just made an article that shows how to connect the NLP Cloud API to a Bubble.io application in order to perform advanced AI operations like summarization, paraphrasing, NER, question answering, blog post generation, product description creation, and much more: https://nlpcloud.com/no-code-ai-integrate-nlp-cloud-api-into-bubble-io.html I hope that you will find this tuto useful! Please don't hesitate to comment! Julien

Understand and train your own GPT – No prior AI or coding knowledge required

Hi all I wrote this "blog" Google colab notebook for friends and family who have little technical know-how or do not yet have an understanding of language models. It's based on nanoGPT (a minimal GPT implementation from Andrej Karpathy, ex-OpenAI). However, I rewrote the code from scratch, made it more explicit, and have lots of textual information such that everyone should be able to follow what is happening when, and train their own little GPT :) Hope it helps some people and let me know if you have any questions/feedback. Find it here: https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1J9qJ-JArJSORVfOcppoD4cMC3u2I7aGZ?usp=sharing Tl;dr: Blog about how LLMs work & train a mini model without prior knowledge.

How I Started Learning Machine Learning

Hello, everyone. As promised, I'll write a longer post about how I entered the world of ML, hoping it will help someone shape their path. I'll include links to all the useful materials I used alongside the story, which you can use for learning. I like to call myself an AI Research Scientist who enjoys exploring new AI trends, delving deeper into understanding their background, and applying them to real products. This way, I try to connect science and entrepreneurship because I believe everything that starts as scientific research ends up "on the shelves" as a product that solves a specific user problem. I began my journey in ML in 2016 when it wasn't such a popular field. Everyone had heard of it, but few were applying it. I have several years of development experience and want to try my hand at ML. The first problem I encountered was where to start - whether to learn mathematics, statistics, or something else. That's when I came across a name and a course that completely changed my career. Let's start You guessed it. It was Professor Andrew Ng and his globally popular Machine Learning course available on Coursera (I still have the certificate, hehe). This was also my first official online course ever. Since that course no longer exists as it's been replaced by a new one, I recommend you check out: Machine Learning (Stanford CS229) Machine Learning Specialization These two courses start from the basics of ML and all the necessary calculus you need to know. Many always ask questions like whether to learn linear algebra, statistics, or probability, but you don't need to know everything in depth. This knowledge helps if you're a scientist developing a new architecture, but as an engineer, not really. You need to know some basics to understand, such as how the backpropagation algorithm works. I know that Machine Learning (Stanford CS229) is a very long and arduous course, but it's the right start if you want to be really good at ML. In my time, I filled two thick notebooks by hand while taking the course mentioned above. TensorFlow and Keras After the course, I didn't know how to apply my knowledge because I hadn't learned specifically how to code things. Then, I was looking for ways to learn how to code it. That's when I came across a popular framework called Keras, now part of TensorFlow. I started with a new course and acquiring practical knowledge: Deep Learning Specialization Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow Machine Learning Yearning by Andrew Ng These resources above were my next step. I must admit that I learned the most from that course and from the book Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow because I like reading books (although this one is quite difficult to read). Learn by coding To avoid just learning, I went through various GitHub repositories that I manually retyped and learned that way. It may be an old-fashioned technique, but it helped me a lot. Now, most of those repositories don't exist, so I'll share some that I found to be good: Really good Jupyter notebooks that can teach you the basics of TensorFlow Another good repo for learning TF and Keras Master the challenge After mastering the basics in terms of programming in TF/Keras, I wanted to try solving some real problems. There's no better place for that challenge than Kaggle and the popular Titanic dataset. Here, you can really find a bunch of materials and simple examples of ML applications. Here are some of my favorites: Titanic - Machine Learning from Disaster Home Credit Default Risk House Prices - Advanced Regression Techniques Two Sigma: Using News to Predict Stock Movements I then decided to further develop my career in the direction of applying ML to the stock market, first using predictions on time series and then using natural language processing. I've remained in this field until today and will defend my doctoral dissertation soon. How to deploy models To continue, before I move on to the topic of specialization, we need to address the topic of deployment. Now that we've learned how to make some basic models in Keras and how to use them, there are many ways and services, but I'll only mention what I use today. For all my ML models, whether simple regression models or complex GPT models, I use FastAPI. It's a straightforward framework, and you can quickly create API endpoints. I'll share a few older and useful tutorials for beginners: AI as an API tutorial series A step-by-step guide Productizing an ML Model with FastAPI and Cloud Run Personally, I've deployed on various cloud providers, of which I would highlight GCP and AWS because they have everything needed for model deployment, and if you know how to use them, they can be quite cheap. Chose your specialization The next step in developing my career, besides choosing finance as the primary area, was my specialization in the field of NLP. This happened in early 2020 when I started working with models based on the Transformer architecture. The first model I worked with was BERT, and the first tasks were related to classifications. My recommendations are to master the Transformer architecture well because 99% of today's LLM models are based on it. Here are some resources: The legendary paper "Attention Is All You Need" Hugging Face Course on Transformers Illustrated Guide to Transformers - Step by Step Explanation Good repository How large language models work, a visual intro to transformers After spending years using encoder-based Transformer models, I started learning GPT models. Good open-source models like Llama 2 then appear. Then, I started fine-tuning these models using the excellent Unsloth library: How to Finetune Llama-3 and Export to Ollama Fine-tune Llama 3.1 Ultra-Efficiently with Unsloth After that, I focused on studying various RAG techniques and developing Agent AI systems. This is now called AI engineering, and, as far as I can see, it has become quite popular. So I'll write more about that in another post, but here I'll leave what I consider to be the three most famous representatives, i.e., their tutorials: LangChain tutorial LangGraph tutorial CrewAI examples Here I am today Thanks to the knowledge I've generated over all these years in the field of ML, I've developed and worked on numerous projects. The most significant publicly available project is developing an agent AI system for well-being support, which I turned into a mobile application. Also, my entire doctoral dissertation is related to applying ML to the stock market in combination with the development of GPT models and reinforcement learning (more on that in a separate post). After long 6 years, I've completed my dissertation, and now I'm just waiting for its defense. I'll share everything I'm working on for the dissertation publicly on the project, and in tutorials I'm preparing to write. If you're interested in these topics, I announce that I'll soon start with activities of publishing content on Medium and a blog, but I'll share all of that here on Reddit as well. Now that I've gathered years of experience and knowledge in this field, I'd like to share it with others and help as much as possible. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them, and I'll try to answer all of them. Thank you for reading.

🚀 PureML - AI-Powered No-Code ML for Everyone 🚀

We’ve built PureML, a no-code AI platform that takes you from raw data to a fully trained ML model—no data science team required. Our MVP is live with AI-driven data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model training, and we’re actively building out deployment along with other powerful AI enhancements. We’ve been featured on the AI Accelerator Institute’s 2025 LLMOps Ecosystem Map, won the LlamaIndex RAG-a-thon, and given talks at GitHub, San Diego Python, and Austin Python. We were also featured in the blogs of LlamaIndex (article) and Box (article). We’re bringing on early adopters—want in? Join the waitlist at pureml.io 👀🔥

TOP ML University Courses for beginners (FREE)

UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Full Stack Playlist - YouTube Stanford University STEFANO ERMON's Deep Generative Model classes - (Highly Recommended) Stanford CS234: Reinforcement Learning Spring 2024 - Playlist 1 Stanford CS234: Reinforcement Learning Spring 2024 - Playlist 2 Stanford XCS224U: Natural Language Understanding Spring 2023 - Playlist Stanford CS229M: Machine Learning Theory Fall 2021 - Playlist Stanford CS25 - Transformers United ML with Graphs MIT MIT 6.S191: Introduction to Deep Learning Harvard NLP Harvard NLP Code - Official Website CU Boulder AI BY HAND Cornell Tech ML Models UMICH DL for CV

How's the fast.ai Introduction to Machine Learning for Coders! Course?

It doesnt seem like the usual Machine Learning courses as it there are only two topics : Random forests and Gradient descent in which the whole course is covered. There are many topics missing like Clustering , other classification models.

MIT Introduction to Data-Centric AI

Announcing the first-ever course on Data-Centric AI. Learn how to train better ML models by improving the data. Course homepage | Lecture videos on YouTube | Lab Assignments The course covers: Data-Centric AI vs. Model-Centric AI Label Errors Dataset Creation and Curation Data-centric Evaluation of ML Models Class Imbalance, Outliers, and Distribution Shift Growing or Compressing Datasets Interpretability in Data-Centric ML Encoding Human Priors: Data Augmentation and Prompt Engineering Data Privacy and Security MIT, like most universities, has many courses on machine learning (6.036, 6.867, and many others). Those classes teach techniques to produce effective models for a given dataset, and the classes focus heavily on the mathematical details of models rather than practical applications. However, in real-world applications of ML, the dataset is not fixed, and focusing on improving the data often gives better results than improving the model. We’ve personally seen this time and time again in our applied ML work as well as our research. Data-Centric AI (DCAI) is an emerging science that studies techniques to improve datasets in a systematic/algorithmic way — given that this topic wasn’t covered in the standard curriculum, we (a group of PhD candidates and grads) thought that we should put together a new class! We taught this intensive 2-week course in January over MIT’s IAP term, and we’ve just published all the course material, including lecture videos, lecture notes, hands-on lab assignments, and lab solutions, in hopes that people outside the MIT community would find these resources useful. We’d be happy to answer any questions related to the class or DCAI in general, and we’d love to hear any feedback on how we can improve the course material. Introduction to Data-Centric AI is open-source opencourseware, so feel free to make improvements directly: https://github.com/dcai-course/dcai-course.

Gentle introduction to the basics of Poker AI

I have written a multi-part series on the concepts and implementation of Counterfactual Regret Minimization (CFR), with Python code and toy example. CFR is at the heart of most advanced Poker AIs including the famed Pluribus) I hope you find it interesting: Steps to building a Poker AI (Part 1) If there's enough interest I plan to continue the series in some form to talk more about the aspects specific to Texas Hold'em and some more advanced stuff that is necessary to make a strong AI. Direct links to the other parts: Part 2: Modelling Imperfect Information Games Part 3: Regrets and Minimizing Regrets in One-Shot Games Part 4: Regret matching for Rock-Paper-Scissors in Python Part 5: Sequential Games, Kuhn Poker and Counterfactual Regrets Part 6: Beating Kuhn Poker with CFR using Python Part 7: Exploitability, Multiplayer CFR and 3-player Kuhn Poker (X-post from r/poker)

How I Started Learning Machine Learning

Hello, everyone. As promised, I'll write a longer post about how I entered the world of ML, hoping it will help someone shape their path. I'll include links to all the useful materials I used alongside the story, which you can use for learning. I like to call myself an AI Research Scientist who enjoys exploring new AI trends, delving deeper into understanding their background, and applying them to real products. This way, I try to connect science and entrepreneurship because I believe everything that starts as scientific research ends up "on the shelves" as a product that solves a specific user problem. I began my journey in ML in 2016 when it wasn't such a popular field. Everyone had heard of it, but few were applying it. I have several years of development experience and want to try my hand at ML. The first problem I encountered was where to start - whether to learn mathematics, statistics, or something else. That's when I came across a name and a course that completely changed my career. Let's start You guessed it. It was Professor Andrew Ng and his globally popular Machine Learning course available on Coursera (I still have the certificate, hehe). This was also my first official online course ever. Since that course no longer exists as it's been replaced by a new one, I recommend you check out: Machine Learning (Stanford CS229) Machine Learning Specialization These two courses start from the basics of ML and all the necessary calculus you need to know. Many always ask questions like whether to learn linear algebra, statistics, or probability, but you don't need to know everything in depth. This knowledge helps if you're a scientist developing a new architecture, but as an engineer, not really. You need to know some basics to understand, such as how the backpropagation algorithm works. I know that Machine Learning (Stanford CS229) is a very long and arduous course, but it's the right start if you want to be really good at ML. In my time, I filled two thick notebooks by hand while taking the course mentioned above. TensorFlow and Keras After the course, I didn't know how to apply my knowledge because I hadn't learned specifically how to code things. Then, I was looking for ways to learn how to code it. That's when I came across a popular framework called Keras, now part of TensorFlow. I started with a new course and acquiring practical knowledge: Deep Learning Specialization Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow Machine Learning Yearning by Andrew Ng These resources above were my next step. I must admit that I learned the most from that course and from the book Deep Learning by Ian Goodfellow because I like reading books (although this one is quite difficult to read). Learn by coding To avoid just learning, I went through various GitHub repositories that I manually retyped and learned that way. It may be an old-fashioned technique, but it helped me a lot. Now, most of those repositories don't exist, so I'll share some that I found to be good: Really good Jupyter notebooks that can teach you the basics of TensorFlow Another good repo for learning TF and Keras Master the challenge After mastering the basics in terms of programming in TF/Keras, I wanted to try solving some real problems. There's no better place for that challenge than Kaggle and the popular Titanic dataset. Here, you can really find a bunch of materials and simple examples of ML applications. Here are some of my favorites: Titanic - Machine Learning from Disaster Home Credit Default Risk House Prices - Advanced Regression Techniques Two Sigma: Using News to Predict Stock Movements I then decided to further develop my career in the direction of applying ML to the stock market, first using predictions on time series and then using natural language processing. I've remained in this field until today and will defend my doctoral dissertation soon. How to deploy models To continue, before I move on to the topic of specialization, we need to address the topic of deployment. Now that we've learned how to make some basic models in Keras and how to use them, there are many ways and services, but I'll only mention what I use today. For all my ML models, whether simple regression models or complex GPT models, I use FastAPI. It's a straightforward framework, and you can quickly create API endpoints. I'll share a few older and useful tutorials for beginners: AI as an API tutorial series A step-by-step guide Productizing an ML Model with FastAPI and Cloud Run Personally, I've deployed on various cloud providers, of which I would highlight GCP and AWS because they have everything needed for model deployment, and if you know how to use them, they can be quite cheap. Chose your specialization The next step in developing my career, besides choosing finance as the primary area, was my specialization in the field of NLP. This happened in early 2020 when I started working with models based on the Transformer architecture. The first model I worked with was BERT, and the first tasks were related to classifications. My recommendations are to master the Transformer architecture well because 99% of today's LLM models are based on it. Here are some resources: The legendary paper "Attention Is All You Need" Hugging Face Course on Transformers Illustrated Guide to Transformers - Step by Step Explanation Good repository How large language models work, a visual intro to transformers After spending years using encoder-based Transformer models, I started learning GPT models. Good open-source models like Llama 2 then appear. Then, I started fine-tuning these models using the excellent Unsloth library: How to Finetune Llama-3 and Export to Ollama Fine-tune Llama 3.1 Ultra-Efficiently with Unsloth After that, I focused on studying various RAG techniques and developing Agent AI systems. This is now called AI engineering, and, as far as I can see, it has become quite popular. So I'll write more about that in another post, but here I'll leave what I consider to be the three most famous representatives, i.e., their tutorials: LangChain tutorial LangGraph tutorial CrewAI examples Here I am today Thanks to the knowledge I've generated over all these years in the field of ML, I've developed and worked on numerous projects. The most significant publicly available project is developing an agent AI system for well-being support, which I turned into a mobile application. Also, my entire doctoral dissertation is related to applying ML to the stock market in combination with the development of GPT models and reinforcement learning (more on that in a separate post). After long 6 years, I've completed my dissertation, and now I'm just waiting for its defense. I'll share everything I'm working on for the dissertation publicly on the project, and in tutorials I'm preparing to write. If you're interested in these topics, I announce that I'll soon start with activities of publishing content on Medium and a blog, but I'll share all of that here on Reddit as well. Now that I've gathered years of experience and knowledge in this field, I'd like to share it with others and help as much as possible. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them, and I'll try to answer all of them. Thank you for reading.

Guidance Needed for Project

Hi everyone, I’m working on a project to build an optimized GPT platform that takes a prompt as input and makes API calls to multiple LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc.). The goal is to evaluate the responses from these models and return the best output to the user. As a student, I’m on a tight budget, and I need your guidance on a few key points: Cost-Effective API Calls: How can I design the API calls so they don’t turn out to be overly expensive? Are there any best practices or techniques to optimize token usage for APIs like OpenAI and Perplexity? Reducing Latency: How can I handle API calls efficiently to avoid long wait times for the user? Are there strategies for managing multiple API calls in parallel without increasing the response time significantly? Additionally, I want to experiment with building this system using open-source models like LLaMA or Mistral. However, I’m limited by my hardware: I have a Dell Inspiron 5000 laptop without a GPU. What are some lightweight open-source models I could use that run well on a CPU? Are there cloud-based solutions (preferably free or low-cost) where I could experiment with running these models? Any advice, resources, or tips would be incredibly helpful.

What Reinforcement Learning Method Should I Use for Poker AI with LLMs?

Hey everyone, I’m working on a poker AI project, where I’m training a large language model (LLM) to predict poker actions from given game states (check, call, bet, raise, etc.). My end goal is to create a model that can play poker at a high level, primarily by self-play and opponent modeling. However, I’m running into some challenges that I hope you can help me with! Here's the situation: Training Method: I’m using supervised fine-tuning (SFT) on real poker hand history data to initially teach the LLM how to predict poker actions from game states. This means that the model learns from examples of past games, predicting the actions that players took in various situations. Self-Play Setup: I plan to eventually move to self-play, where the LLM will play against itself (or other types of models that I create to simulate different play styles). I’ll use these self-play sessions to improve the model over time. Opponent Pool: I’m creating 6 types of poker players (Loose Aggressive, Loose Passive, Tight Aggressive, Tight Passive, Maniac, and Nit), each trained at 5 different skill levels (Novice, Beg\*nner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert). This gives me a decent range of opponent behavior for training. The problem: Here’s the catch: The LLM I’m using only outputs discrete actions (e.g., bet 3BB, raise to 10BB, etc.) with no access to the probabilities of actions, so I can't directly use methods like policy gradients or Q-learning that rely on action probabilities or continuous action spaces. This makes applying traditional RL methods a bit tricky. My question: Given that I don't have access to action probabilities, what RL method or strategy should I pursue to improve my model? Specifically, I’m looking for a way to: Incorporate self-play with reward-based learning. Refine the model through reinforcement learning, without the need for continuous probabilities. Ensure the model doesn’t just overfit to its own prior behavior but learns to adapt and exploit different strategies in poker. I’ve considered a few approaches like reward-weighted supervised fine-tuning or using simpler RL techniques like Monte Carlo updates, but I’m not sure which would work best with the LLM setup I have. I've also considered Q-learning or Deep Q-learning. Any advice or suggestions on which RL approach I should take given my situation would be greatly appreciated! Yes I used AI to write this queston. But it captures everything I want to say, and I suck at writing.

How do I get a job in this job market? How do I stand out from the crowd?

About me - I am an international grad student graduating in Spring 2025. I have been applying for jobs and internships since September 2024 and so far I haven't even been able to land a single interview. I am not an absolute beginner in this field. Before coming to grad school I worked as an AI Software Engineer in a startup for more than a year. I have 2 publications one in the WACV workshop and another in ACM TALLIP. I have experience in computer vision and natural language processing, focusing on multimodal learning and real-world AI applications. My academic projects include building vision-language models, segmentation algorithms for medical imaging, and developing datasets with human attention annotations. I’ve also worked on challenging industry projects like automating AI pipelines and deploying real-time classifiers. How can I improve my chances in this competitive job market? Are there specific strategies for international students navigating U.S. tech job applications? How can I stand out, especially when competing with candidates from top schools and with more experience?

Strategies for training AI players on asymmetric games?

I'm familiar with things like self-play in training a player for games like Chess, Checkers, and many other games where move sets and goals are the same for both players - e.g. eliminate the other player's pieces, prevent the other player from moving (like in Amazons, for example), etc. But what about training a computer player for a game where one side has a different goal than the other? Thing like Maker-Breaker Games. I imagine I would want to train a strong Maker and then train a strong Breaker. So it seems like like an application of Reinforcement Learning and more like a Generative Adversarial Network. Does anyone have any reading on these types of problems? Thanks. Additionally, I'm looking to build a home computer with some funds I came into recently to help me train models (I can't depend on cloud services since the money is only available for a short time), and my budget is pretty big for a home system. Where should I go looking for something that is relatively quiet, usable, doesn't raise my electricity bill too high, and is still powerful enough to train models for years to come? I've looked into /r/buildapcforme but folks seem more focused on gaming over there. And I'm pretty hardware ignorant.

[N] Facebook AI Proposes Novel Scaling Analysis Framework and Strategy

A Facebook AI research team explores strategies for convolutional neural network scaling, aiming to provide a framework for analyzing scaling strategies under various computational constraints. Here is a quick read: Model Scaling That’s Both Accurate and Fast: Facebook AI Proposes Novel Scaling Analysis Framework and Strategy The paper Fast and Accurate Model Scaling is on arXiv.

Scratch Machine Learning Algorithms Implementations

Hi there, other Redditors! Like many of you, when I first started working in the AI field, I wanted to build some basic Machine Learning models from scratch in order to better understand how each algorithm works, improve my programming and math skills, or simply produce an eye-catching, difficult project to put in the résumé. After spending some time searching for resources that could help me guide my studies, I discovered that the majority of scratch implementations that are currently available are either i) outdated (having been implemented years ago using Python 2 or an earlier version of Python 3); ii) too difficult to understand (using a lot of difficult, unfriendly optimization techniques or with poorly written code); or iii) too simple (only covering binary classification). With that in mind, I made the decision to develop user-friendly, uncomplicated, organized, and simple implementations from scratch. Aside from all of that, I've always wanted to create an open-source project so that others, particularly novices and those with less than a year's experience (like me), can collaborate with others, contribute to public projects, and experience Git firsthand (some of these implementations were made by other contributors!). Here are some implementations that are available: Algorithms (Random Forest Classifier and Regressor, Decision Tree Classifier and Regressor, KMeans, KNN Classifier and Regressor, Gaussian Naive Bayes, Linear Regression, Logistic Regression, PCA, Perceptron, MLP Classifier and Regressor, SVM Classifier and Regressor); Regression and classification metrics; Distance metrics (such as Euclidean); Data split functions (such as KFold); Activation and loss functions; Scalers (such as MinMaxScaler) and encoders (such as One Hot Encoder); and a few things more! Project's link: https://github.com/rafaelgreca/scratchml Disclaimer: The goal of this library is to provide code that is simpler, easier to understand, and more approachable for artificial intelligence enthusiasts and beginners who want to contribute to an open-source repository or who want to learn more about how algorithms work. It is not meant to replace existing libraries that are better, more optimized, and have a wider variety of implemented algorithms (such as scikit-learn, PyTorch, Keras, and Tensorflow). If you want to use optimized implementations with accurate results, please use one of the previously mentioned libraries. P.S.: I accidentally deleted the other post, so I am posting again. :-)

ZeroToHeroML: Beginner-Friendly ML & AI Course (Free)

Hey r/learnmachinelearning! A friend of mine, who's been a software developer at Sony for 10 years, recently expressed interest in learning Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Leveraging my background in ML and neural computation (learned at UCSD) to create a beginner-friendly course guiding him through the basics and into more complex projects. Foundational Concepts: Predicting House Prices (Regression): Master regression techniques to forecast housing prices based on various factors. Iris Flower Species Prediction (Classification): Learn classification algorithms by predicting flower species using the famous Iris dataset. Overcoming Overfitting: Explore methods to prevent models from overfitting and enhance their generalizability. In Progress: Customer Segmentation (Unsupervised Learning): Delve into unsupervised learning to group customers based on purchase history or demographics (valuable for targeted marketing campaigns). Deep Learning for Image Recognition: Implement Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to build models that recognize objects or scenes in images. Natural Language Processing Sentiment Analysis: Analyze the sentiment (positive, negative, or neutral) expressed in text data (e.g., reviews, social media posts) using NLP techniques. Introduction to Reinforcement Learning: Get acquainted with the fundamentals of reinforcement learning by creating an agent that learns to navigate a maze. Want to Learn or Contribute? I thought I'd share ZeroToHeroML here so others who want to learn ML/AI or know someone who does can benefit from this free resource! &#x200B; Fork the repo: https://github.com/DilrajS/ZeroToHeroML Share with others interested in ML/AI! Pull requests welcome (help the community grow!). All help is appriciated! Let's conquer ML/AI together!

𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

Scikit-learn vs Statsmodel Linear regression is often the first model introduced to those stepping into the world of data science and machine learning. A deep understanding of this fundamental concept is crucial for building a solid foundation. In this post, I explore two widely used approaches to linear regression, each with distinct purposes: 1️⃣ 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗸𝗶𝘁-𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻’𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Optimized for machine learning applications and large datasets, this model focuses on efficiency and scalability. 2️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀’ 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 (𝗢𝗟𝗦): Known for its comprehensive statistical insights, this approach provides a detailed report ideal for understanding relationships and diagnosing issues like multicollinearity. It’s essential to gain hands-on experience with both libraries to appreciate their unique strengths. To make this learning process more accessible, I’ve created detailed videos and example code to guide you through practical applications: 🎥 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗢𝗻 𝗧𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀: 📌 Learn Linear Regression in Python with LLM Prompt Chaining : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOEG4rs1SUU 📌 In-Depth Linear Regression: Statsmodels OLS, Multicollinearity, and VIF : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQWKY30XzNA 💻 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: 🔗 Scikit-Learn Implementation: https://github.com/pritkudale/ML-for-Teachers/blob/main/Linear%20Regression/Linear\Regression.ipynb 🔗 Statsmodels Implementation: https://github.com/pritkudale/ML-for-Teachers/blob/main/Linear%20Regression/Linear\regression\using\stats\model.ipynb What makes these tutorials unique? I’ve incorporated LLM prompt chaining, enabling beginners to confidently write code without requiring extensive Python expertise. 📩 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘐 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴! 𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: 𝘝𝘪𝘻𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘈𝘐 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳: https://vizuara.ai/email-newsletter/

Sophomore computer science student, looking at ISLP vs ESL vs mlcourse.ai

For background, I am currently a computer science sophomore, with intermediate skills in Python and C++. I have taken university courses on data structure and algorithms, calc 1-3, linear algebra, and an introductory stat course (which covered confidence interval, Z and T sample test, and hypothesis testing). I also have read up to Chapter 5 of the MML book and am currently self-studying probability theory (through STAT 110 video and textbook by Joe Blitzstein). I have done a few beginner ML projects with Tensorflow and scikit-learn, but most of the work is in EDA and feature engineering, while the ML model is just a black box that I plug and chug. So now, I want to learn how to implement ML models from scratch. I've been skimming over ISLP, which many people online recommended, but it seems that while it talks about mathematical equations used, I don't really get to implement it; as the labs are a lot of importing an already implemented model then plug and chug. So now, I am looking at ESL, which I believe is the more detailed and mathematically rigorous version of ISL. However, there aren't any labs or code along to ease beginners in (which I somewhat understand given the intended audience of the book). Another option I am looking at is mlcourse.ai, which seems to cover mathematics and has some lab/code along for it. But it doesn't seem to span as many subjects as ESL does. Given these options, I am unsure of which one to pick, should I first finish my self-study on probability theory and then Chapters 6-8 of MML? Then should I do ISLP first or just get into ESL? Or maybe I should do mlcourse.ai first then into ESL? Or should I just do the ML course/book along with the maths? In addition, there is also the data science + feature engineering stuff which I wonder if I should study more about. Sorry if this seems like a mess, there are just so many things to ML that I am kinda overwhelmed.

NeRFs (2025)

Hey everyone! I'm currently working on my final year project, and it's focused on NeRFs and the representation of large-scale outdoor objects using drones. I'm looking for advice and some model recommendations to make comparisons. My goal is to build a private-access web app where I can upload my dataset, train a model remotely via SSH (no GUI), and then view the results interactively — something like what Luma AI offers. I’ll be running the training on a remote server with 4x A6000 GPUs, but the whole interaction will be through CLI over SSH. Here are my main questions: Which NeRF models would you recommend for my use case? I’ve seen some models that support JS/WebGL rendering, but I’m not sure what the best approach is for combining training + rendering + web access. How can I render and visualize the results interactively, ideally within my web app, similar to Luma AI? I've seen things like sMPLerNeRF, SNeRFs, and Instant-NGP, but I’m curious if there are more beginner-friendly or better-documented alternatives that can integrate well with a custom web interface. Any guidance on how to stream or render the output inside a browser? I’ve seen people use WebGL/Three.js, but I’m still not clear on the pipeline. I’m still new to NeRFs, but my goal is to implement the best model I can, and allow interactive mapping through my web application using data captured by drones. Any help or insights are much appreciated!

Need help with project

Currently im working on a project where i want to implement a gen ai feature for low code platforms basically i want to train models to take in natural language as in put from user and then the model must fill in the drag and drop functionality or fill in features of the platform basically the model should understand the context and fill in the details im a beginner so can anyone help me with this like how do i get started

Starting with Deep Learning in 2025 - Suggestion

I'm aware this has been asked many times here. so I'm not here to ask for a general advice - I've done some homework. My questions is - what do you think about this curriculum I put together (research + GPT)? Context: \- I'm a product manger with technical background and want to get back to a more technical depth. \- BSc in stats, familiar with all basic ML concepts, some maths (linear algebra etc), python. Basically, I got the basics covered a while ago so I'm looking to go back into the basics and I can learn and relearn anything I might need to with the internet. My focus is on getting hands on feel on where AI and deep learning is at in 2025, and understand the "under the hood" of key models used and LLMs specifically. Veterans - whats missing? what's redundant? Thanks so much! 🙏🏻 PS - hoping others will find this useful, you very well might too! |Week/Day|Goals|Resource|Activity| |:-|:-|:-|:-| |Week 1|Foundations of AI and Deep Learning||| |Day 1-2|Learn AI terminology and applications|DeepLearning.AI's "AI for Everyone"|Complete Module 1. Understand basic AI concepts and its applications.| |Day 3-5|Explore deep learning fundamentals|Fast.ai's Practical Deep Learning for Coders (2024)|Watch first 2 lessons. Code an image classifier as your first DL project.| |Day 6-7|Familiarize with ML/LLM terminology|Hugging Face Machine Learning Glossary|Study glossary terms and review foundational ML/LLM concepts.| |Week 2|Practical Deep Learning||| |Day 8-10|Build with PyTorch basics|PyTorch Beginner Tutorials|Complete the 60-minute blitz and create a simple neural network.| |Day 11-12|Explore more projects|Fast.ai Lesson 3|Implement a project such as text classification or tabular data analysis.| |Day 13-14|Fine-tune pre-trained models|Hugging Face Tutorials|Learn and apply fine-tuning techniques for a pre-trained model on a simple dataset.| |Week 3|Understanding LLMs||| |Day 15-17|Learn GPT architecture basics|OpenAI Documentation|Explore GPT architecture and experiment with OpenAI API Playground.| |Day 18-19|Understand tokenization and transformers|Hugging Face NLP Course|Complete the tokenization and transformers sections of the course.| |Day 20-21|Build LLM-based projects|TensorFlow NLP Tutorials|Create a text generator or summarizer using LLM techniques.| |Week 4|Advanced Concepts and Applications||| |Day 22-24|Review cutting-edge LLM research|Stanford's CRFM|Read recent LLM-related research and discuss its product management implications.| |Day 25-27|Apply knowledge to real-world projects|Kaggle|Select a dataset and build an NLP project using Hugging Face tools.| |Day 28-30|Explore advanced API use cases|OpenAI Cookbook and Forums|Experiment with advanced OpenAI API scenarios and engage in discussions to solidify knowledge.|

Learning Resources + Side Project Ideas

I made a post last night about my journey to landing an AI internship and have received a lot of responses asking about side projects and learning resources, so I am making another thread here consolidating this information for all those that are curious! Learning Process Step 1) Learn the basic fundamentals of the Math USE YOUTUBE!!! Literally just type in 'Machine Learning Math" and you will get tons of playlists covering nearly every topic. Personally I would focus on Linear Algebra and Calculus - specifically matrices/vector operations, dot products, eigenvectors/eigenvalues, derivatives and gradients. It might take a few tries until you find someone that meshes well with your learning style, but 3Blue1Brown is my top recommendation. I also read the book "Why Machines Learn" and found that extremely insightful. Work on implementing the math both with pen and paper then in Python. Step 2) Once you have a grip on the math fundamentals, I would pick up Hands-on Machine Learning with Sci-kit Learn, Keras and TensorFlow. This book was a game changer for me. It goes more in depth on the math and covers every topic from Linear Regression to the Transformers architecture. It also introduces you to Kaggle and some beginner level side projects. Step 3) After that book I would begin on side projects and also checking out other similar books, specifically Hands on Large Language Models and Hands on Generative AI. Step 4) If you have read all three of these books, and fully comprehend everything, then I would start looking up papers. I would just ask ChatGPT to feed you papers that are most relevant to your interests. Beginner Side Project Ideas 1) Build a Neural Network from scratch, using just Numpy. It can be super basic - have one input layer with 2 nodes, 1 hidden layer with 2 nodes, and output layer with one node. Learn about the forward feed process and play around with different activation functions and loss functions. Learn how these activation functions and loss functions impact backpropagation (hint: the derivatives of the activation functions and loss functions are all different). Get really good at this and understand the difference between regression models and classification models and which activation/loss functions go with which type of model. If you are really feeling crazy and are more focused on a SWE type of role, try doing it in a language other than python and try building a frontend for it so there is an interface where a user can input data and select their model architecture. 2) Build a CNN Image Classifier for the MNIST - Get familiar with the intricacies of CNN's, image manipulation, and basic computer vision concepts. 3) Build on top of open source LLM's. Go to Hugging Face's models page and start playing around with some. 4) KAGGLE COMPETITIONS - I will not explain further, do Kaggle Competitions. Other Resources I've mentioned YouTube, several books and Hugging Face. I also recommend: DataLemur.com \- Python practice, SQL practices, ML questions - his book Ace the Data Science Interview is also very good. X.com \- follow people that are prominent in the space. I joined an AI and Math Group that is constantly posting resources in there deep-ml.com If you have found any of this helpful - feel free to give me a follow on X and stay in touch @ x.com/hark0nnen\

Neural Networks you can try to implement from scratch (for beginners)

I was reading a tweet talking about how useful it is to implement neural networks from scratch. How it allowed for a greater understanding of the topic. The author said he found it more useful than other people explaining the concept to him. While I disagree with the author’s opinion that it stops the need for explanations. It certainly does help the understanding of one’s model. I recommend giving it a go. In the blog post, I will suggest which models you should try to implement from scratch using NumPy or your favourite library. Also, I will link to some accompanying resources. Simple Feedforward Network This is the most famous example because it’s so simple. But allows you to learn so much. I heard about this idea from Andrew Trask. It also helped me think about implementing networks from scratch in general. In the Feedforward network, you will be using NumPy. As you won't need Pytorch or TensorFlow. To do the heavy-lifting for complex calculations. You can simply create a Numpy Array for training and testing data. You can also create a nonlinear function using Numpy. Then work out the error rate between the layer’s guess and real data. Resource for this task: https://iamtrask.github.io/2015/07/12/basic-python-network/ Follow this tutorial. It does a much better job of explaining how to do this in NumPy. With code examples to follow. Feedforward Network with Gradient Descent This is an extension of the network above. In this network, we allow the model to optimise its weights. This can also be done in NumPy. Resource for this task: https://iamtrask.github.io/2015/07/27/python-network-part2/ A follow-on from the previous article. Pytorch version of Perceptrons and Multi-layered Perceptrons. Here will go up a level by using a library. Examples I'm using will be done in Pytorch. But you can use whatever library you prefer. When implementing these networks, you learn how much a library does the work for you. Recourses for the task: https://medium.com/@tomgrek/building-your-first-neural-net-from-scratch-with-pytorch-56b0e9c84d54 https://becominghuman.ai/pytorch-from-first-principles-part-ii-d37529c57a62 K Means Clustering Yes, this does not count as a neural network. But a traditional machine learning algorithm is still very useful. As this is non deep learning algorithm it should be easier to understand. This can be done just using NumPy or Pandas depending on the implementation. Recourse for this task: https://www.machinelearningplus.com/predictive-modeling/k-means-clustering/ http://madhugnadig.com/articles/machine-learning/2017/03/04/implementing-k-means-clustering-from-scratch-in-python.html https://gdcoder.com/implementation-of-k-means-from-scratch-in-python-9-lines/ There are quite a few choices to choose from. So pick whatever implementation helps you understand the concepts better. These networks or models should be simple enough that you won't get lost trying to implement them. But still, help learn a few stuff along the way. \- If you found this post useful, then check out my mailing list where I write more stuff like this.

[Help Needed] How to tackle AI for DNS Security in a Hackathon for Beginner.

Hi everyone! I've been selected to participate in an AI and Cybersecurity Hackathon, and the group I'm in focuses on AI for DNS Security. Our goal is to implement AI algorithms to detect anomalies and enhance DNS security. Here’s the catch: I have no prior background in cybersecurity, and I’m also a beginner in applying AI to real-world security problems. I’d really appreciate some guidance from this amazing community on how to approach this challenge. A bit more about the project: Objective: Detect anomalies in DNS traffic (e.g., malicious requests, tunneling, etc.). AI tools: We’re free to choose algorithms, but I’m unsure where to start—supervised vs. unsupervised learning? My skillset: Decent grasp of Python (Pandas, Scikit-learn, etc.) and basic ML concepts. No practical experience in network security or analyzing DNS traffic. What I’m looking for: Datasets: Any recommendations for open-source DNS datasets or synthetic data creation methods? AI methods: Which models work best for anomaly detection in DNS logs? Are there any relevant GitHub projects? Learning resources: Beginner-friendly material on DNS security and the application of AI in this domain. Hackathon tips: How can I make the most of this opportunity and contribute effectively to my team? Bonus question: If you’ve participated in similar hackathons, what strategies helped you balance learning and execution within a short timeframe? Thank you so much in advance for any advice, resources, or personal experiences you can share! I’ll make sure to share our project results and lessons learned after the hackathon.

Easy small implementations of AI

I think everyone secretely (or not secretly) love small implementations with training examples, dataset preprocessing etc in just a small colab notebook. Why do almost everyone create big github repositories with tones of code just for a not-that-big model ? Maybe it's just me who isn't able to find small notebooks? Does anyone has source with extremely useful small notebooks?

Implementing AI in real world problems

Hello everyone, i participated in a hackathon this weekend and i wanted to implement a ML model to solve the given problem. I faced a problem while collecting datasets, i didnt really find any helpful datasets in Kaggle or Hugging Face so i dropped the idea from the MVP solution. I wanna know how can implement ai models to solve some specific real world problems in the future like the one they gave us and thank you.

Seeking Guidance on Implementing LLM and Generative AI in a New Role.

Hi everyone, I recently got a job that involves implementing LLM and Generative AI. During the interview, we discussed topics like Reinforcement Learning, Deep Learning, and Machine Learning. I’m finishing my MSc in Computer Science, where I’ve worked on projects involving simple Deep Learning implementations (data extraction, cleaning some MLP). Essentially, I will have access to servers for computing and a laptop, and I’ll be the sole programmer responsible for establishing and demonstrating value. I am looking for resources and maybe some examples of how to do that so far I have recommended: Hugging Face - Documentation Intro to Large Language Models by Andrej Karpathy I also plan to attend local meetups about LLM and PyTorch. I’m looking for practical advice on learning these technologies while developing them, particularly regarding development workflows, cloud backups, and coding standards, as I will be working independently. I know if I can achieve something easier and faster with a simple Machine Learning model I will do that. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

How is ML/AI implemented in your company?

Hi, I am currently working as a full time SWE. I generally get to work with data/build solutions using data but I don't have any official ML/Data science title or background. Ideally, I'd like to be able to start making more intelligent decisions using that data and that's why I am interested on machine learning. Ideally, I'd like to write production systems that leverage models that I can build and understand end to end but after some research, I am not sure if such jobs exist today or if teams are usually split between modelling team (people that only train and analyze models) and SWE teams (people that take such models and focus on deploying them on production). My current company is using that model of development, so I might need to leave to be able to do what I want. I imagine startups work that way, but I am looking for some stability. Thanks!

GPT Weekly - 19the June Edition - OpenAI's function calling, Meta's free LLM, EU Regulation and more.

This is a recap covering the major news from last week. 🔥Top 3 news - OpenAI’s updates, Meta’s upcoming free LLM and EU Regulation 🗞️Interesting reads include PSA about protecting your keys, The GPT ouroboros, Reddit - OpenAI’s moat, and more.. 🧑‍🎓Learning includes a Step-by-step guide from a non-technical founder who launched his MVP, Chatbot for your Gdrive and more 🔥Top 3 AI news in the past week OpenAI: New Pricing, Models, & Functions OpenAI has been on a roll. Last week we saw the release of OpenAI best practice on using GPT. This week we saw some amazing updates. Three major buckets were: First, the price decreases for both embeddings and GPT-3.5 tokens. Second, new models for gpt-4 and gpt-3.5. A new longer context model for gpt-3.5. Third, a new function calling capability. Why is it important? Previously, the output from OpenAI was all text. So, calling an external API from GPT was quite difficult. You had to parse the text data and things were often incorrect. Langchain created the Agents and Tools feature to tackle this problem. It was still unreliable and prone to issues. Now you get native support to generate a fixed format output. You can use the output to generate functional calls and also pass functions which need to be called. For example, if your app has multiple API endpoints then you can use GPT to generate the API calls with parameters. You can also pass the endpoints as function calls to ensure the correct function is executed. This functionality can further be used to generate structured data (JSON) out of GPT. So, you can generate data from GPT and load it into your backend. What’s next? This functionality allows turning natural language responses into structured data. This can be used to create “intelligent” backends using LLMs. We might see implementations in no-code tools to allow more robust and natural-language tools for non-technical folks. The structured data process goes both ways. You can also feed structured data into GPT for better responses. This feature also has its share of issues. Function calling suffers from the same prompt injection issues. Malicious actors can pass malicious code in function or the responses. For example, creation of queries using functions might contain malicious code to delete data. Without proper user validation this code will be executed automatically and delete data. So, using LLM as the back-end layer needs proper security implementation. Meta's LLM: Commercial Use Ahead Llama has been a boon for the open source community. Many of the open source models rely on Llama. The issue is that Llama is research-only and cannot be used commercially. So, no one can use it to build any product. Meta is now working on the next version of the model. This model will be available for commercial use. This is in stark contrast to both OpenAI and Google. Both safe-guarde their models and make it available through API. Why is it important? Certain industries cannot use LLM APIs because of strict restrictions on data privacy. These companies would want to run their own instance of a foundational model. A commercially available foundational model is also going to help people who want to keep their “API call” costs next to 0. A commercially available free-for-all model will also help push the open source community further. Just like Llama. What’s next? Sam Altman has said OpenAI didn’t release GPT-3 as open-source because they didn’t think people would be able to run it. Now OpenAI is working on an open-source model. This is going to be weaker than GPT-4. Let the battle of LLMs begin. EU's Proposed Legislation and Its Impact on AI Usage The EU parliament voted to move ahead with the E.U. AI Act. This act aims to ensure consumer protection against the dangers of AI. Why is it important? OpenAI and Sam Altman want regulations for models. They have proposed a IAEA-type of agency to stop the proliferation of LLM models. As per OpenAI, all models should be regulated and monitored. The suggestion of a license based regulation has led to significant backlash. Many people have called it “regulatory capture” - with the aim of shutting down competing LLMs. Licensing based regulations might not really be effective. The EU is approaching regulation from a different angle. It doesn’t focus on how models are developed. Rather focuses on how AI will/can be used. They have broken down use cases into 4 categories - unacceptable (prohibited), high, medium and low risk. For example, Building a Pre-Crime software,on%20crimes%20not%20yet%20committed.) to predict crimes? Building a Social credit system? Unacceptable. Using tools to influence elections or recommendation algorithms? High (Highly regulated). Using generative AI tools to create text or images on news sites? Medium (Add label that the content is AI generated) AI providers also need to disclose their training source. To me this sounds like good legislation. What do you guys think? But, OpenAI has warned that EU regulations might force them to pull out completely. What’s next? The disclosure requirements might help various publishing companies. AI and media companies are in talks to pay for training data. Google has been leading the charge. Additionally, OpenAI and Deepmind will open their models for safety and research purposes to the UK government. 🗞️10 AI news highlights and interesting reads PSA: If you are using Repl to write code, you might want to check your OpenAI API keys. If you have left them embedded then people can pirate and steal the keys. LLMs rely on human annotation or human feedback to learn. And one way to generate human annotation is crowdsourcing. But what if the crowdsource human annotators use LLMs? Research shows 33-46% workers used LLMs. So, basically we go from Human -> AI -> Human -> AI. The AI ouroboros. Researchers also say generated data to train models might cause serious issue. All the talks about moats \- Reddit might be OpenAI’s \future\ moat. Given the amount of complaints about how Google search experience has deteriorated during the blackout, this might be true? Doctors are using ChatGPT but not to diagnose.Rather to be more empathetic. We discussed this just a month ago. And guess where the data for this study came from? Reddit AskDocs. Moat FTW?! Beatles to make a comeback…using Generative AI. SnapFusion - Text to Image diffusion on mobile phones. Large context lengths are important for better GPT experience. The secret sauce for 100k context length. There is a lot of bad AI research out there. Some border on snake oil. Most AI “research” should be double checked and challenged. A new research on huggingface said that GPT-4 can ace MIT curriculum. Now someone is replicating the results and say that GPT-4 can’t beat MIT. Are we seeing peak AI? Especially when people from Deepmind and Meta are involved? Mistral AI raised $113 million in seed round with no product. Some might say this funding is for the team and the team is really solid. The issue though is whether the valuation is justified when OpenAI and Google already have a head start. The AI Hype Wall of Shame. \- Collection of articles which mislead people about AI in various aspects. 🧑‍🎓3 Learning Resources Building and Launching a company using GPT-4 with prompts. (The author didn’t know how to code but created and launched the MVP in a month). Chatbot for your Gdrive - https://www.haihai.ai/gpt-gdrive/ Building ChatGPT plugin using Supabase - https://supabase.com/blog/building-chatgpt-plugins-template That’s it folks. Thank you for reading and have a great week ahead. If you are interested in a focused weekly recap delivered to your inbox on Mondays you can subscribe here. It is FREE!

Month of August in AI

🔍 Inside this Issue: 🤖 Latest Breakthroughs: This month it’s all about Agents, LangChain RAG, and LLMs evaluation challenges.* 🌐 AI Monthly News: Discover how these stories are revolutionizing industries and impacting everyday life: EU AI Act, California’s Controversial SB1047 AI regulation act, Drama at OpenAI, and possible funding at OpenAI by Nvidia and Apple.* 📚 Editor’s Special: This covers the interesting talks, lectures, and articles we came across recently. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn at RealAIGuys and AIGuysEditor to get insight on new AI developments. Please don't forget to subscribe to our Newsletter: https://medium.com/aiguys/newsletter Latest Breakthroughs Are Agents just simple rules? Are Agents just enhanced reasoning? The answer is yes and no. Yes, in the sense that agents have simple rules and can sometimes enhance reasoning capabilities compared to a single prompt. But No in the sense that agents can have a much more diverse functionality like using specific tools, summarizing, or even following a particular style. In this blog, we look into how to set up these agents in a hierarchal manner just like running a small team of Authors, researchers, and supervisors. How To Build Hierarchical Multi-Agent Systems? TextGrad. It is a powerful framework performing automatic “differentiation” via text. It backpropagates textual feedback provided by LLMs to improve individual components of a compound AI system. In this framework, LLMs provide rich, general, natural language suggestions to optimize variables in computation graphs, ranging from code snippets to molecular structures. TextGrad showed effectiveness and generality across various applications, from question-answering and molecule optimization to radiotherapy treatment planning. TextGrad: Improving Prompting Using AutoGrad The addition of RAG to LLMs was an excellent idea. It helped the LLMs to become more specific and individualized. Adding new components to any system leads to more interactions and its own sets of problems. Adding RAG to LLMs leads to several problems such as how to retrieve the best content, what type of prompt to write, and many more. In this blog, we are going to combine the LangChain RAG with DSPy. We deep dive into how to evaluate the RAG pipeline quantitatively using RAGAs and how to create a system where instead of manually tweaking prompts, we let the system figure out the best prompt. How To Build LangChain RAG With DSPy? As the field of natural language processing (NLP) advances, the evaluation of large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 becomes increasingly important and complex. Traditional metrics such as accuracy are often inadequate for assessing these models’ performance because they fail to capture the nuances of human language. In this article, we will explore why evaluating LLMs is challenging and discuss effective methods like BLEU and ROUGE for a more comprehensive evaluation. The Challenges of Evaluating Large Language Models AI Monthly News AI Act enters into force On 1 August 2024, the European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) enters into force. The Act aims to foster responsible artificial intelligence development and deployment in the EU. The AI Act introduces a uniform framework across all EU countries, based on a forward-looking definition of AI and a risk-based approach: Minimal risk: most AI systems such as spam filters and AI-enabled video games face no obligation under the AI Act, but companies can voluntarily adopt additional codes of conduct. Specific transparency risk: systems like chatbots must clearly inform users that they are interacting with a machine, while certain AI-generated content must be labelled as such. High risk: high-risk AI systems such as AI-based medical software or AI systems used for recruitment must comply with strict requirements, including risk-mitigation systems, high-quality of data sets, clear user information, human oversight, etc. Unacceptable risk: for example, AI systems that allow “social scoring” by governments or companies are considered a clear threat to people’s fundamental rights and are therefore banned. EU announcement: Click here https://preview.redd.it/nwyzfzgm4cmd1.png?width=828&format=png&auto=webp&s=c873db37ca0dadd5b510bea70ac9f633b96aaea4 California AI bill SB-1047 sparks fierce debate, Senator likens it to ‘Jets vs. Sharks’ feud Key Aspects of SB-1047: Regulation Scope: Targets “frontier” AI models, defined by their immense computational training requirements (over 10²⁶ operations) or significant financial investment (>$100 million). Compliance Requirements: Developers must implement safety protocols, including the ability to immediately shut down, cybersecurity measures, and risk assessments, before model deployment. Whistleblower Protections: Encourages reporting of non-compliance or risks by offering protection against retaliation. Safety Incident Reporting: Mandates reporting AI safety incidents within 72 hours to a newly established Frontier Model Division. Certification: Developers need to certify compliance, potentially under penalty of perjury in earlier drafts, though amendments might have altered this. Pros: Safety First: Prioritizes the prevention of catastrophic harms by enforcing rigorous safety standards, potentially safeguarding against AI misuse or malfunction. Incentivizes Responsible Development: By setting high standards for AI model training, the company encourages developers to think critically about the implications of their creations. Public Trust: Enhances public confidence in AI by ensuring transparency and accountability in the development process. Cons: Innovation Stagnation: Critics argue it might stifle innovation, especially in open-source AI, due to the high costs and regulatory burdens of compliance. Ambiguity: Some definitions and requirements might be too specific or broad, leading to legal challenges or unintended consequences. Global Competitiveness: There’s concern that such regulations could push AI development outside California or the U.S., benefiting other nations without similar restrictions. Implementation Challenges: The practicalities of enforcing such regulations, especially the “positive safety determination,” could be complex and contentious. News Article: Click here Open Letter: Click here https://preview.redd.it/ib96d7nk4cmd1.png?width=828&format=png&auto=webp&s=0ed5913b5dae72e203c8592393e469d9130ed689 MORE OpenAI drama OpenAI co-founder John Schulman has left the company to join rival AI startup Anthropic, while OpenAI president and co-founder Greg Brockman is taking an extended leave until the end of the year. Schulman, who played a key role in creating the AI-powered chatbot platform ChatGPT and led OpenAI’s alignment science efforts, stated his move was driven by a desire to focus more on AI alignment and hands-on technical work. Peter Deng, a product manager who joined OpenAI last year, has also left the company. With these departures, only three of OpenAI’s original 11 founders remain: CEO Sam Altman, Brockman, and Wojciech Zaremba, lead of language and code generation. News Article: Click here https://preview.redd.it/0vdjc18j4cmd1.png?width=828&format=png&auto=webp&s=e9de604c26aed3e47b50df3bdf114ef61f967080 Apple and Nvidia may invest in OpenAI Apple, which is planning to integrate ChatGPT into iOS, is in talks to invest. Soon after, Bloomberg also reported that Apple is in talks but added that Nvidia “has discussed” joining the funding round as well. The round is reportedly being led by Thrive Capital and would value OpenAI at more than $100 billion. News Article: Click here https://preview.redd.it/ude6jguh4cmd1.png?width=828&format=png&auto=webp&s=3603cbca0dbb1be3e6d0efcf06c3a698428bbdd6 Editor’s Special The AI Bubble: Will It Burst, and What Comes After?: Click here Eric Schmidt Full Controversial Interview on AI Revolution (Former Google CEO): Click here AI isn’t gonna keep improving Click here General Intelligence: Define it, measure it, build it: Click here

Question from a non-technical founder

I'm having an automotive photography app built. I want to build a simple AI model that will resize, rotate and reposition automotive photos so they're all consistent. There's about 30 standard photos to build a model for. I've got hundreds of before and after photos to train it with. I'd class myself as a non-technical founder. I can build wordpress sites, basic HTML layouts. Been in digital marketing for 20 years. Is this a simple project that I might be able to learn some AI basics then just feed the model? Or will it require coding knowledge that'll be beyond me? I don't have time to deep dive into the code side. Thanks for any feedback.

Just recorded a new interview episode where we talk about transitioning from a Fortune 500 to a startup. Let us know what you think!

0:00 Shilpa's Introduction 2:16 A Cosmopolitan Journey 4:46 All Roads Lead to Tech 8:35 From JP Morgan to Intel 12:25 Shilpa's $1 Billion Revenue Pipeline 15:27 Transitioning from IOT to AI 17:42 Flyte Co-Founders (and Marriage Partners!) 22:30 Building an AI Model, for two! 28:04 Flyte's Integration for Workflow Software 30:03 Fundraising Success 31:09 The Bright Flyte Ahead 32:18 Biggest Challenges Building the AI 36:05 Advice to Other AI Founders 38:46 Flyte's Incredible Collaboration Process 44:32 Life Lessons from Shilpa 45:54 Find Flyte! &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/w4bx22cl10d71.png?width=2042&format=png&auto=webp&s=c14ea0b96a1ffb34165ec84a86ca45b16256c21b Shilpa is a lifelong tech admirer, worldly businesswoman, and now CEO of Flyte -- a Workflow Automation Platform for Complex, Mission-Critical Data and ML Processes at Scale. From her incredible journey from India to her current home in Canada, to the vital role collaboration plays in small teams, Shilpa shares a breadth of knowledge any Entrepreneur would be lucky to hear. Regular link to episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJJgAhwSqqo&t=1s

Study Plan for Learning Data Science Over the Next 12 Months [D]

In this thread, I address a study plan for 2021. In case you're interested, I wrote a whole article about this topic: Study Plan for Learning Data Science Over the Next 12 Months Let me know your thoughts on this. &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/emg20nzhet661.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=cf09e4dc5e82ba2fd7b57c706ba2873be57fe8de We are ending 2020 and it is time to make plans for next year, and one of the most important plans and questions we must ask is what do we want to study?, what do we want to enhance?, what changes do we want to make?, and what is the direction we are going to take (or continue) in our professional careers?. Many of you will be starting on the road to becoming a data scientist, in fact you may be evaluating it, since you have heard a lot about it, but you have some doubts, for example about the amount of job offers that may exist in this area, doubts about the technology itself, and about the path you should follow, considering the wide range of options to learn. I’m a believer that we should learn from various sources, from various mentors, and from various formats. By sources I mean the various virtual platforms and face-to-face options that exist to study. By mentors I mean that it is always a good idea to learn from different points of view and learning from different teachers/mentors, and by formats I mean the choices between books, videos, classes, and other formats where the information is contained. When we extract information from all these sources we reinforce the knowledge learned, but we always need a guide, and this post aims to give you some practical insights and strategies in this regard. To decide on sources, mentors and formats it is up to you to choose. It depends on your preferences and ease of learning: for example, some people are better at learning from books, while others prefer to learn from videos. Some prefer to study on platforms that are practical (following online code), and others prefer traditional platforms: like those at universities (Master’s Degree, PHDs or MOOCs). Others prefer to pay for quality content, while others prefer to look only for free material. That’s why I won’t give a specific recommendation in this post, but I’ll give you the whole picture: a study plan. To start you should consider the time you’ll spend studying and the depth of learning you want to achieve, because if you find yourself without a job you could be available full time to study, which is a huge advantage. On the other hand, if you are working, you’ll have less time and you’ll have to discipline yourself to be able to have the time available in the evenings, mornings or weekends. Ultimately, the important thing is to meet the goal of learning and perhaps dedicating your career to this exciting area! We will divide the year into quarters as follows First Quarter: Learning the Basics Second Quarter: Upgrading the Level: Intermediate Knowledge Third Quarter: A Real World Project — A Full-stack Project Fourth Quarter: Seeking Opportunities While Maintaining Practice First Quarter: Learning the Basics &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/u7t9bthket661.png?width=998&format=png&auto=webp&s=4ad29cb43618e7acf793259243aa5a60a8535f0a If you want to be more rigorous you can have start and end dates for this period of study of the bases. It could be something like: From January 1 to March 30, 2021 as deadline. During this period you will study the following: A programming language that you can apply to data science: Python or R. We recommend Python due to the simple fact that approximately 80% of data science job offers ask for knowledge in Python. That same percentage is maintained with respect to the real projects you will find implemented in production. And we add the fact that Python is multipurpose, so you won’t “waste” your time if at some point you decide to focus on web development, for example, or desktop development. This would be the first topic to study in the first months of the year. Familiarize yourself with statistics and mathematics. There is a big debate in the data science community about whether we need this foundation or not. I will write a post later on about this, but the reality is that you DO need it, but ONLY the basics (at least in the beginning). And I want to clarify this point before continuing. We could say that data science is divided in two big fields: Research on one side and putting Machine Learning algorithms into production on the other side. If you later decide to focus on Research then you are going to need mathematics and statistics in depth (very in depth). If you are going to go for the practical part, the libraries will help you deal with most of it, under the hood. It should be noted that most job offers are in the practical part. For both cases, and in this first stage you will only need the basics of: Statistics (with Python and NumPy) Descriptive statistics Inferential Statistics Hypothesis testing Probability Mathematics (with Python and NumPy) Linear Algebra (For example: SVD) Multivariate Calculus Calculus (For example: gradient descent) Note: We recommend that you study Python first before seeing statistics and mathematics, because the challenge is to implement these statistical and mathematical bases with Python. Don’t look for theoretical tutorials that show only slides or statistical and/or mathematical examples in Excel/Matlab/Octave/SAS and other different to Python or R, it gets very boring and impractical! You should choose a course, program or book that teaches these concepts in a practical way and using Python. Remember that Python is what we finally use, so you need to choose well. This advice is key so you don’t give up on this part, as it will be the most dense and difficult. If you have these basics in the first three months, you will be ready to make a leap in your learning for the next three months. Second Quarter: Upgrading the Level: Intermediate Knowledge &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/y1y55vynet661.png?width=669&format=png&auto=webp&s=bd3e12bb112943025c39a8975faf4d64514df275 If you want to be more rigorous you can have start and end dates for this period of study at the intermediate level. It could be something like: From April 1 to June 30, 2021 as deadline. Now that you have a good foundation in programming, statistics and mathematics, it is time to move forward and learn about the great advantages that Python has for applying data analysis. For this stage you will be focused on: Data science Python stack Python has the following libraries that you should study, know and practice at this stage Pandas: for working with tabular data and make in-depth analysis Matplotlib and Seaborn: for data visualization Pandas is the in-facto library for data analysis, it is one of the most important (if not the most important) and powerful tools you should know and master during your career as a data scientist. Pandas will make it much easier for you to manipulate, cleanse and organize your data. Feature Engineering Many times people don’t go deep into Feature Engineering, but if you want to have Machine Learning models that make good predictions and improve your scores, spending some time on this subject is invaluable! Feature engineering is the process of using domain knowledge to extract features from raw data using data mining techniques. These features can be used to improve the performance of machine learning algorithms. Feature engineering can be considered as applied machine learning itself. To achieve the goal of good feature engineering you must know the different techniques that exist, so it is a good idea to at least study the main ones. Basic Models of Machine Learning At the end of this stage you will start with the study of Machine Learning. This is perhaps the most awaited moment! This is where you start to learn about the different algorithms you can use, which particular problems you can solve and how you can apply them in real life. The Python library we recommend you to start experimenting with ML is: scikit-learn. However it is a good idea that you can find tutorials where they explain the implementation of the algorithms (at least the simplest ones) from scratch with Python, since the library could be a “Black Box” and you might not understand what is happening under the hood. If you learn how to implement them with Python, you can have a more solid foundation. If you implement the algorithms with Python (without a library), you will put into practice everything seen in the statistics, mathematics and Pandas part. These are some recommendations of the algorithms that you should at least know in this initial stage Supervised learning Simple Linear Regression Multiple Linear Regression K-nearest neighbors (KNN) Logistic Regression Decision Trees Random Forest Unsupervised Learning K-Means PCA Bonus: if you have the time and you are within the time ranges, you can study these others Gradient Boosting Algorithms GBM XGBoost LightGBM CatBoost Note: do not spend more than the 3 months stipulated for this stage. Because you will be falling behind and not complying with the study plan. We all have shortcomings at this stage, it is normal, go ahead and then you can resume some concepts that did not understand in detail. The important thing is to have the basic knowledge and move forward! If at least you succeed to study the mentioned algorithms of supervised and unsupervised learning, you will have a very clear idea of what you will be able to do in the future. So don’t worry about covering everything, remember that it is a process, and ideally you should have some clearly established times so that you don’t get frustrated and feel you are advancing. So far, here comes your “theoretical” study of the basics of data science. Now we’ll continue with the practical part! Third Quarter: A Real World Project — A Full-stack Project &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/vrn783vqet661.png?width=678&format=png&auto=webp&s=664061b3d33b34979b74b10b9f8a3d0f7b8b99ee If you want to be more rigorous you can have start and end dates for this period of study at the intermediate level. It could be something like: From July 1 to September 30, 2021 as deadline. Now that you have a good foundation in programming, statistics, mathematics, data analysis and machine learning algorithms, it is time to move forward and put into practice all this knowledge. Many of these suggestions may sound out of the box, but believe me they will make a big difference in your career as a data scientist. The first thing is to create your web presence: Create a Github (or GitLab) account, and learn Git*. Being able to manage different versions of your code is important, you should have version control over them, not to mention that having an active Github account is very valuable in demonstrating your true skills. On Github, you can also set up your Jupyter Notebooks and make them public, so you can show off your skills as well. This is mine for example: https://github.com/danielmoralesp Learn the basics of web programming*. The advantage is that you already have Python as a skill, so you can learn Flask to create a simple web page. Or you can use a template engine like Github Pages, Ghost or Wordpress itself and create your online portfolio. Buy a domain with your name*. Something like myname.com, myname.co, myname.dev, etc. This is invaluable so you can have your CV online and update it with your projects. There you can make a big difference, showing your projects, your Jupyter Notebooks and showing that you have the practical skills to execute projects in this area. There are many front-end templates for you to purchase for free or for payment, and give it a more personalized and pleasant look. Don’t use free sub-domains of Wordpress, Github or Wix, it looks very unprofessional, make your own. Here is mine for example: https://www.danielmorales.dev/ Choose a project you are passionate about and create a Machine Learning model around it. The final goal of this third quarter is to create ONE project, that you are passionate about, and that is UNIQUE among others. It turns out that there are many typical projects in the community, such as predicting the Titanic Survivors, or predicting the price of Houses in Boston. Those kinds of projects are good for learning, but not for showing off as your UNIQUE projects. If you are passionate about sports, try predicting the soccer results of your local league. If you are passionate about finance, try predicting your country’s stock market prices. If you are passionate about marketing, try to find someone who has an e-commerce and implement a product recommendation algorithm and upload it to production. If you are passionate about business: make a predictor of the best business ideas for 2021 :) As you can see, you are limited by your passions and your imagination. In fact, those are the two keys for you to do this project: Passion and Imagination. However don’t expect to make money from it, you are in a learning stage, you need that algorithm to be deployed in production, make an API in Flask with it, and explain in your website how you did it and how people can access it. This is the moment to shine, and at the same time it’s the moment of the greatest learning. You will most likely face obstacles, if your algorithm gives 60% of Accuracy after a huge optimization effort, it doesn’t matter, finish the whole process, deploy it to production, try to get a friend or family member to use it, and that will be the goal achieved for this stage: Make a Full-stack Machine Learning project. By full-stack I mean that you did all the following steps: You got the data from somewhere (scrapping, open data or API) You did a data analysis You cleaned and transformed the data You created Machine Learning Models You deployed the best model to production for other people to use. This does not mean that this whole process is what you will always do in your daily job, but it does mean that you will know every part of the pipeline that is needed for a data science project for a company. You will have a unique perspective! Fourth Quarter: Seeking Opportunities While Maintaining Practice &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/qd0osystet661.png?width=1056&format=png&auto=webp&s=2da456b15985b2793041256f5e45bca99a23b51a If you want to be more rigorous you can have start and end dates for this period of study at the final level. It could be something like: From October 1 to December 31, 2021 as deadline. Now you have theoretical and practical knowledge. You have implemented a model in production. The next step depends on you and your personality. Let’s say you are an entrepreneur, and you have the vision to create something new from something you discovered or saw an opportunity to do business with this discipline, so it’s time to start planning how to do it. If that’s the case, obviously this post won’t cover that process, but you should know what the steps might be (or start figuring them out). But if you are one of those who want to get a job as a data scientist, here is my advice. Getting a job as a data scientist “You’re not going to get a job as fast as you think, if you keep thinking the same way”.Author It turns out that all people who start out as data scientists imagine themselves working for the big companies in their country or region. Or even remote. It turns out that if you aspire to work for a large company like data scientist you will be frustrated by the years of experience they ask for (3 or more years) and the skills they request. Large companies don’t hire Juniors (or very few do), precisely because they are already large companies. They have the financial muscle to demand experience and skills and can pay a commensurate salary (although this is not always the case). The point is that if you focus there you’re going to get frustrated! Here we must return to the following advise: “You need creativity to get a job in data science”. Like everything else in life we have to start at different steps, in this case, from the beginning. Here are the scenarios If you are working in a company and in a non-engineering role you must demonstrate your new skills to the company you are working for*. If you are working in the customer service area, you should apply it to your work, and do for example, detailed analysis of your calls, conversion rates, store data and make predictions about it! If you can have data from your colleagues, you could try to predict their sales! This may sound funny, but it’s about how creatively you can apply data science to your current work and how to show your bosses how valuable it is and EVANGELIZE them about the benefits of implementation. You’ll be noticed and they could certainly create a new data related department or job. And you already have the knowledge and experience. The key word here is Evangelize. Many companies and entrepreneurs are just beginning to see the power of this discipline, and it is your task to nurture that reality. If you are working in an area related to engineering, but that is not data science*. Here the same applies as the previous example, but you have some advantages, and that is that you could access the company’s data, and you could use it for the benefit of the company, making analyses and/or predictions about it, and again EVANGELIZING your bosses your new skills and the benefits of data science. If you are unemployed (or do not want, or do not feel comfortable following the two examples above)*, you can start looking outside, and what I recommend is that you look for technology companies and / or startups where they are just forming the first teams and are paying some salary, or even have options shares of the company. Obviously here the salaries will not be exorbitant, and the working hours could be longer, but remember that you are in the learning and practice stage (just in the first step), so you can not demand too much, you must land your expectations and fit that reality, and stop pretending to be paid $ 10,000 a month at this stage. But, depending of your country $1.000 USD could be something very interesting to start this new career. Remember, you are a Junior at this stage. The conclusion is: don’t waste your time looking at and/or applying to offers from big companies, because you will get frustrated. Be creative, and look for opportunities in smaller or newly created companies. Learning never stops While you are in that process of looking for a job or an opportunity, which could take half of your time (50% looking for opportunities, 50% staying in practice), you have to keep learning, you should advance to concepts such as Deep Learning, Data Engineer or other topics that you feel were left loose from the past stages or focus on the topics that you are passionate about within this group of disciplines in data science. At the same time you can choose a second project, and spend some time running it from end-to-end, and thus increase your portfolio and your experience. If this is the case, try to find a completely different project: if the first one was done with Machine Learning, let this second one be done with Deep learning. If the first one was deployed to a web page, that this second one is deployed to a mobile platform. Remember, creativity is the key! Conclusion We are at an ideal time to plan for 2021, and if this is the path you want to take, start looking for the platforms and media you want to study on. Get to work and don’t miss this opportunity to become a data scientist in 2021! Note: we are building a private community in Slack of data scientist, if you want to join us write to the email: support@datasource.ai I hope you enjoyed this reading! you can follow me on twitter or linkedin Thank you for reading!

Randomly asked ChatGPT and Claude for a 4 year roadmap for an ML Engineer

Title, Is it actually a good plan ?? If no, why not ?? \\🚀 4-Year Roadmap to Becoming a High-Earning ML Engineer & Entrepreneur\\ \\(With Smartwork & Realistic 60-70% Execution Feasibility)\\ \\🟢 Year 1: Strong Foundation & Initial Projects (0-12 Months)\\ 🎯 \\Goal: Master Python & ML Fundamentals\\ \\🔹 1-4 Months (Python & Math Strengthening)\\ ✅ Python Mastery \- Daily LeetCode Easy problems (minimum 2) \- Build automation projects \- NumPy & Pandas mastery \- DSA fundamentals ✅ Mathematics Foundation \- Linear Algebra basics \- Statistics fundamentals \- Basic calculus concepts ✅ First Mini-Hackathon Participation \- Join beginner-friendly hackathons \- Focus on Python-based challenges \- Team up with other beginners 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Join Discord/Slack hackathon communities \- Practice collaborative coding \- Build network with fellow participants \\🔹 5-8 Months (ML Foundations)\\ ✅ Machine Learning Basics \- Supervised Learning \- Model evaluation \- Feature engineering \- scikit-learn projects ✅ Participate in 2-3 ML Hackathons \- Kaggle Getting Started competitions \- Local ML hackathons \- University hackathons ✅ Start LinkedIn & GitHub Portfolio 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Document hackathon experiences \- Share learnings on LinkedIn \- Focus on completion over winning \\🔹 9-12 Months (Deep Learning Introduction)\\ ✅ Basic Deep Learning \- Neural network fundamentals \- PyTorch basics \- Computer vision tasks \- Basic NLP ✅ Advanced Hackathon Participation \- AI/ML specific hackathons \- Team lead in 1-2 hackathons \- Start mentoring beginners \\🔵 Year 1 Expected Outcome (60-70% Execution)\\ ✔ \\Strong Python & ML foundations\\ ✔ \\5-6 hackathon participations\\ ✔ \\Active GitHub (100+ commits)\\ ✔ \\Growing LinkedIn (300+ connections)\\ 💰 \\Earning Expectation → ₹8K-₹20K per month (Projects/Internship)\\ \\🟢 Year 2: Professional Growth & Specialization (12-24 Months)\\ 🎯 \\Goal: Build Professional Experience & Recognition\\ \\🔹 1-6 Months (Technical Depth)\\ ✅ Advanced ML Topics \- Deep Learning architectures \- Computer Vision OR NLP \- MLOps basics (Docker, FastAPI) \- Cloud fundamentals (AWS/GCP) ✅ Hackathon Achievements \- Win minor prizes in 2-3 hackathons \- Lead teams in major hackathons \- Network with sponsors ✅ Start Technical Blogging 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Focus on hackathon projects that align with career goals \- Build relationships with companies at hackathons \- Create detailed project documentation \\🔹 7-12 Months (Professional Experience)\\ ✅ Secure ML Role/Internship ✅ Advanced Project Building ✅ Open Source Contributions ✅ Organize Small Hackathons 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Use hackathon network for job referrals \- Convert hackathon projects into full products \- Build mentor reputation \\🔵 Year 2 Expected Outcome (60-70% Execution)\\ ✔ \\Professional ML experience\\ ✔ \\10+ hackathon participations\\ ✔ \\1-2 hackathon wins\\ ✔ \\Strong industry network\\ 💰 \\Earning Expectation → ₹40K-₹70K per month (Job/Freelancing)\\ \\🟢 Year 3: Scaling & Business Foundation (24-36 Months)\\ 🎯 \\Goal: Establish Multiple Income Streams\\ \\🔹 1-4 Months (Expertise Building)\\ ✅ Choose Specialization \- MLOps \- Computer Vision \- NLP/LLMs \- Generative AI ✅ Advanced Competitions \- International hackathons \- High-prize competitions \- Corporate ML challenges ✅ Start Consulting Services 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Use hackathon wins for marketing \- Build service packages around expertise \- Network with corporate sponsors \\🔹 5-8 Months (Business Development)\\ ✅ Scale Services ✅ Build Client Network ✅ Create Training Programs ✅ Hackathon Mentorship Program 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Convert hackathon projects to products \- Use event networks for client acquisition \- Build authority through speaking \\🔹 9-12 Months (Growth & Innovation)\\ ✅ Product Development ✅ Team Building ✅ Innovation Focus ✅ Hackathon Organization \\🔵 Year 3 Expected Outcome (60-70% Execution)\\ ✔ \\Established ML business/career\\ ✔ \\Known in hackathon community\\ ✔ \\Multiple income streams\\ ✔ \\Strong industry presence\\ 💰 \\Earning Expectation → ₹1L-₹2L per month (Multiple Streams)\\ \\🟢 Year 4: Scale & Leadership (36-48 Months)\\ 🎯 \\Goal: Build AI Company & Achieve Financial Freedom\\ \\🔹 1-4 Months (Business Scaling)\\ ✅ Company Formation \- AI consulting firm \- Product development \- Training programs ✅ Hackathon Innovation \- Launch own hackathon series \- Corporate partnerships \- Prize sponsorships ✅ Team Expansion 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Use hackathon network for hiring \- Create unique event formats \- Build corporate relationships \\🔹 5-8 Months (Market Leadership)\\ ✅ Product Launch ✅ Service Expansion ✅ International Presence ✅ Innovation Hub Creation 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Create hackathon-to-hiring pipeline \- Build educational programs \- Establish thought leadership \\🔹 9-12 Months (Empire Building)\\ ✅ Multiple Revenue Streams \- AI products \- Consulting services \- Educational programs \- Event organization \- Investment returns ✅ Industry Leadership \- Conference speaking \- Published content \- Community leadership \\🔵 Year 4 Expected Outcome (60-70% Execution)\\ ✔ \\Established AI company\\ ✔ \\Major hackathon organizer\\ ✔ \\Multiple product lines\\ ✔ \\Industry authority status\\ 💰 \\Earning Expectation → ₹3L-₹5L+ per month (Business Income)\\ \\📊 FINAL RATING\\ ✅ \\Comprehensive growth plan\\ ✅ \\Strong community focus\\ ✅ \\Multiple income pathways\\ 💡 \\If 100% Execution → 8.5/10 Feasibility\\ 💡 \\If 50% Execution → 6/10 Feasibility\\ 🔥 \\Conclusion: A balanced path to ML mastery and entrepreneurship, built through consistent growth and community engagement!\\ 🚀 \\Key Success Factors:\\ Regular hackathon participation Strong community involvement Consistent skill development Strategic network building Focus on both technical and business growth

Advise Needed] Mechanical engineer trying to venture into ML

Hello fellow redditors, &#x200B; As the title suggests, I am a mechanical engineer with a masters in mechanical design from a top institute in India. Directly after my masters, I got a job but left it after exactly one year to pursue civil services. And that decision has left a 3 year void in my career sheet. During these three years, the most I have been in touch with tech/science was through random personal automations using python and digital notetaking systems or a few readings here and there. I don't know if they have anything to do with each other, but I am lazy (for repetitive work) and have an eye to optimize /automate my workflow. The later led to me learning python, a bit of git and css/html. With regard to my prgramming skills, I learn quickly and had good grades in all the computer science courses we had at the college (C++, DSA and Modelling-Simulation). I have also programmed in Matlab for basic usage in research and also in LAMDA for nanomechanics/molecular simulation. At my work, I had written a python code to automate the process of model setup for FE which reduced the human intervention from very menial routine work (hindi: gadha majdoori). As for my mechanical engineering skills, I am good with CAE softwares and can readily work with them. So first thing I am doing right now is applying in various positions in the same domain as I had worked 3 years ago. All this while, I got introduced to the world of Machine Learning, AI and Deep Learning. So, I wish to learn ML to slowly venture into that line. So yeah, my question here to the CS veterans is, how to start with the learning, from where, what can I expect from the field and how much time is necessary for be able to get a decent opportunity in that domain? Currently, I have started with Andrew Ng's course on Courcera: Course 1 of Deep Learning Specialisation. https://www.coursera.org/learn/neural-networks-deep-learning but it seems rather theoretical to me and without implementation it will be difficult for me to grasp (I feel). Also, I explored fast.ai course which follows top-down approach unlike Andrew. I haven't committed to it. Kindly guide. All kinds of opinon are welcome. PS. I am 28yo

6 principles to data architecture that facilitate innovation

My team and I have been re-building our company's data architecture. In the process of doing so, I got together six key principles to transforming data architectures and thought I would share them, as a strong data architecture is crucial for businesses looking to stay competitive in the digital landscape, as it improves decision-making, time to market, and data security. When executed with efficiency, a resilient data architecture unleashes unparalleled degrees of agility. Principle 1: Agility and flexibility To quickly adjust to market fluctuations, businesses must create adaptable data infrastructures that can effortlessly manage an ever-growing influx of data. To accomplish this objective, we recommend to our clients to implement Enterprise Service Bus, Enterprise Data Warehouse, and Master Data Management integrated together. &#x200B; I believe the best option is this: \- By centralizing communication, ESB reduces the time and effort required to integrate new systems; \- EDW consolidates data from different sources, resulting in a 50% reduction in software implementation time; \- Finally, MDM ensures consistency and accuracy across the organization, leading to better decision-making and streamlined operations. Implementing these solutions can lead to reduced software implementation time, better ROI, and more manageable data architecture. By fostering a culture of collaboration and adopting modern technologies and practices, businesses can prioritize agility and flexibility in their data architecture to increase the pace of innovation. Principle 2: Modularity and reusability Data architecture that fosters modularity and reusability is essential for accelerating innovation within an organization. By breaking data architecture components into smaller, more manageable pieces, businesses can enable different teams to leverage existing architecture components, reducing redundancy and improving overall efficiency. MDM can promote modularity and reusability by creating a central repository for critical business data. This prevents duplication and errors, improving efficiency and decision-making. MDM enables a single source of truth for data, accessible across multiple systems, which promotes integration and scalability. MDM also provides standardized data models, rules, and governance policies that reduce development time, increase quality, and ensure proper management throughout the data’s lifecycle. Another way to achieve modularity in data architecture is through the use of microservices and scripts for Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) processes. Adopting a structured methodology and framework can ensure these components are well-organized, making it easier for teams to collaborate and maintain the system. Microservices can also contribute to modularity and reusability in data architecture. These small, independent components can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently of one another. By utilizing microservices, organizations can update or replace individual components without affecting the entire system, improving flexibility and adaptability. Principle 3: Data quality and consistency The efficiency of operations depends on data’s quality, so a meticulously crafted data architecture plays a pivotal role in preserving it, empowering enterprises to make well-informed decisions based on credible information. Here are some key factors to consider that will help your company ensure quality: \- Implementing Master Data Management (MDM) – this way, by consolidating, cleansing, and standardizing data from multiple sources, your IT department will be able to create a single, unified view of the most important data entities (customers, products, and suppliers); \- Assigning data stewardship responsibilities to a small team or an individual specialist; \- Considering implementing data validation, data lineage, and data quality metrics; \- By implementing MDM and adopting a minimal data stewardship approach, organizations can maintain high-quality data that drives innovation and growth. Principle 4: Data governance Data governance is a strategic framework that goes beyond ensuring data quality and consistency. It includes ensuring data security, privacy, accessibility, regulatory compliance, and lifecycle management. Here are some key aspects of data governance: \- Implementing robust measures and controls to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, breaches, and theft. This is only possible through including encryption, access controls, and intrusion detection systems into your company’s IT architecture; \- Adhering to data privacy regulations and guidelines, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA); \- Defining stringent conditions for who has access to specific data assets to maintain control over data and ensure its accessibility only for legitimate purposes. Managing the entire lifecycle of data, from creation and storage to archiving and disposal, including defining policies for data retention, archiving, and deletion in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. To facilitate effective data governance, organizations can leverage various tools and technologies, such as: \- Data cataloging tools: Solutions like Collibra, Alation, or Informatica Enterprise Data Catalog help organizations discover, understand, and manage their data assets. \- Data lineage tools: Tools like Talend, IBM InfoSphere, or Apache Atlas help track data’s origin, transformation, and usage, providing insights into data quality issues and potential areas for improvement. \- Data quality tools: Solutions like Informatica Data Quality, Trifacta, or SAS Data Quality help organizations maintain high-quality data by identifying and correcting errors, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies. \- Data security and privacy tools: Tools like Varonis, BigID, or Spirion help protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations. Principle 5: Cloud-first approach A cloud-first approach prioritizes cloud-based solutions over on-premises ones when it comes to data management. Cloud-based data management pros: \- Virtually limitless scalability, so that organizations can grow and adapt to changing data requirements without significant infrastructure investments; \- The pay-as-you-go model of cloud services reduces maintenance costs usually associated with the on-premise choice; \- Greater flexibility for deploying and integrating new technologies and services; \- Cloud can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, turning team collaboration and remote work into a breeze; \- Built-in backup and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring data safety and minimizing downtime in case of emergencies. Cloud-based data management cons: \- Cloud-first approach raises many data security, privacy, and compliance concerns; \- Transferring large data volumes to and from cloud is often time-consuming and results in increased latency for certain apps; \- Relying on a single cloud provider makes it difficult to switch them or move back to the on-premises option without significant funds and effort. Challenges that organizations that choose a cloud-first approach face: \- Integrating cloud-based systems with on-premises ones can be complex and time-consuming; \- Ensuring data governance and compliance in a multi-cloud or hybrid environment is also another problem reported by my clients. How EDW, ESB, and MDM promote cloud-first approach: A cloud-based EDW centralizes data from multiple sources, enabling a unified view of the organization’s data and simplifying data integration across cloud and on-premises systems. An ESB facilitates communication between disparate cloud and on-premises systems, streamlining data integration and promoting a modular architecture. Cloud-based MDM solutions are used for maintaining data quality and consistency across multiple data sources and environments. Principle 6: Automation and artificial intelligence Incorporating automation tools and AI technologies into data architecture can optimize processes and decision-making. Key Applications: \- Data ingestion and integration: Automation simplifies data schema updates and identifies data quality issues, while AI-assisted development helps create tailored connectors, scripts, and microservices. \- Data quality management: Machine learning algorithms improve data quality and consistency by automatically detecting and correcting inconsistencies and duplicates. \- Predictive analytics: AI and machine learning models analyze historical data to predict trends, identify opportunities, and uncover hidden patterns for better-informed decisions. How No-Code Tools and AI-Assisted Development Work: Business users define data requirements and workflows using no-code tools, enabling AI models to understand their needs. AI models process the information, generating recommendations for connector creation, ETL scripts, and microservices. Developers use AI-generated suggestions to accelerate development and tailor solutions to business needs. By combining automation, AI technologies, and no-code tools, organizations can streamline data architecture processes and bridge the gap between business users and developers, ultimately accelerating innovation. I share more tips on building an agile data architectures in my blog.

AI Noob where to start?

Hello, TL;DR: Where do I get started with AI from an ICT engineer POV? I find the subject complex and vague, and I have no idea where to start. A little bit about myself, I am a telecoms engineer with 7 years of experience in networking, servers (virtualisation and containers), Audio-visual and industrial/home automations and CAD, but I am more specialised in the first 4 layers of the OSI model with a little experience in Python, YAML and Ansible (nowhere near a software engineer, but decent enough to make simple automations work if needed). I am starting to have clients that ask questions about AI and its use for their business, and I am not confident in answering them. Where should I start? My only knowledge about AI was gathered from a course I have done “AI Infrastructure and Operations Fundamentals” from Nvidia and the fact that Lamma is an open-source model from Meta (which I absolutely adore the idea of local open-source AI). I am do not think I want to be an AI developer and pivot, but more like how AI can enhance my current skill set. I want to understand what the technical requirements are, technical terminology, how the different models can be used for different purposes (text, images, etc.). From a HW perspective, I am long overdue for a workstation upgrade (currently i7 9^(th) Gen, RTX 2060 Super 8Gb VRAM, 16Gb DDR4 RAM) I use my workstation as a homelab and for CAD and gaming. My hope is that by the time intel 15^(th) gen and Nvidia 5000 will be released, I will have some kind of idea of what I want to do with it from an AI perspective. I have seen a lot of knowledgeable people in this subreddit and wanted to know what it was their journey and how did they get started? What do you recommend (courses, books, HW/SW, etc.)?

Let’s Build Small AI Buzz, Offer ‘Claim Processing’ to Mid/Big Companies

Discover How AI Can Transform Businesses, Every Details Spelled Out. Full Article https://preview.redd.it/jp0vc5g6e86d1.png?width=1421&format=png&auto=webp&s=efa43e2a9b04b6996b00adac4e4947a3b21c7e63 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping business landscapes, promising unprecedented efficiency and accuracy across industries. In this article, we delve into how Aniket Insurance Inc. (Imaginary) leverages AI to revolutionize its claim processing operations, offering insights into the transformative power of AI in modern business environments. ➡️ What’s This Article About? \* The article explores how Aniket Insurance Inc. uses AI to transform its claim processing. \* It details the three main workflows: User claim submission, Admin + AI claim processing, and Executive + AI claim analysis. https://preview.redd.it/ql0ec20ae86d1.png?width=769&format=png&auto=webp&s=4b6889dd85f848194d6adfc92c9c699138eb1fe7 ➡️ Why Read This Article \* Readers can see practical ways AI boosts efficiency in business, using Aniket Insurance as an example. \* AI speeds up routine tasks, like data entry, freeing up humans for more strategic work. It shows how AI-driven data analysis can lead to smarter business decisions. ➡️Let’s Design: Aniket Insurance Inc. has implemented AI architecture that encompasses three pivotal workflows: User Claim Submission Flow, Admin + AI Claim Processing Flow, and Executive + AI Claim Analysis Flow. Powered by AI models and integrated with store, this architecture ensures seamless automation and optimization of the entire claim processing lifecycle. By leveraging AI technologies like machine learning models and data visualization tools, Aniket Insurance how business can enhance operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making capabilities. https://preview.redd.it/qgdmzs3ee86d1.png?width=733&format=png&auto=webp&s=445295beb52a56d826e5527859cf62879116ddb0 ➡️Closing Thoughts: Looking ahead, the prospects of AI adoption across various industries are incredibly exciting. Imagine manufacturing plants where AI optimizes production lines, predicts maintenance needs, and ensures quality control. Envision healthcare facilities where AI assists in diagnosis, treatment planning, and drug discovery. Picture retail operations where AI personalizes product recommendations, streamlines inventory management, and enhances customer service. The possibilities are endless, as AI’s capabilities in pattern recognition, predictive modeling, and automation can be leveraged to tackle complex challenges and uncover valuable insights in virtually any domain. https://preview.redd.it/w3hr913ge86d1.png?width=754&format=png&auto=webp&s=d839a7703f5b28314a3278c8d628ae5f05d3668f

How I Built an Agentic Marketing Campaign Strategist

Marketing at Scale: How One AI System Replaces Hundreds of Strategy Hours Article https://i.redd.it/uekqj3zmerme1.gif https://i.redd.it/30rk23zmerme1.gif https://preview.redd.it/fk1t53zmerme1.png?width=797&format=png&auto=webp&s=d07f473a9556fbd38885b3a2f862101d9b25424e https://preview.redd.it/n84113zmerme1.jpg?width=1914&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f42679269a1003e1c8d6501dd2d53e10db745bba https://preview.redd.it/l13ae3zmerme1.jpg?width=791&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecab3c295c2a416bc0fed8c62fecbe3321e37093 TL;DR This article guides you through building an AI-powered marketing strategist using Python. It combines vector databases, language models, and PDF generation to create customized marketing strategies automatically. I’ll show you the complete system architecture, from storing marketing knowledge to generating professional strategy documents, with practical code examples you can implement today. Perfect for marketers and developers looking to leverage AI for business growth. Introduction Welcome to the exciting intersection of marketing and artificial intelligence! In today’s digital world, creating effective marketing campaigns requires deep expertise, market research, and creative thinking. But what if you could automate parts of this process? That’s exactly what I set out to build: an AI system that generates comprehensive marketing strategies tailored to specific products, audiences, and budgets. What’s This Article About? This article walks you through the creation of an AI-powered marketing strategist that combines the retrieval of relevant marketing knowledge with advanced language generation to produce detailed campaign strategies. The system I built uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), which enhances AI outputs by grounding them in specific knowledge sources. Here’s how it works: You provide a simple campaign description (like “a new eco-friendly water bottle targeting millennials with a budget of $50,000”) The system searches a knowledge base of marketing principles and best practices It then uses a language model to craft a comprehensive strategy that includes campaign objectives, target audience analysis, channel selection, content ideas, budget allocation, and measurement KPIs Finally, it generates a professional PDF document with your complete marketing strategy The beauty of this approach is that it combines the creativity and adaptability of AI with established marketing frameworks, ensuring the strategies are both innovative and grounded in proven principles. Why Read It? AI is rapidly transforming how businesses operate, and marketing is at the forefront of this revolution. According to recent studies, companies that effectively leverage AI in their marketing efforts see significant improvements in customer engagement, conversion rates, and ROI. Even if you’re not building a system for a real company right now, understanding how to implement AI in marketing processes gives you valuable skills and insights. This article provides a practical example of how AI can: Save marketers countless hours of research and strategy development Ensure consistency in marketing approaches across different campaigns Generate creative ideas that might not have been considered otherwise Scale marketing expertise across an organization By following along, you’ll gain hands-on experience with technologies like vector databases, language models, and automated document generation — all skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s business environment.

Let’s Build One Person Business Using 100% AI

AI made it possible for 9-to-5 workers to start a one-person business without quitting their jobs. Full Article https://preview.redd.it/tynb9y6z695d1.png?width=1309&format=png&auto=webp&s=b490d3676a63adcc01faff8c476056cb7d420022 https://i.redd.it/9x3okti0795d1.gif The Opportunities for Starting a Business ○ There are huge opportunities to start your own business by leveraging valuable skills to attract paying audiences. ○ New software and AI platforms make it easier to distribute products/services and automate tasks that were previously time-consuming. Our One Person Book Publication House ○ This article explores building a one-person AI-powered business focused on publishing books. ○ Users input data on a topic, and AI generates a comprehensive book structure and content based on that. ○ The generated content can be formatted, designed, and published digitally or in print easily. Why Read This Article? ○ It presents an innovative AI-powered approach to streamline the book publishing process. ○ It provides technical implementation details using LLM, Python and the Streamlit library as a reference. ○ It highlights AI's potential in automating creative tasks like writing and content creation. Approaching the One Person Business ○ Reflect on areas where you overcame personal struggles and gained valuable skills. ○ Leverage that expertise to build an AI business serving others facing similar obstacles. ○ Use AI tools to create content, automate processes, and efficiently scale your offerings. The Publication Business Idea ○ Focus on writing and publishing small books using AI writing assistants. ○ AI can streamline research, writing drafts, outlines, and ideas across genres. ○ Concentrate efforts on editing, formatting, and marketing while AI handles writing. The Book Generation Process ○ Users input structured topic data like outlines, key points, and references. ○ Advanced AI language models generate flowing book content from that data. ○ Minimal human effort is needed beyond initial inputs and refinement. ○ AI systems automatically handle formatting, design, and publishing. Technical Implementation ○ Includes a Book class to represent a book's hierarchical structure in Python. ○ Functions to generate book structures and section content using AI models. ○ Integrates with a Streamlit app for user input and output. ○ Allows downloading the final book in Markdown format. Closing Thoughts ○ This AI-powered approach makes book writing and publishing more accessible to individuals. ○ AI handles the heavy lifting, with humans providing quality control through editing. ○ It opens up possibilities for innovative knowledge sharing as technology evolves.

My Building Of Trading Order Management System Using AI Agents

Practical Guide : Automating Business Transactions with AI-Powered Workflows Full Article | Code https://preview.redd.it/hrkeo00yz4ie1.jpg?width=1911&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5bcb6f02c72bbce22fb691e4d8b799c414fed2a7 https://preview.redd.it/1cp0izzxz4ie1.png?width=1899&format=png&auto=webp&s=2598e25e17ab03a95f3009f5333f02b077ce30ca https://preview.redd.it/cjp1640yz4ie1.png?width=1899&format=png&auto=webp&s=13dad0ee8e0b1b22415a60a57b571058f0bdef33 TL;DR A practical implementation of an AI-powered B2B order management system using LangChain and LLM, demonstrating automated order processing, inventory management, and real-time communication between trading partners. https://i.redd.it/kxe4l69105ie1.gif Introduction In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficient order management is crucial for B2B operations. GlobalTrade Nexus AI showcases how artificial intelligence can streamline complex business transactions, reduce errors, and enhance communication between trading partners. What’s This Article About? This article presents a comprehensive B2B trading platform that leverages AI to automate order processing workflows. The system handles everything from order placement to fulfillment, featuring: Real-time inventory verification Automated shipping cost calculations Instant order validation Secure transaction processing Smart order cancellation capabilities State management across the entire order lifecycle The platform demonstrates how modern AI technologies can be integrated into traditional business processes to create a seamless, efficient trading environment. Tech stack Why Read It? As businesses increasingly embrace digital transformation, AI-powered solutions are becoming essential for maintaining competitive advantage. This article provides: A practical example of AI implementation in B2B commerce Insights into modern system architecture for business applications Real-world application of language models in business logic Demonstration of secure and scalable state management Blueprint for building similar AI-enhanced business systems Through our fictional companies’ implementation, readers can understand how AI can transform their business operations and prepare for the future of B2B commerce.

What if… Employers Employ AI Agents to Get 360° Feedback from Employees?

AI Agent powered Comprehensive 360° Feedback Collection & Analysis Full Article &#x200B; https://i.redd.it/1ieczv6pud1d1.gif ⚪ What is this Article About? ● This article demonstrates how AI agents can be used in the real-world for gathering feedback from employees ● It explores using AI agents to collect insights on employee experiences, job satisfaction, and suggestions for improvement ● By leveraging AI agents and language models, organizations can better understand their workforce's needs and concerns ⚪Why Read this Article? ● Learn about the potential benefits of using AI agents for comprehensive feedback collection ● Understand how to build practical, real-world solutions by combining AI agents with other technologies ● Stay ahead of the curve by exploring cutting-edge applications of AI agents ⚪What are we doing in this Project? \> Part 1: AI Agents to Coordinate and Gather Feedback ● AI agents collaborate to collect comprehensive feedback from employees through surveys and interviews ● Includes a Feedback Collector Agent, Feedback Analyst Agent, and Feedback Reporter Agent \> Part 2: Analyze Feedback Data with Pandas AI and Llama3 ● Use Pandas AI and Llama3 language model to easily analyze the collected feedback data ● Extract insights, identify patterns, strengths, and areas for improvement from the feedback ⚪ Let's Design Our AI Agent System for 360° Feedback \> Feedback Collection System: ● Collect feedback from employees (simulated) ● Analyze the feedback data ● Report findings and recommendations \> Feedback Analysis System: ● Upload employee feedback CSV file ● Display uploaded data ● Perform natural language analysis and queries ● Generate automated insights and visual graphs ⚪ Let's get Cooking ● Explanation of the code for the AI agent system and feedback analysis system ● Includes code details for functions, classes, and streamlit interface ⚪ Closing Thoughts ● AI agents can revolutionize how businesses operate and tackle challenges ● Their ability to coordinate, collaborate, and perform specialized tasks is invaluable ● AI agents offer versatile and scalable solutions for optimizing processes and uncovering insights ⚪ Future Work ● This project is a demo to show the potential real-world use cases of AI Agents. To achieve the results seen here, I went through multiple iterations and changes. AI Agents are not fully ready yet (although they are making huge progress every day). AI Agents still need to go through an improvement cycle to reach their full potential in real-world settings. &#x200B;

Master AI Integration: How to Integrate AI in Your Application

A Comprehensive Guide with Every Detail Spelled Out for Flawless AI Implementation Full Article &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/m5b79j55f14d1.png?width=1328&format=png&auto=webp&s=8cf04c80cd21be1710dd117a9e74b07d0e8cbe6a In the ideal world, we'd design our software systems with AI in mind from the very beginning. But in the real world, that's not always possible. Many businesses have large, complex systems that have been running for years, and making significant changes to them is risky and expensive. What this Article is About? ● This article aims to convince you that even when changing existing systems is not an option, you can still seamlessly integrate AI into your business processes. It explores real-world scenarios and shows how a company (though simulated) has successfully incorporated AI without overhauling their existing infrastructure. &#x200B; https://i.redd.it/fayl1gcbf14d1.gif Why Read This Article? ● By reading this article, you will learn the critical skill of integrating AI into your existing business ecosystem without making significant changes to your stable workflows. This skill is becoming increasingly important as more and more companies recognize the value of AI while also acknowledging the challenges of overhauling their existing systems. What is Our Business Use Case? ● The article uses a simulated supply chain management company as a business use case. This company has multiple departments, each exposing its own REST API, and to get an inquiry answered, the request has to go through various departments, their respective APIs, and database calls. The article introduces AI capabilities to enhance the company's operations without modifying the existing system architecture. Our Supply Chain Management Company AI Integration Design ● The article describes the various components of the simulated supply chain management company, including the "Data Processing System," "Company Data Handling System," "AI Integration System," "Mapping System," and "System Admin Dashboard." Let's Get Cooking! ● This section provides the code and explanations for implementing the AI integration system in the simulated supply chain management company. It covers the following: ○ Dashboard & AI Integration System ○ Company Data Handling System ○ Data Processing System ○ Mapping System Let's Setup ● This section shows the expected output when setting up the simulated supply chain management system with AI integration. Let's Run it ● This section demonstrates how to run the system and ask questions related to supply chain management, showcasing the AI integration in action. https://i.redd.it/3e68mb57f14d1.gif Closing Thoughts The supply chain management project we have explored in this article serves as a powerful example of how to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities into existing business systems without the need for significant overhauls or disruptions. By leveraging the flexibility and power of modern AI technologies, we were able to enhance the functionality of a simulated supply chain management system while preserving its core operations and workflows. Throughout the development process, we placed a strong emphasis on minimizing the impact on the existing system architecture. Rather than attempting to replace or modify the established components, we introduced an “AI Integration System” that acts as a bridge between the existing infrastructure and the AI-powered capabilities. This approach allowed us to maintain the integrity of the existing systems while simultaneously leveraging the benefits of AI. One of the key advantages of this integration strategy is the ability to leverage the wealth of data already available within the existing systems. By accessing and processing this data through the AI models, we were able to generate more informed and intelligent responses to user queries, providing valuable insights and recommendations tailored to the specific supply chain activities and scenarios. As we look towards the future, the importance of seamlessly integrating AI into existing business ecosystems will only continue to grow. With the rapid pace of technological advancements and the increasing demand for intelligent automation and decision support, organizations that embrace this approach will be better positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by AI while minimizing disruptions to their operations. It is my hope that through this simulated real-world example, you have gained a deeper understanding of the potential for AI integration and the various strategies and best practices that can be employed to achieve successful implementation. By embracing this approach, businesses can unlock the transformative power of AI while preserving the investments and institutional knowledge embedded in their existing systems.

Let’s Build One Person Business Using 100% AI

AI made it possible for 9-to-5 workers to start a one-person business without quitting their jobs. Full Article https://preview.redd.it/tynb9y6z695d1.png?width=1309&format=png&auto=webp&s=b490d3676a63adcc01faff8c476056cb7d420022 https://i.redd.it/9x3okti0795d1.gif The Opportunities for Starting a Business ○ There are huge opportunities to start your own business by leveraging valuable skills to attract paying audiences. ○ New software and AI platforms make it easier to distribute products/services and automate tasks that were previously time-consuming. Our One Person Book Publication House ○ This article explores building a one-person AI-powered business focused on publishing books. ○ Users input data on a topic, and AI generates a comprehensive book structure and content based on that. ○ The generated content can be formatted, designed, and published digitally or in print easily. Why Read This Article? ○ It presents an innovative AI-powered approach to streamline the book publishing process. ○ It provides technical implementation details using LLM, Python and the Streamlit library as a reference. ○ It highlights AI's potential in automating creative tasks like writing and content creation. Approaching the One Person Business ○ Reflect on areas where you overcame personal struggles and gained valuable skills. ○ Leverage that expertise to build an AI business serving others facing similar obstacles. ○ Use AI tools to create content, automate processes, and efficiently scale your offerings. The Publication Business Idea ○ Focus on writing and publishing small books using AI writing assistants. ○ AI can streamline research, writing drafts, outlines, and ideas across genres. ○ Concentrate efforts on editing, formatting, and marketing while AI handles writing. The Book Generation Process ○ Users input structured topic data like outlines, key points, and references. ○ Advanced AI language models generate flowing book content from that data. ○ Minimal human effort is needed beyond initial inputs and refinement. ○ AI systems automatically handle formatting, design, and publishing. Technical Implementation ○ Includes a Book class to represent a book's hierarchical structure in Python. ○ Functions to generate book structures and section content using AI models. ○ Integrates with a Streamlit app for user input and output. ○ Allows downloading the final book in Markdown format. Closing Thoughts ○ This AI-powered approach makes book writing and publishing more accessible to individuals. ○ AI handles the heavy lifting, with humans providing quality control through editing. ○ It opens up possibilities for innovative knowledge sharing as technology evolves.

How I Built A Simple ‘BPO’ Company, All AI Employees (All Local)

Disrupting the BPO Industry: My Journey Building a Fully Automated Company with AI Employees Full Article : https://medium.com/@learn-simplified/how-i-built-a-simple-bpo-company-all-ai-employees-all-local-631e48fa908a &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/htjo1mancl2d1.png?width=1586&format=png&auto=webp&s=7e77f4c66e5ca55a8b0ea6969c43a458503ad921 ● What Are We Doing Today? We are building a BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) call center for an imaginary electric company called "Aniket Very General Electric Company". We will create different departments staffed by AI agents who can chat (and eventually speak in next part) with customers to answer questions, handle complaints, or provide services. ● Why Should You Read This Article? Learning how to build AI agents that can do tasks in real setting, co ordinate w/ human, AI, providing technical support will be a highly valuable skill. ● How Are We Going to Build Our All AI Employees Company? ○ We will explain what BPO and call centers are. ○ Our AI company will have departments like Customer Service, Tech Support, Billing & Payments, Outage Management, and Onboarding Customers. ○ We will use Docker containers to run the Dify AI platform as the base. ○ The AI agents will use the LLaMA-3 language model from Meta AI. ○ We may use Groq's AI accelerator chip to make LLaMA-3 faster. ○ Each department will have a knowledge base of text files that the AI agents can reference. ● Let's Get Cooking! This section provides setup instructions for installing Docker, Ollama (for running LLaMA-3), and the Dify AI platform. It also outlines the different AI agents we will create for departments like Reception, Customer Service, Billing, Tech Support, etc. ● Let's Design our Organization ○ We explain how each department's AI agents will have their own knowledge base, like an employee handbook. ○ The knowledge bases will contain policies, procedures, and other key information. ○ The AI agents can quickly reference this information to provide accurate and knowledgeable responses. ● Let's Meet Our AI Employees ○ We chose the LLaMA-3 70B model as the base for all AI agents across departments. ○ We give the AI agents customized prompts to define their personalities and roles. ○ The knowledge bases act as training materials tailored to each department. ○ In the future, AI agents could have additional tools like ticket systems and integrations. ● Let's Run Our BPO Organization Now that the AI workforce and knowledge bases are ready, we can open our BPO company and have the AI agents start handling customer inquiries across different departments like billing, tech support, outages, and new connections. ● Debugging This section highlights the importance of debugging, showing traces of how the language model understands customer queries and retrieves relevant context from knowledge bases to provide good responses. ● Future Work ○ Scale up to handle more customers using cloud services or distributed computing. ○ Move AI agents and knowledge bases to the cloud for accessibility and maintenance. ○ Fine-tune language models for better performance in each department. ○ Use scalable vector databases for faster knowledge retrieval. ○ Enable voice interfaces and computer vision for more natural interactions. ○ Implement continuous learning so AI agents can expand their knowledge over time. The article demonstrates the potential of building an actual AI-powered company and raises thought-provoking questions about the role of humans, ethics, and using AI to create a better world. &#x200B;

How I Built an Agentic Marketing Campaign Strategist

Marketing at Scale: How One AI System Replaces Hundreds of Strategy Hours Article https://i.redd.it/uekqj3zmerme1.gif https://i.redd.it/30rk23zmerme1.gif https://preview.redd.it/fk1t53zmerme1.png?width=797&format=png&auto=webp&s=d07f473a9556fbd38885b3a2f862101d9b25424e https://preview.redd.it/n84113zmerme1.jpg?width=1914&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f42679269a1003e1c8d6501dd2d53e10db745bba https://preview.redd.it/l13ae3zmerme1.jpg?width=791&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecab3c295c2a416bc0fed8c62fecbe3321e37093 TL;DR This article guides you through building an AI-powered marketing strategist using Python. It combines vector databases, language models, and PDF generation to create customized marketing strategies automatically. I’ll show you the complete system architecture, from storing marketing knowledge to generating professional strategy documents, with practical code examples you can implement today. Perfect for marketers and developers looking to leverage AI for business growth. Introduction Welcome to the exciting intersection of marketing and artificial intelligence! In today’s digital world, creating effective marketing campaigns requires deep expertise, market research, and creative thinking. But what if you could automate parts of this process? That’s exactly what I set out to build: an AI system that generates comprehensive marketing strategies tailored to specific products, audiences, and budgets. What’s This Article About? This article walks you through the creation of an AI-powered marketing strategist that combines the retrieval of relevant marketing knowledge with advanced language generation to produce detailed campaign strategies. The system I built uses Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), which enhances AI outputs by grounding them in specific knowledge sources. Here’s how it works: You provide a simple campaign description (like “a new eco-friendly water bottle targeting millennials with a budget of $50,000”) The system searches a knowledge base of marketing principles and best practices It then uses a language model to craft a comprehensive strategy that includes campaign objectives, target audience analysis, channel selection, content ideas, budget allocation, and measurement KPIs Finally, it generates a professional PDF document with your complete marketing strategy The beauty of this approach is that it combines the creativity and adaptability of AI with established marketing frameworks, ensuring the strategies are both innovative and grounded in proven principles. Why Read It? AI is rapidly transforming how businesses operate, and marketing is at the forefront of this revolution. According to recent studies, companies that effectively leverage AI in their marketing efforts see significant improvements in customer engagement, conversion rates, and ROI. Even if you’re not building a system for a real company right now, understanding how to implement AI in marketing processes gives you valuable skills and insights. This article provides a practical example of how AI can: Save marketers countless hours of research and strategy development Ensure consistency in marketing approaches across different campaigns Generate creative ideas that might not have been considered otherwise Scale marketing expertise across an organization By following along, you’ll gain hands-on experience with technologies like vector databases, language models, and automated document generation — all skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s business environment.

My Building Of Trading Order Management System Using AI Agents

Practical Guide : Automating Business Transactions with AI-Powered Workflows Full Article | Code https://preview.redd.it/hrkeo00yz4ie1.jpg?width=1911&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5bcb6f02c72bbce22fb691e4d8b799c414fed2a7 https://preview.redd.it/1cp0izzxz4ie1.png?width=1899&format=png&auto=webp&s=2598e25e17ab03a95f3009f5333f02b077ce30ca https://preview.redd.it/cjp1640yz4ie1.png?width=1899&format=png&auto=webp&s=13dad0ee8e0b1b22415a60a57b571058f0bdef33 TL;DR A practical implementation of an AI-powered B2B order management system using LangChain and LLM, demonstrating automated order processing, inventory management, and real-time communication between trading partners. https://i.redd.it/kxe4l69105ie1.gif Introduction In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficient order management is crucial for B2B operations. GlobalTrade Nexus AI showcases how artificial intelligence can streamline complex business transactions, reduce errors, and enhance communication between trading partners. What’s This Article About? This article presents a comprehensive B2B trading platform that leverages AI to automate order processing workflows. The system handles everything from order placement to fulfillment, featuring: Real-time inventory verification Automated shipping cost calculations Instant order validation Secure transaction processing Smart order cancellation capabilities State management across the entire order lifecycle The platform demonstrates how modern AI technologies can be integrated into traditional business processes to create a seamless, efficient trading environment. Tech stack Why Read It? As businesses increasingly embrace digital transformation, AI-powered solutions are becoming essential for maintaining competitive advantage. This article provides: A practical example of AI implementation in B2B commerce Insights into modern system architecture for business applications Real-world application of language models in business logic Demonstration of secure and scalable state management Blueprint for building similar AI-enhanced business systems Through our fictional companies’ implementation, readers can understand how AI can transform their business operations and prepare for the future of B2B commerce.

Randomly asked ChatGPT and Claude for a 4 year roadmap for an ML Engineer

Title, Is it actually a good plan ?? If no, why not ?? \\🚀 4-Year Roadmap to Becoming a High-Earning ML Engineer & Entrepreneur\\ \\(With Smartwork & Realistic 60-70% Execution Feasibility)\\ \\🟢 Year 1: Strong Foundation & Initial Projects (0-12 Months)\\ 🎯 \\Goal: Master Python & ML Fundamentals\\ \\🔹 1-4 Months (Python & Math Strengthening)\\ ✅ Python Mastery \- Daily LeetCode Easy problems (minimum 2) \- Build automation projects \- NumPy & Pandas mastery \- DSA fundamentals ✅ Mathematics Foundation \- Linear Algebra basics \- Statistics fundamentals \- Basic calculus concepts ✅ First Mini-Hackathon Participation \- Join beginner-friendly hackathons \- Focus on Python-based challenges \- Team up with other beginners 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Join Discord/Slack hackathon communities \- Practice collaborative coding \- Build network with fellow participants \\🔹 5-8 Months (ML Foundations)\\ ✅ Machine Learning Basics \- Supervised Learning \- Model evaluation \- Feature engineering \- scikit-learn projects ✅ Participate in 2-3 ML Hackathons \- Kaggle Getting Started competitions \- Local ML hackathons \- University hackathons ✅ Start LinkedIn & GitHub Portfolio 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Document hackathon experiences \- Share learnings on LinkedIn \- Focus on completion over winning \\🔹 9-12 Months (Deep Learning Introduction)\\ ✅ Basic Deep Learning \- Neural network fundamentals \- PyTorch basics \- Computer vision tasks \- Basic NLP ✅ Advanced Hackathon Participation \- AI/ML specific hackathons \- Team lead in 1-2 hackathons \- Start mentoring beginners \\🔵 Year 1 Expected Outcome (60-70% Execution)\\ ✔ \\Strong Python & ML foundations\\ ✔ \\5-6 hackathon participations\\ ✔ \\Active GitHub (100+ commits)\\ ✔ \\Growing LinkedIn (300+ connections)\\ 💰 \\Earning Expectation → ₹8K-₹20K per month (Projects/Internship)\\ \\🟢 Year 2: Professional Growth & Specialization (12-24 Months)\\ 🎯 \\Goal: Build Professional Experience & Recognition\\ \\🔹 1-6 Months (Technical Depth)\\ ✅ Advanced ML Topics \- Deep Learning architectures \- Computer Vision OR NLP \- MLOps basics (Docker, FastAPI) \- Cloud fundamentals (AWS/GCP) ✅ Hackathon Achievements \- Win minor prizes in 2-3 hackathons \- Lead teams in major hackathons \- Network with sponsors ✅ Start Technical Blogging 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Focus on hackathon projects that align with career goals \- Build relationships with companies at hackathons \- Create detailed project documentation \\🔹 7-12 Months (Professional Experience)\\ ✅ Secure ML Role/Internship ✅ Advanced Project Building ✅ Open Source Contributions ✅ Organize Small Hackathons 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Use hackathon network for job referrals \- Convert hackathon projects into full products \- Build mentor reputation \\🔵 Year 2 Expected Outcome (60-70% Execution)\\ ✔ \\Professional ML experience\\ ✔ \\10+ hackathon participations\\ ✔ \\1-2 hackathon wins\\ ✔ \\Strong industry network\\ 💰 \\Earning Expectation → ₹40K-₹70K per month (Job/Freelancing)\\ \\🟢 Year 3: Scaling & Business Foundation (24-36 Months)\\ 🎯 \\Goal: Establish Multiple Income Streams\\ \\🔹 1-4 Months (Expertise Building)\\ ✅ Choose Specialization \- MLOps \- Computer Vision \- NLP/LLMs \- Generative AI ✅ Advanced Competitions \- International hackathons \- High-prize competitions \- Corporate ML challenges ✅ Start Consulting Services 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Use hackathon wins for marketing \- Build service packages around expertise \- Network with corporate sponsors \\🔹 5-8 Months (Business Development)\\ ✅ Scale Services ✅ Build Client Network ✅ Create Training Programs ✅ Hackathon Mentorship Program 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Convert hackathon projects to products \- Use event networks for client acquisition \- Build authority through speaking \\🔹 9-12 Months (Growth & Innovation)\\ ✅ Product Development ✅ Team Building ✅ Innovation Focus ✅ Hackathon Organization \\🔵 Year 3 Expected Outcome (60-70% Execution)\\ ✔ \\Established ML business/career\\ ✔ \\Known in hackathon community\\ ✔ \\Multiple income streams\\ ✔ \\Strong industry presence\\ 💰 \\Earning Expectation → ₹1L-₹2L per month (Multiple Streams)\\ \\🟢 Year 4: Scale & Leadership (36-48 Months)\\ 🎯 \\Goal: Build AI Company & Achieve Financial Freedom\\ \\🔹 1-4 Months (Business Scaling)\\ ✅ Company Formation \- AI consulting firm \- Product development \- Training programs ✅ Hackathon Innovation \- Launch own hackathon series \- Corporate partnerships \- Prize sponsorships ✅ Team Expansion 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Use hackathon network for hiring \- Create unique event formats \- Build corporate relationships \\🔹 5-8 Months (Market Leadership)\\ ✅ Product Launch ✅ Service Expansion ✅ International Presence ✅ Innovation Hub Creation 💡 \\Smart Move:\\ \- Create hackathon-to-hiring pipeline \- Build educational programs \- Establish thought leadership \\🔹 9-12 Months (Empire Building)\\ ✅ Multiple Revenue Streams \- AI products \- Consulting services \- Educational programs \- Event organization \- Investment returns ✅ Industry Leadership \- Conference speaking \- Published content \- Community leadership \\🔵 Year 4 Expected Outcome (60-70% Execution)\\ ✔ \\Established AI company\\ ✔ \\Major hackathon organizer\\ ✔ \\Multiple product lines\\ ✔ \\Industry authority status\\ 💰 \\Earning Expectation → ₹3L-₹5L+ per month (Business Income)\\ \\📊 FINAL RATING\\ ✅ \\Comprehensive growth plan\\ ✅ \\Strong community focus\\ ✅ \\Multiple income pathways\\ 💡 \\If 100% Execution → 8.5/10 Feasibility\\ 💡 \\If 50% Execution → 6/10 Feasibility\\ 🔥 \\Conclusion: A balanced path to ML mastery and entrepreneurship, built through consistent growth and community engagement!\\ 🚀 \\Key Success Factors:\\ Regular hackathon participation Strong community involvement Consistent skill development Strategic network building Focus on both technical and business growth

Measure Extraction from House Plans

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice on how I can help automate a task in my family’s small business using AI. They spend a lot of time reading through technical house plans to extract measurements, and I’m wondering if there’s a way to automate at least part of this process. The idea is to provide a model with a house plan and have it extract a list of measurements, like the dimensions of all the doors, for example. The challenge is that on these plans, measurements often need to be deduced (for example, subtracting one measurement from another) to get the correct values. I was thinking I could fine-tune a model with our historical quotes and use that data for better accuracy. It it a good approach ? Thanks in advance!

I’m AI/ML product manager. What I would have done differently on Day 1 if I knew what I know today

I’m a software engineer and product manager, and I’ve working with and studying machine learning models for several years. But nothing has taught me more than applying ML in real-world projects. Here are some of top product management lessons I learned from applying ML: Work backwards: In essence, creating ML products and features is no different than other products. Don’t jump into Jupyter notebooks and data analysis before you talk to the key stakeholders. Establish deployment goals (how ML will affect your operations), prediction goals (what exactly the model should predict), and evaluation metrics (metrics that matter and required level of accuracy) before gathering data and exploring models.  Bridge the tech/business gap in your organization: Business professionals don’t know enough about the intricacies of machine learning, and ML professionals don’t know about the practical needs of businesses. Educate your business team on the basics of ML and create joint teams of data scientists and business analysts to define and measure goals and progress of ML projects. ML projects are more likely to fail when business and data science teams work in silos. Adjust your priorities at different stages of the project: In the early stages of your ML project, aim for speed. Choose the solution that validates/rejects your hypotheses the fastest, whether it’s an API, a pre-trained model, or even a non-ML solution (always consider non-ML solutions). In the more advanced stages of the project, look for ways to optimize your solution (increase accuracy and speed, reduce costs, increase flexibility). There is a lot more to share, but these are some of the top experiences that would have made my life a lot easier if I had known them before diving into applied ML.  What is your experience?

How I landed an internship in AI

For motivational purposes only! I see a lot of posts on here from people without “traditional” machine learning, data science, etc.. backgrounds asking how they can break into the field, so I wanted to share my experience. EDIT Learning Resources and Side Project Ideas * My background: I graduated from a decent undergraduate school with a degree in Political Science several years ago. Following school I worked in both a client services role at a market research company and an account management role at a pretty notable fintech start-up. Both of these roles exposed me to ML, AI and more sophisticated software concepts in general, and I didn’t really care for the sales side of things, so I decided to make an attempt at switching careers into something more technical. While working full time I began taking night classes at a local community college, starting with pre calculus all the way up to Calc 2 and eventually more advanced classes like linear algebra and applied probability. I also took some programming courses including DSA. I took these classes for about two years while working, and on the side had been working through various ML books and videos on YouTube. What worked the best for me was Hands-on Machine Learning with Scikit Learn, Keara’s and Tensorflow. I eventually had enough credits where I was able to begin applying to MS in Data Science programs and was fortunate enough to get accepted into one and also get a position in their Robotics Lab doing Computer Vision work. When it came time to apply for internships, it was a BLOODBATH. I must have applied to over 100 roles with my only responses being video interviews and OA’s. Finally I got an interview for an AI Model Validation internship with a large insurance company and after completing the interviews was told I performed well but they were still interviewing several candidates. I ended up getting the offer and accepting the role where I’ll be working on a Computer Vision model and some LLM related tasks this summer and could not be more fortunate / excited. A couple things stood out to them during the interview process. 1, the fact that I was working and taking night classes with the intent to break into the field. It showed a genuine passion as opposed to someone who watched a YouTube video and claims they are now an expert. 2, side projects. I not only had several projects, but I had some that were relevant to the work I’d be doing this summer from the computer vision standpoint. 3, business sense. I emphasized during my interviews how working in a business role prior to beginning my masters would give me a leg up as intern because I would be able to apply the work of a data scientist to solving actual business challenges. For those of you trying to break into the field, keep pushing, keep building, and focus on what makes you unique and able to help a company! Please feel free to contact me if you would like any tips I can share, examples of projects, or anything that would be helpful to your journey.

I started with 0 AI knowledge on the 2nd of Jan 2024 and blogged and studied it for 365. Here is a summary.

FULL BLOG POST AND MORE INFO IN THE FIRST COMMENT :) Edit in title: 365 days\* (and spelling) Coming from a background in accounting and data analysis, my familiarity with AI was minimal. Prior to this, my understanding was limited to linear regression, R-squared, the power rule in differential calculus, and working experience using Python and SQL for data manipulation. I studied free online lectures, courses, read books. \Time Spent on Theory vs Practice\ At the end it turns out I spent almost the same amount of time on theory and practice. While reviewing my year, I found that after learning something from a course/lecture in one of the next days I immediately applied it - either through exercises, making a Kaggle notebook or by working on a project. \2024 Learning Journey Topic Breakdown\ One thing I learned is that \fundamentals\ matter. I discovered that anyone can make a model, but it's important to make models that add business value. In addition, in order to properly understand the inner-workings of models I wanted to do a proper coverage of stats & probability, and the math behind AI. I also delved into 'traditional' ML (linear models, trees), and also deep learning (NLP, CV, Speech, Graphs) which was great. It's important to note that I didn't start with stats & math, I was guiding myself and I started with traditional and some GenAI but soon after I started to ask a lot of 'why's as to why things work and this led me to study more about stats&math. Soon I also realised \Data is King\ so I delved into data engineering and all the practices and ideas it covers. In addition to Data Eng, I got interested in MLOps. I wanted to know what happens with models after we evaluate them on a test set - well it turns out there is a whole field behind it, and I was immediately hooked. Making a model is not just taking data from Kaggle and doing train/test eval, we need to start with a business case, present a proper case to add business value and then it is a whole lifecycle of development, testing, maintenance and monitoring. \Wordcloud\ After removing some of the generically repeated words, I created this work cloud from the most used works in my 365 blog posts. The top words being:- model and data - not surprising as they go hand in hand- value - as models need to deliver value- feature (engineering) - a crucial step in model development- system - this is mostly because of my interest in data engineering and MLOps I hope you find my summary and blog interesting. https://preview.redd.it/pxohznpy4dae1.png?width=2134&format=png&auto=webp&s=03c16bb3535d75d1f009b44ee5164cc3e6483ac4 https://preview.redd.it/0y47rrpy4dae1.png?width=1040&format=png&auto=webp&s=f1fdf7764c7151ff0a05ae92777c5bb7d52f4359 https://preview.redd.it/e59inppy4dae1.png?width=1566&format=png&auto=webp&s=2566033777a90410277350947617d3ce8406be15

Backend dev wants to learn ML

Hello ML Experts, I am staff engineer, working in a product based organization, handling the backend services. I see myself becoming Solution Architect and then Enterprise Architect one day. With the AI and ML trending now a days, So i feel ML should be an additional skill that i should acquire which can help me leading and architecting providing solutions to the problems more efficiently, I think however it might not replace the traditional SWEs working on backend APIs completely, but ML will be just an additional diamention similar to the knowledge of Cloud services and DevOps. So i would like to acquire ML knowledge, I dont have any plans to be an expert at it right now, nor i want to become a full time data scientist or ML engineer as of today. But who knows i might diverge, but thats not the plan currently. I did some quick promting with ChatGPT and was able to comeup with below learning path for me. So i would appreciate if some of you ML experts can take a look at below learning path and provide your suggestions 📌 PHASE 1: Core AI/ML & Python for AI (3-4 Months) Goal: Build a solid foundation in AI/ML with Python, focusing on practical applications. 1️⃣ Python for AI/ML (2-3 Weeks) Course: [Python for Data Science and Machine Learning Bootcamp]() (Udemy) Topics: Python, Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, Scikit-learn basics 2️⃣ Machine Learning Fundamentals (4-6 Weeks) Course: Machine Learning Specialization by Andrew Ng (C0ursera) Topics: Linear & logistic regression, decision trees, SVMs, overfitting, feature engineering Project: Build an ML model using Scikit-learn (e.g., predicting house prices) 3️⃣ Deep Learning & AI Basics (4-6 Weeks) Course: Deep Learning Specialization by Andrew Ng (C0ursera) Topics: Neural networks, CNNs, RNNs, transformers, generative AI (GPT, Stable Diffusion) Project: Train an image classifier using TensorFlow/Keras 📌 PHASE 2: AI/ML for Enterprise & Cloud Applications (3-4 Months) Goal: Learn how AI is integrated into cloud applications & enterprise solutions. 4️⃣ AI/ML Deployment & MLOps (4 Weeks) Course: MLOps Specialization by Andrew Ng (C0ursera) Topics: Model deployment, monitoring, CI/CD for ML, MLflow, TensorFlow Serving Project: Deploy an ML model as an API using FastAPI & Docker 5️⃣ AI/ML in Cloud (Azure, AWS, OpenAI APIs) (4-6 Weeks) Azure AI Services: Course: Microsoft AI Fundamentals (C0ursera) Topics: Azure ML, Azure OpenAI API, Cognitive Services AWS AI Services: Course: [AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty]() (Udemy) Topics: AWS Sagemaker, AI workflows, AutoML 📌 PHASE 3: AI Applications in Software Development & Future Trends (Ongoing Learning) Goal: Explore AI-powered tools & future-ready AI applications. 6️⃣ Generative AI & LLMs (ChatGPT, GPT-4, LangChain, RAG, Vector DBs) (4 Weeks) Course: [ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers]() (DeepLearning.AI) Topics: LangChain, fine-tuning, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) Project: Build an LLM-based chatbot with Pinecone + OpenAI API 7️⃣ AI-Powered Search & Recommendations (Semantic Search, Personalization) (4 Weeks) Course: [Building Recommendation Systems with Python]() (Udemy) Topics: Collaborative filtering, knowledge graphs, AI search 8️⃣ AI-Driven Software Development (Copilot, AI Code Generation, Security) (Ongoing) Course: AI-Powered Software Engineering (C0ursera) Topics: AI code completion, AI-powered security scanning 🚀 Final Step: Hands-on Projects & Portfolio Once comfortable, work on real-world AI projects: AI-powered document processing (OCR + LLM) AI-enhanced search (Vector Databases) Automated ML pipelines with MLOps Enterprise AI Chatbot using LLMs ⏳ Suggested Timeline 📅 6-9 Months Total (10-12 hours/week) 1️⃣ Core ML & Python (3-4 months) 2️⃣ Enterprise AI/ML & Cloud (3-4 months) 3️⃣ AI Future Trends & Applications (Ongoing) Would you like a customized plan with weekly breakdowns? 🚀

What would be the most suitable AI tool for automating document classification and extracting relevant data for search functionality?

What would be the most suitable AI tool for automating document classification and extracting relevant data for search functionality? I have a collection of domain-specific documents, including medical certificates, award certificates, good moral certificates, and handwritten forms. Some of these documents contain a mix of printed and handwritten text, while others are entirely printed. My goal is to build a system that can automatically classify these documents, extract key information (e.g., names and other relevant details), and enable users to search for a person's name to retrieve all associated documents stored in the system. Since I have a dataset of these documents, I can use it to train or fine-tune a model for improved accuracy in text extraction and classification. I am considering OCR-based solutions like Google Document AI and TroOCR, as well as transformer models and vision-language models (VLMs) such as Qwen2-VL, MiniCPM, and GPT-4V. Given my dataset and requirements, which AI tool or combination of tools would be the most effective for this use case?

What AI tools sounds best for you?

Hey, I'm a developer who's been lurking here for a while and I want to build something actually useful or at least fun(or both) that is AI-related. Here are 4 ideas (but I'm open to completely different ones): AGI Timeline Prediction Market (🎯 no real money, just bragging rights) Finally settle those "AGI by 2030?" debates with some skin in the game Watch your prediction accuracy score climb (or hilariously tank) Monthly milestone tracking to see who really knows their stuff Like fantasy football, but for the robot apocalypse AI Model Release Calendar Never miss another GPT launch again Compare models without diving into 50 different Discord servers Clear "what can it actually do?" benchmarks Get pinged when something wild drops Research Paper Difficulty Rater Browser extension that saves you from opening papers way above your pay grade Community ratings from "ELI5" to "PhD Required" Shows what you need to know before diving in "Time to comprehend" estimates (coffee breaks vs weekend projects) AI Progress Newsletter + Extension Track what you've actually read vs. saved for "later" (we all know how that goes) Weekly TL;DR of the important stuff Focus on real breakthroughs, not just PR Impact ratings from "neat trick" to "call Elon" Before I dive in and build one of these - has anyone seen something similar already? What would make these actually useful vs just another tool that collects dust? P.S. Open to wildly different ideas or improvements too. Maybe we need something completely different to track our march towards AGI?

Building a No-Code AI Customer Service Tool While Working 9-5 | All real - No BS

I want to share my journey of building Chaterimo, my first revenue-generating side project that I've been working on for the past 1.5 years alongside my day job. What started as a solution to make AI chatbots more accessible has grown to over 300 signups, 30 paying customers, and 50,000+ customer queries handled. The Problem I Wanted to Solve: It started with my father's business struggling with customer service - hiring staff was expensive and they would eventually leave, creating a constant cycle of training new people. I decided to help by building a livechat chatbot powered by AI to handle customer queries. The first version was basic (running on ChatGPT-3 with 4k tokens), but it worked! Seeing its success at my father's business, I realized this could help many other businesses too. As I kept improving it and adding features, I expanded to focus on e-commerce stores facing similar challenges. What Makes Chaterimo Different: True no-code setup: Install and run in seconds Choice of AI Models: ChatGPT by default, with options for Claude and the latest Gemini Flexible API Integration: Bring your own API keys for cheaper, unlimited messaging Smart Context Understanding: Can search Google or scan the current webpage to provide relevant answers Lead Generation: Capture and manage potential customer information Rich Integrations: Works with Shopify, Facebook Messenger, and Make for automation Customizable Bot Personality: Edit your chatbot's role and behavior through system prompts The Journey: This is my first side project that's actually generating revenue ($500+ MRR), unlike my previous "just for fun" projects. The past 1.5 years have been a learning experience, balancing development with a full-time job. What started as a simple idea has evolved based on real user feedback and needs. Current Metrics: 300+ total signups 30 paying customers 50,000+ customer queries successfully handled by AI $500+ monthly recurring revenue All while maintaining a 9-5 job Some Things I've Learned: Focus on making things simpler, not adding more features Listen to users - they'll tell you what they really need Flexibility matters - letting users use their own API keys was a game-changer Building something you believe in makes all the difference I'm still actively improving Chaterimo based on feedback. If you're running a website or e-commerce store and want to try it out, I'd love to hear your thoughts. What's Next: I'm focused on making the onboarding even smoother and adding more customization options while keeping the core simplicity that makes Chaterimo work. Would love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions! Has anyone else built successful side projects while working full-time? What were your biggest learnings?

500MRR.com

500MRR.com A few days ago, while browsing Hacker News, I came across a series of stories titled "Those making $500/month on side projects in 20xx - Show and tell," covering the years from 2017 to 2024. There were quite a few interesting projects, and on a whim, I pulled the data to create a website for visual exploration. The project URLs, income details, project overviews, and summaries from the comments section were extracted and summarized using a large language model. I spent about a day writing a Python script to process data, adjust LLM's prompt., using Nextra to generate a static website, and then deploying it on Vercel. 500MRR.com

The directory boilerplate Mkdirs has run for 100 days making $19K now, AMA

Hello everyone, I posted my product Mkdirs (How I made $2K+ in 10 days after launching Mkdirs) in r/SideProject before, and now 100 days passed, I am here to share some updates about this product. Please allow me to introduce Mkdirs first, it is a directory boilerplate, packed with AI, Listings, Payment, Submission, CMS, Blog, Authentication, Newsletter, SEO, Themes and more. https://mkdirs.com I launced it 3 months ago, and gained 160+ customers, who have launched 40+ directories so far. Recently the Mkdirs template supports submissions with AI assistance to improve efficiency. Simply enter the URL, and the AI model will analyze the website content, generate the description and introduction (in Markdown format), assign categories and tags, detect and upload logo and image, making submissions and launch directories super fast! Thank you for the community, and feel free to ask me anything if you have any questions. mkdirs directory boilerplate, submission with AI assistance

ChatPDF and PDF.ai are making millions using open source tech... here's the code

Why "copy" an existing product? The best SaaS products weren’t the first of their kind - think Slack, Shopify, Zoom, Dropbox, or HubSpot. They didn’t invent team communication, e-commerce, video conferencing, cloud storage, or marketing tools; they just made them better. What is a "Chat with PDF" SaaS? These are AI-powered PDF assistants that let you upload a PDF and ask questions about its content. You can summarize articles, extract key details from a contract, analyze a research paper, and more. To see this in action or dive deeper into the tech behind it, check out this YouTube video. Let's look at the market Made possible by advances in AI like ChatGPT and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), PDF chat tools started gaining traction in early 2023 and have seen consistent growth in market interest, which is currently at an all-time high (source:google trends) Keywords like "chat PDF" and "PDF AI" get between 1 to 10 million searches every month (source:keyword planner), with a broad target audience that includes researchers, students, and professionals across various industries. Leaders like PDF.ai and ChatPDF have already gained millions of users within a year of launch, driven by the growing market demand, with paid users subscribing at around $20/month. Alright, so how do we build this with open source? The core tech for most PDF AI tools are based on the same architecture. You generate text embeddings (AI-friendly text representations; usually via OpenAI APIs) for the uploaded PDF’s chapters/topics and store them in a vector database (like Pinecone). Now, every time the user asks a question, a similarity search is performed to find the most similar PDF topics from the vector database. The selected topic contents are then sent to an LLM (like ChatGPT) along with the question, which generates a contextual answer! Here are some of the best open source implementations for this process: GPT4 & LangChain Chatbot for large PDF docs by Mayo Oshin MultiPDF Chat App by Alejandro AO PDFToChat by Hassan El Mghari Worried about building signups, user management, payments, etc.? Here are my go-to open-source SaaS boilerplates that include everything you need out of the box: SaaS Boilerplate by Remi Wg Open SaaS by wasp-lang A few ideas to stand out from the noise: Here are a few strategies that could help you differentiate and achieve product market fit (based on the pivot principles from The Lean Startup by Eric Ries): Narrow down your target audience for a personalized UX: For instance, an exam prep assistant for students with study notes and quiz generator; or a document due diligence and analysis tool for lawyers. Add unique features to increase switching cost: You could autogenerate APIs for the uploaded PDFs to enable remote integrations (eg. support chatbot knowledge base); or build in workflow automation features for bulk analyses of PDFs. Offer platform level advantages: You could ship a native mobile/desktop apps for a more integrated UX; or (non-trivial) offer private/offline support by replacing the APIs with local open source deployments (eg. llama for LLM, an embedding model from the MTEB list, and FAISS for vector search). TMI? I’m an ex-AI engineer and product lead, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! P.S. I've started a free weekly newsletter to share open-source/turnkey resources behind popular products (like this one). If you’re a founder looking to launch your next product without reinventing the wheel, please subscribe :)

I made a bunch of side projects over the last 9 months, and even accrued 500+ accounts and some donations!

I just stumbled upon this subreddit and have a bunch of fun projects I'd like to present, any thoughts/feedback/criticism, etc. all welcome. So, first things first, a little about me, I work full time in an unrelated job, but have picked up full stack and mobile programming. I have two roommates who help a bit in their own way, one is a server expert and happened to have a server in our apartment basement, and the other is my brother and he picked up some frontend programming. We're all avid cyclists and decided to start building about 9 months ago. Our first idea was https://sherpa-map.com a SPA website allowing users to create cycling routes, send them to their Garmin devices, download them as GPX files, etc. This site uses the open-source software Graphhopper on the backend which I've augmented to send back surface type information. This site has a loooonnnggg list of features, from the simple, like a live weather radar, to the extreme like this functionality: &#x200B; AI surface classification This video demonstrates the ability to classify road surface types in real time using high-resolution satellite imagery of road portions with unknown surface types! I trained a Pytorch resnet 50 model with tuned hyperparameters and 10 epochs on 200,000 satellite images of roads with known surface types! (We host a OSM Postgres server with coordinates of roads and their associated surface types, I made a script to pull images of said roads for training). I built the model into a secondary backend written in flask and piped the images being used back through live web sockets to my node.js backend to the person who is logged in! &#x200B; Okay, on to the next side project, a cycling physics simulator! https://sherpa-map.com/cycling-route-calculator.html Cycling Physics Simulation This site lets users enter information about their bike setup, upload or use a preset route, and enter in their physical information to see how different changes in their setup might affect how fast they will be throughout a course! It can also pull complex weather information throughout the course and give a full suite of nutrition details! &#x200B; Okay, Next project! The Activity Racer! https://sherpa-map.com/activity-racer.html Activity Racer This site lets users upload their own or competitors' GPX activity files and line them up against each other at any point in an event, to see who was faster where! It's great if you've done the same even year after year with differing setups, allowing you to get insights as to which might have done better at what point. &#x200B; Okay, final project, this one's pretty half-baked as I'm still in the process of implementing so many other things, a podcast creation app! (I was bored and just started working on this a week or so ago, for no good reason). Currently, this one lives on https://sherpa-map.com/podcast.html This podcasting web app creates a peer to peer to peer... mesh network using webRTC so, small groups can communicate with the highest level of fidelity both in audio and video! Simply enter a room name and have other users enter the room name as well and they're connected! I've already used tensorflow.js AI to allow a blur background option, similar to MS Teams, whereby bodypix classifier AI picks out the person and I use a blur on a JS canvas behind them. I also went a little bit off the deep end and managed to implement the RNNoise background noise suppressor on the frontend, it's written in C, but I was able to use Windows Subsystem for Linux + emscrption to compile it in just the right way, with exposed malloc and free and a JS wrapper to use on the frontend in WASM. I actually use WASM (typically Rust) in many fun ways throughout all of these projects. I'm also in the middle of recreating the first site in React-Native + Maplibre for IOS and Android as individual APPs. In addition, I'm also working on the integration of my main site into a different project for a different group. So, I have a fun collection of side projects with slightly different GUIs, across different platforms with no coherent landing page as of yet but I've been having a blaaaast putting them together. As a final note, I even have a bit of an easter egg in the automated email system I use for account verifications and password resets do\not\reply@sherpa-map.com I hooked it up to ChatGPT API and told it it is a disgruntled worker whose sole task in life is to watch a do\not\reply email box and respond sarcastic/snarky to anyone who dares send a message to it, if AI comes for humanity, I bet I'll be on a list for this one lol.

An Algorithm for Making Truly Stand-Out Advertising Content (+ something more | Part 1)

Hi everyone. my friend and I are software engineers and new to marketing. A few months ago we decided to leverage our software skills for a colleague in ecommerce. It started by implementing a Flux.1 model, then began using texture-based recreations with a canny mask, and then found that we could optimize on both with an added layer of inpainting...and the list goes on. This is the first of a series of posts here about it and I look forward to learning from your feedback. I realized that the most difficult parts of the marketing process when I started out (and most likely for other beginners too) are: Customer Acquisition Costs / Brand Differentiation: Competition is intensifying and it is getting more difficult to stand out in crowded markets and target ad spend more effectively. Maintaining Authenticity at Scale / Data Overload: Balancing growth with authenticity and leveraging available data to successfully engage with customers is a big ask. Creative Fatigue: Maintaining multiple marketing channels in hard, and it becomes harder when you're constantly demanding more and more creative content for campaigns. For 1) I tried using AI to help me summarize, systematize, and gain insights from the information available for a given brand or product (from a page link, prompt, input image, etc.). I know AI is everywhere now, many people are using it unnecessarily and many people are skeptical about it. However, I know from experience, that it is quite helpful in gaining insights/summarizing large amounts of data, and helping people make sense of the creative content, strategy, campaign, etc., that should be created. For 2) By leveraging reviews, forums, and other relevant brand information, AI is able to maintain the story that your brand currently tells, and enhance it based on how your customer base. For 3) Faster results means less creative fatigue- this translates to an easier time managing omnichannel marketing efforts and scaling advertising. If you're interested, please have a look at the result at madsimpleads.com You’ll need to log in to access the solution, and I'll add credits to your account to try it out! (we want to prevent from random people or bots using it because I'm paying to multiple providers for model access). DM me here or drop me a line at austin@madsimpleads.com if you need more. Thank you so much, I'll be happy to get your thoughts I hope the website will help with your advertising, please reach out if you like what I do and want to support the project! Disclaimers: the website looks a bit rough in terms of UI/UX, but we tried focusing on the functionality first available on mobile, works better on desktop I hope this doesn't come across as trying to advertise for my business or breaking any of the community rules. genuinely looking for feedback. Thank you

Just completed a new type of language learning website - read popular stories scaled to different reading levels

As a language learner and software developer, I bootstrapped my project superlang.com over the past year working on the side. There is a mobile friendly web app now, and iOS/Android apps coming in a few months. A year ago I discovered the concept of "comprehensible input" as a way to help me learn German. Even if it's not a silver bullet, it sounded pretty great. Rather than drilling vocab or looking at grammar charts, I could "just read" and acquire the language. I picked up some fairy tales in German, and stories like Alice in Wonderland. Unfortunately, I couldn't really read them. I had to stop every sentence to look up words and try and decipher sentence constructions. Then I turned to some purpose built simple stories for German beginners. But there was a different problem... these were not really stories with any real plot. I could only read so many "Hans goes to the market" type stories before losing interest. My idea was to try to get the best of both worlds somehow. What if I could take a real story, say Alice in Wonderland (or even War and Peace), and dial the difficulty down to my level without losing the plotline. That way, beginners can start right away with something basically comprehensible. Then, you could also re-read the same story at increasing difficulty levels as you gain confidence. As a cherry on top, more illustrations would help with comprehension so each page could have a picture. Is it revolutionary? Maybe, maybe not. I am building off a well established idea of "graded readers" which are simplified stories meant for learning languages. And there are somewhat similar ideas out there now that AI is good at simplifying text, but none that really take this idea where it needs to be with many preloaded stories, multiple difficulty levels, high quality human verified text, and all the bells and whistles. I spent a year building Superlang and it is ready to put out there. Some quick notes: There are 3 languages so far, intended for native English speakers: German, French, and Spanish There are 3 difficulty levels you can set on each story: beginner (roughly A1-A2), intermediate (roughly A2-B1), and advanced (the same level as the original story, but typically B2+) There is premium version as producing the content was somewhat expensive. You can still do a lot of reading on the free version. I have done no marketing yet, except for this post :) The implementation is a combination of AI, and human proofreading and reviewing. In particular, the simplification of stories is very heavily AI driven. The illustrations for each page are AI as well. For translation, as many of you may be aware new LLM models are typically better than Google translate, but still far from perfect. I am very much a proponent of keeping real people in the loop, and so I have real people proofread the translations. That's why there are only about 700 pages of content so far and not tens of thousands. Let me know what you think, and if you find it helpful! Alice in Wonderland - beginner level German Romeo and Juliet - beginner level Spanish

ChatPDF and PDF.ai are making millions using open source tech... here's the code

Why "copy" an existing product? The best SaaS products weren’t the first of their kind - think Slack, Shopify, Zoom, Dropbox, or HubSpot. They didn’t invent team communication, e-commerce, video conferencing, cloud storage, or marketing tools; they just made them better. What is a "Chat with PDF" SaaS? These are AI-powered PDF assistants that let you upload a PDF and ask questions about its content. You can summarize articles, extract key details from a contract, analyze a research paper, and more. To see this in action or dive deeper into the tech behind it, check out this YouTube video. Let's look at the market Made possible by advances in AI like ChatGPT and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), PDF chat tools started gaining traction in early 2023 and have seen consistent growth in market interest, which is currently at an all-time high (source:google trends) Keywords like "chat PDF" and "PDF AI" get between 1 to 10 million searches every month (source:keyword planner), with a broad target audience that includes researchers, students, and professionals across various industries. Leaders like PDF.ai and ChatPDF have already gained millions of users within a year of launch, driven by the growing market demand, with paid users subscribing at around $20/month. Alright, so how do we build this with open source? The core tech for most PDF AI tools are based on the same architecture. You generate text embeddings (AI-friendly text representations; usually via OpenAI APIs) for the uploaded PDF’s chapters/topics and store them in a vector database (like Pinecone). Now, every time the user asks a question, a similarity search is performed to find the most similar PDF topics from the vector database. The selected topic contents are then sent to an LLM (like ChatGPT) along with the question, which generates a contextual answer! Here are some of the best open source implementations for this process: GPT4 & LangChain Chatbot for large PDF docs by Mayo Oshin MultiPDF Chat App by Alejandro AO PDFToChat by Hassan El Mghari Worried about building signups, user management, payments, etc.? Here are my go-to open-source SaaS boilerplates that include everything you need out of the box: SaaS Boilerplate by Remi Wg Open SaaS by wasp-lang A few ideas to stand out from the noise: Here are a few strategies that could help you differentiate and achieve product market fit (based on the pivot principles from The Lean Startup by Eric Ries): Narrow down your target audience for a personalized UX: For instance, an exam prep assistant for students with study notes and quiz generator; or a document due diligence and analysis tool for lawyers. Add unique features to increase switching cost: You could autogenerate APIs for the uploaded PDFs to enable remote integrations (eg. support chatbot knowledge base); or build in workflow automation features for bulk analyses of PDFs. Offer platform level advantages: You could ship a native mobile/desktop apps for a more integrated UX; or (non-trivial) offer private/offline support by replacing the APIs with local open source deployments (eg. llama for LLM, an embedding model from the MTEB list, and FAISS for vector search). TMI? I’m an ex-AI engineer and product lead, so don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! P.S. I've started a free weekly newsletter to share open-source/turnkey resources behind popular products (like this one). If you’re a founder looking to launch your next product without reinventing the wheel, please subscribe :)

What's the s way to implement AI - Free Tire API - Initial Phase

hi there, I'm working on a project where I need to implement AI for text generation.For that I use gemini api but it has limitations for 15 users per minute just like others. so in your projects how did you manage this in initial phase to get this effectively with no budgets. I'm just starting with this and I don't have that much idea about model as I'm learning it and exploring.

How should I implement this local ai into my project?

I’m currently building a system that takes the text content of news articles about cocktail competitions and then attempts to extract a JSON object from it via using phi4 local ai model. I’m developing it alongside Claude in a project and we’ve built so far a series of qualifying questions that is prompted to phi4 and it’s answered are formatted to JSON I’m attempting to one shot each answer with the specific question and content of the article by asking the same question to phi4 3 times and picking majority answer. Then, the flow of questions are conditional so that the ai is provided a set of questions based on previous answers. I’m getting decent results and anecdotally it’s about 50% correct. So I think I need to begin prompt engineering to get better. Except, I’m wondering if there’s a way to automate these iterations a bit? Currently I’m pasting code and results into 01 preview and asking for detailed analysis, then passing this back into Claude for code revisions all manually. I guess I should design an accuracy test (again with ai) across 10 or so random articles at a time and a/b test until we get something we’re happy with? Does anyone else have any suggestions? I also previously attempted to one shot the entire JSON object rather than elect to flow through a bunch of questions except that didn’t work so well and decided to pivot rather than keep trying to optimise it.

Introducing Vest: Your AI-Powered Due Diligence Partner - Looking for feedback!

TLDR; We are introducing Vest, an AI powered due-diligence and stock recommendation platform. We have bootstrapped ourselves so far and are wanting to get as much feedback from Reddit as we can to see where we can improve, but also what we are doing right. So please have a look around, give us feedback and if you like it, feel free to use it. Hi Reddit, My name is Drian and I'm one of the founders of Vest. We believe we are crafting something special at Vest and we want to get the word out and gather as much feedback as possible! Our major goal at Vest is to help new retail investors make sense of the investment landscape and get AI powered assistance, or even help experienced investors get confirmation of their potential moves. Overall, we want people to start their journey to financial freedom and not be daunted by the complexity of it. So how do we do this? Vest is a user-friendly service that harnesses fundamental metrics, social and news sentiment, and technical analysis, that we feed into some advanced AI models to generate clear buy, sell, or hold signals for US-based (for now!) stocks, offering our users transparent due-diligence for confident investing. The service is currently free with no ads - however, at some point we do plan on adding a paid tier. What's included: &#x200B; Financial Metrics. Our financial metrics take all the potentially complex mathematical equations and present the fundamentals of a company to users in a simple 1 pager, with a score displaying if the metric is positive for a stock. We also provide publicly available analyst ratings from investment banks as well as price targets they have set. News Sentiment. We take publications about a specific stock from new articles, journals and socials and give these all a rating to determine if social sentiment is positive around a stock or not. Each article and its rating is visible to our users through through our dashboard. AI assisted Stock Signals. We have developed an algorithm to take all the metrics, sentiment and technical analysis we collate and analyze this with historic performance data for every stock to attempt to figure out if a stock is undervalued (great time to buy) or overvalued (great time to sell). 155 US stock tickers and counting. We currently have trained our models for around 155 US based stocks on the NASDAQ and NYSE exchanges. As we get more funding/runway we do plan on adding more, with the eventual goal to expand to more exchanges, countries and securities. Knowledge base and community. Our knowledge base & community contains explanations and articles for all metrics and the other good stuff behind Vest. We don’t want to just tell users what to do, but to also assist in their financial education. We hope our knowledge base can also become a thriving community where users can interact with us and each, ask questions around investing and keep gaining knowledge. Is it 100% accurate? Absolutely not. While we do a pretty great job at tracking and surfacing signals, we are not presenting a fool-proof, silver bullet with a guarantee here - rather a starting point for users to make more informed decisions, find potential new investment opportunities and hopefully learn about investing as they do so. We encourage our users to do their own research and due-diligence and not just take our signals as gospel - we know each and every person has a different risk appetite and goals, and we encourage you to use Vest in a way that fits with your own financial goals and risk appetite. We also display our win rates, average returns, and comparisons with buy and hold for each stock - and we are transparent about it when we’ve fallen short. Next steps: &#x200B; Hope over to vestapp.ai and sign-up From the dashboard, play around, inspect our stock information and add some stocks to your watchlist. If you like what you see, and you’ve done your homework - use your favourite brokerage account to make an investment and watch Vest for changes in a stocks signals. If you don’t have one, we have a pop-up when you click buy/sell on any given stock with some non-affiliated brokerage options for the US, Australia and New Zealand - we don’t get a kickback from these brokerages, they are just what we’ve personally been using. FEEDBACK - We’re just getting started and we know the value of a fresh pair of eyes - our current mission is to get as much feedback as possible - anything you think of please send it through here or on the dedicated feedback form on our website in the sidebar on the left. Features we’re working on We're quietly thrilled about the direction Vest is headed, and we want to give you a sneak peek of what's in store for the next couple of quarters. Some of these may roll out as premium features, but we're diligently fine-tuning the details. Here's what you can expect: &#x200B; Insider Trading Insights: Get daily reports on major stock moves by whales and company insiders. Institutional Holders: We're adding daily reports on institutional holders, keeping you informed about their moves. Lobbying Activity: We're actively working on daily updates about lobbying activities, so you can stay informed. Government Contracts Data: We'll provide a quarterly snapshot of government contract values for the companies you're tracking. US Congress Stock Activity: Keep an eye on daily trading actions of House and Senate members. Daily Summaries & Signal Alerts: We're currently hard at work on this feature. Soon, receive daily email summaries covering signals, watchlist updates, and key news. Personalized Risk Management: Tailor signals to match your unique risk management strategy. Your investments, your way. AI Assistant: Our LLM integration is almost ready, allowing you to ask it straightforward questions about particular securities in plain English. It will provide you with real-time context on fundamentals, news, and all the metrics and data points we monitor.

Solopreneur making $40k MRR with a No Code SaaS sideproject

Hey, I'm Elias and I do case studies analyzing successful startups and solopreneurs. I wanted to share the summarized version of this one with you because this entrepreneurial journey blew my mind. This post will be about FormulaBot (ExcelFormulaBot), an AI No Code SaaS founded by David Bressler back in August 2022. FormulaBot is currently making $40k MRR (monthly recurring revenue). How did the founder come up with the idea. David is a data guy who worked in analytics for several years. In July 2022, David got really interested in AI, especially ChatGPT. One night, he tried it out at home, just like we all did back in the time. But in his case, trying ChatGPT gave him a big idea. That idea ended up making him a lot of money and changing the life of 750 million people who use Excel. That night David started by asking GPT easy questions, then complex ones. Since he used Excel a lot and helped his colleagues with it, he thought about an AI that could make Excel easier, like generating formulas from text. He looked online but found nothing. Seeing a big chance, he decided to do something about it. What challenges did the founder face. But David didn’t have any idea about how to develop an app. However, with no-code tools this is not a problem anymore. He discovered Bubble, a no-code web app tool that could connect with the OpenAI API.After, learning Bubble from YouTube tutorials and through trial and error and spending his nights studying the OpenAI API documentation, he launched the first version of the app in around three weeks. Strategies that made the project successful. David validated his idea by posting about ExcelFormulaBot on a Reddit Excel subreddit, receiving surprising attention with 10,000 upvotes. This encouraged him to offer the tool for free to gather feedback. Facing a hefty $4,999 API bill after the Reddit post, David quickly monetized his product with a subscription-based SaaS website. On launch day, 82 customers signed up, surpassing his expectations. A successful Product Hunt launch followed, generating $2.4k in sales within 24 hours, and a TikTok influencer with 4.5 million followers brought in thousands of new users overnight with a viral video. Marketing approach: -Paid ads: FormulaBot boosted website traffic with Paid Ads, notably on Google Ads, prioritizing Quality Score. This ensured ads aligned better with user searches, maximizing visibility and cost-efficiency, targeting those seeking Excel formula assistance. -SEO: a) Content/Keyword optimization: FormulaBot improved its SEO by making helpful pages about Excel formulas, like guides on topics such as "How to use SUMIFS." b) Site Speed Enhancement: David boosted FormulaBot's marketing site speed by moving it from Bubble to Framer, aiming to improve user experience and SEO performance. c) On-page optimization: David optimized FormulaBot's on-page elements by adjusting title tags, meta descriptions, and content to enhance SEO performance and align with search intent. These strategic refinements aimed to address ranking declines and emphasize FormulaBot's uniqueness, ultimately improving its visibility and competitiveness in search results. -Virality: FormulaBot went viral as users found it highly useful and cool. Influencers on platforms like TikTok and Twitter shared it with their followers because they found it valuable. Offering numerous free features further enhanced its appeal. Lessons: successes and mistakes. ✅ Leverage industry expertise: David identified a problem in analytics and used his experience to start an online business addressing it, turning an industry challenge into a profitable venture. ✅ Embrace learning new skills: Despite lacking initial technical know-how, David learned what he needed to develop the software himself, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning and adaptability crucial for success. ❌ Minimize dependency on third parties: Relying solely on the ChatGPT API poses risks for FormulaBot. Any issues with the API could disrupt functionality and limit scalability. ⁉️ Caution with free tools: Offering a free tool can attract users and drive viral growth, but converting them to paying customers is challenging. Avoid relying solely on a 100% free model unless your revenue comes from non-user sources like ads. For businesses dependent on user subscriptions or purchases, balancing user attraction with conversion challenges is crucial. How could you replicate this idea step-by-step. To replicate the success of FormulaBot and similar AI wrapper startups, it's crucial to tread carefully in a competitive market. Avoid mere replication of existing solutions unless you can offer something distinct or superior. Consider these steps to effectively develop an AI Wrapper/ChatGPT wrapper product using Bubble as a no-code tool: Design the user interface: Utilize Bubble's drag-and-drop editor to create a user-friendly interface with input fields, buttons, and result displays. Set up workflows: Define workflows to connect the interface with the ChatGPT API, enabling seamless interaction between users and the AI. Integrate the ChatGPT API: Obtain the API key from OpenAI and integrate it into your app using Bubble's API connector feature. Test and gather feedback: Thoroughly test your app, soliciting feedback to refine functionality and usability. Refine and optimize: Continuously improve your app based on user input and testing results to enhance performance and user experience. The in-depth version of the case study was originally posted here. Feel free to comment if you have any questions, and let me know which similar ideas you'd like me to analyze.

I have developed targethub.ai for 2 months as a side project, need your thoughts

Hello everyone, I have built https://targethub.ai to give my children the tools I wished I had at the start of my career and entrepreneurship journey. Now, I’m sharing that same framework with you, so you can transform your ambitions into measurable achievements. Whether you’re a student tackling challenging coursework, a professional climbing the career ladder, an entrepreneur driving innovative business ideas, a startuper disrupting traditional models, an influencer expanding your personal brand, or a blogger turning creative passion into consistent results, Targethub.ai is tailored for you. My AI-powered platform combines proven strategies with real-world insights to empower you to: • Break down complex goals into clear, actionable steps • Strategically plan and execute academic, professional, or personal projects • Maintain focus and track progress using advanced, user-friendly tools • Receive personalized guidance that evolves with your needs Check and advise please your thoughts targethub.ai

Enhancing Time Management & Journaling with AI: A Hybrid Physical-Digital Approach

Hey everyone! I wanted to share my experience combining AI, physical journaling, and time tracking - and get your thoughts on taking this further. Background: My AI-Enhanced Productivity Journey I recently did an intensive experiment tracking my time down to the minute (as a software engineer juggling multiple projects, Kendo practice, and side hustles). I used Claude/ChatGPT to analyze my patterns and got some fascinating insights about my productivity and habits. The AIs helped me spot patterns I was blind to and asked surprisingly thoughtful questions that made me reflect deeper. What really struck me was how AI turned from just an analysis tool into something like a wise friend who remembers everything and asks the right questions at the right time. This got me thinking about creating a more structured approach. The Hybrid Model Concept I'm exploring an idea that combines: Physical journaling/tracking (for tactile experience and mindfulness) AI-powered digital companion (for insights and reflection) Flexible input methods (write in a notebook, take photos, type, or voice record) The key insight is: while AI can track digital activities, our lives happen both online and offline. Sometimes we're in meetings, reading books, or having coffee with friends. By combining human input with AI analysis, we get both accuracy and insight. How It Would Work: \- Write in your physical journal/planner as usual \- Optionally snap photos or type key points into the app \- AI companion provides: \- Smart comparisons (today vs last week/month/year) \- Pattern recognition ("I notice you're most creative after morning exercise...") \- Thoughtful reflection prompts ("How has your approach to \[recurring challenge\] evolved?") \- Connection-making between entries ("This reminds me of what you wrote about...") What Makes This Different Human Agency: You control what to track and share, maintaining mindfulness AI as Coach: Beyond just tracking, it asks meaningful questions based on your patterns Temporal Intelligence: Helps you see how your behaviors and thoughts evolve over time Flexibility: Works whether you prefer paper, digital, or both Early Insights from My Testing: \- Initial tracking caused some anxiety (couldn't sleep first two nights!) but became natural \- AI feedback varies by tool (Claude more encouraging, ChatGPT more direct) \- The combination of manual tracking + AI analysis led to better self-awareness \- Having AI ask unexpected questions led to deeper insights than solo journaling Questions for the Community: Have you tried combining AI with traditional productivity/journaling methods? What worked/didn't? What kinds of AI-generated insights/questions would be most valuable to you? How would you balance the convenience of automation with the benefits of manual tracking? What features would make this truly useful for your productivity practice? I believe there's something powerful in combining the mindfulness of manual tracking, the wisdom of AI, and the flexibility of modern tools. But I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences! Looking forward to the discussion! 🤔✍️

I searched for unexplored AI business opportunities for 2024 and found 8 promising ideas

https://solansync.beehiiv.com/p/8-innovative-ai-business-opportunities-2024-evaluation-resources Entering 2024, the AI landscape presents numerous uncharted business opportunities. Solan Sync, on February 06, 2024, shared an insightful exploration into nine innovative AI business prospects that stand out for their potential market impact and implementation feasibility. Here's a brief overview of each: No-Code AI Chatbot Development Platforms: These platforms enable businesses to create efficient chatbots without coding knowledge, catering to a variety of communication needs and boasting a significant market potential projected at $19.8 billion by 2027. AI-Powered Document Management Systems: Offering a solution to automate data extraction and management, this opportunity targets sectors overwhelmed by paperwork, with a market growth expected to reach $4.4 billion by 2026. Automated AI Customer Support Platforms: AI-driven platforms are transforming customer support by handling inquiries with advanced conversational agents, aiming for a part of the $15.3 billion market by 2027. AI-Driven Content Generation Platforms: Utilizing advanced language models for content creation, this area addresses the high demand for engaging content across digital platforms, with the market projected to hit $12 billion by 2025. AI-Powered Recommendation System APIs: Tailored product recommendations can significantly enhance user experience, tapping into a market anticipated to grow to $6.3 billion by 2027. AI-Enhanced Digital Media Buying Solutions: These platforms optimize advertising strategies using AI, targeting the native advertising market expected to reach $59 billion by 2025. Enterprise-grade Voice-activated AI Assistants: Improving workplace efficiency with voice commands, this segment has a potential market of $1.1 billion by 2026. AI-Enhanced Supply Chain Management Solutions: By applying AI for real-time optimization, this opportunity aims at improving efficiency within the vast data-rich environments of modern supply chains. Each idea is detailed with its overview, target customer segments, key AI functionalities, profitability evaluations, and examples of current pioneers. This exploration not only highlights the vast potential within AI-driven business models but also encourages entrepreneurs and corporations to delve into these promising sectors. The rapid advancement of AI technology and its practical applications suggest these ideas represent just the beginning of what the future holds. Now is the time to leverage AI's capabilities to innovate and enhance products, services, and operations across industries.

AI-Powered Business Analyst Tool Looking for Feedback

Hey r/sideproject! I’m excited to share a project I’ve been working on called Bianalytiq, a next-gen business intelligence platform designed to transform the way businesses interact with data through the power of AI. The Problem: SME companies struggle with data overload and the significant time investment required to generate actionable insights. Traditional data analysis methods are not only slow but often require extensive manual effort and are prone to errors. This makes it difficult for businesses to react quickly to new information and make informed decisions efficiently. Not everybody can write SQL or create/understand data dashboards.... AND - one big opportunity on market - non of the AI tools available on market offer reusable contexts focused on you as a company and your products. The Solution: Bianalytiq aims to solve these issues by automating tedious data analysis tasks and providing real-time insights. Here’s how: Reusable contexts: Let Bianalytiq learn everything about your company, your products, business model etc. - your company is your unique context. Autonomous AI Agents: Deploy AI agents that not only react to queries but proactively analyze data to uncover opportunities, tailored specifically to your business context. Real-Time Insights: With the use of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, our platform delivers immediate, context-rich insights by dynamically accessing and analyzing connected databases and data warehouses. Integration with Existing Tools: Bianalytiq integrates seamlessly with popular tech stacks and communication platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it incredibly user-friendly and reducing the switch cost between applications. Why I’m Here: Before investing significant time and money I want to validate the product first and do pre-sale before releasing the MVP. I’ve developed a landing page for Bianalytiq and would love your feedback on both the service itself and the effectiveness of the landing page. Are the features presented clearly? Does the platform address the pain points you might experience in data analysis and decision-making processes? Here’s the link to the landing page: https://bianalytiq.com/ I appreciate any feedback or questions you have! Whether it's about the UI/UX of the site, the technical aspects of the service, or even the business model, I’m all ears. Your input will be invaluable :) Thanks for checking it out! https://preview.redd.it/t1dvp2q05dzc1.png?width=798&format=png&auto=webp&s=c7365b418abfc4d4260d9a23305ed3398e83c87b

I acquired a SaaS for ~5 figures to solve my content problem

In 2023 I bought a SaaS called Cuppa AI. I actually found the product on twitter, run by a very talented engineer in the UK.  I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on content for various media companies. In one consumer health company, it cost us around $200-$500 for each SEO optimized article. This adds up pretty quickly. Not forgetting the 20 hours of edits! This isn’t just an isolated problem for a single company. It’s industry wide and affects small business + agency owners alike. I spent over a decade in media, and have seen many agency founders complain about long lead times and high costs for low output.  This is an issue. Large swathes of would-be customers that prefer to consume content before buying are being ignored - either because it takes too long or costs too much for founders to scale this channel.   I eventually became tired of the media content game in 2022 and looked into using SaaS to solve my previous life’s challenges. I started building, acquiring and scaling a portfolio of products that I found useful in my day to day. But the content issue was still there.  So I started to look for ways to reduce the time + cost content burden for my own portfolio.   I initially discovered Cuppa using it for my own personal pains of content research, editing, publishing, and scaling. But then I saw potential. I wanted to turn it into an end to end solution for the content gap that myself and other business owners weren’t taking advantage of because of time, cost, or other priorities.  I sent a DM. Then a few calls later, I acquired it in June 2023.  I chose cuppa vs other competing products for a few reasons:  The founder gave excellent support during and post acquisition  It already had a large, loyal existing user base I’d personally used it and solved a pain with it. I saw the potential to solve many others for more people like me  The founder has put a ton of quality and care into it. There wasn’t a risk of picking up a patchy product, plus it already had great social distribution  It naturally fits my expertise from the ‘other side’. I was the original customer of it, so I knew I could evolve it with features that could create content at scale without losing the human touch  Since then we’ve added a lot of new stuff: Chat with articles Image generation for articles API keys to reduce cost Brand / persona voice custom prompts  Month on month iterative content improvement  Full stack content team that blends AI and human editors for agencies I’m still in full build mode with the team. I want to take it to a place where agencies and SMB owners can trust the AI + human content model enough to see this product as a no-brainer for their biz. I don’t believe in AI slop - there’s enough of that out there - I DO believe in using AI to do the grunt work, but to always have that human element a machine can’t quite mimic.  We have a lot more to get through, but I’m very excited about it. View of the done for you content workflow

I built an AI Stock Analysis Tool

Hi Reddit, TL;DR: I am sharing the tool I built to assist me with my investments I have been investing for over a decade, and I have always struggled with: Putting the time to do actual research Trusting analyst’s recommendations To \ invest \ we want to make sure that the price is right and the company will keep improving. How do we know that “the price is right?” How can we predict that the company will perform better in the future? To answer the above, we have to look at the company’s financials and their trends. We have to compare the company with its peers/competitors. We should understand its business model, the sector and geography the company evolves in and the perspective of the economy in general. We can also look at additional signals like insiders selling or buying. Just for one investment, this is already a lot of work. And a work that we need to repeat every time there is a significant change - for example, a significant price change from our last analysis or new quarterly results, etc. To automate all the above, I have built a stock analysis tool and have been using it the past years for my own investments. I have been adding LLMs agents (GPT 4o & Claude 3.5) to perform the qualitative analysis. Recently, I decided to share it and keep on building it in public. In this initial version, you can get the summary of the stock analysis my model generates. For now, it covers most of the S&P and Nasdaq stocks. Here is the link 👉 https://undervalued.ai If you are into investing yourself, please feel free to reach out. I would love to get your feedback and know more about your methodology.

AI News Reporter (AI Video + AI Audio + AI Music + AI Lipsync + Transitions + Automated Video Edit).

Processing img mgx8qvvd7nne1... Do give an upvote you guys, Discover how to create a professional AI news reporter video using an automated n8n workflow! In this video, we demonstrate an end-to-end process that integrates various AI tools and automated video editing techniques to produce a fully polished news video. Here's what you'll learn: AI Video Model Generation: Automatically generate realistic video models using AI. AI Audio Creation: Generate high-quality AI audio for the model with perfect lipsync. AI Music Generation: Create custom background music using AI to add the perfect vibe to your video. Automated Editing & Transitions: Utilize advanced video editing techniques and seamless transitions with ffmpeg integrated into the n8n workflow. Complete End-to-End Automation: Watch as the entire process—from content creation to final editing—is fully automated, saving time and effort. Whether you're a content creator, media professional, or just curious about the power of automation and AI, this workflow offers a glimpse into the future of video production. Workflow:- https://github.com/gochapachi/AI-news-Reporter Youtube :- https://youtu.be/Km2u6193pDU If you enjoyed this video, please like, comment, and subscribe for more content on AI-driven automation and innovative video production techniques. Let's revolutionize content creation with AI and automation! 👉 Follow Us on Social Media for More Updates: 🧠 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/gochapachi1/ 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/gochapachi/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gochapachi/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gochapachi 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gochapachi/ 📞 whatsapp: +91-8400210108 📩 Email: sanjeevcs0034@gmail.com

[P] Building an Reinforcement Learning Agent to play The Legend of Zelda

A year go I started trying to use PPO to play the original Legend of Zelda, and I was able to train a model to beat the first boss after a few months of work. I wanted to share the project just for show and tell. I'd love to hear feedback and suggestions as this is just a hobby project. I don't do this for a living. The code for that lives in the original-design branch of my Triforce repo. I'm currently tinkering with new designs so the main branch is much less stable. Here's a video of the agent beating the first dungeon, which was trained with 5,000,000+ steps. At 38 seconds, you can see it learned that it's invulnerable at the screen edge, and it exploits that to avoid damage from a projectile. At 53 seconds it steps up to avoid damage from an unblockable projectile, even though it takes a -0.06 penalty for moving the wrong way (taking damage would be a larger penalty.) At 55 seconds it walks towards the rock projectile to block it. And so on, lots of little things the model does is easy to miss if you don't know the game inside and out. As a TLDR, here's an early version of my new (single) model. This doesn't make it quite as far, but if you watch closely it's combat is already far better, and is only trained on 320,000 steps (~6% of the steps the first model was trained on). This is pretty far along from my very first model. Original Design I got the original project working using stable-baselines's PPO and default neural network (Shared NatureCNN, I believe). SB was great to get started but ultimately stifling. In the new version of the project I've implemented PPO from scratch with torch with my own simple neural network similar to stable-baseline's default. I'm playing with all kinds of changes and designs now that I have more flexibility and control. Here is my rough original design: Overall Strategy My first pass through this project was basically "imagine playing Zelda with your older sibling telling you where to go and what to do". I give the model an objective vector which points to where I want it to go on the screen (as a bird flies, the agent still had to learn path finding to avoid damage and navigate around the map). This includes either point at the nearest enemy I want it to kill or a NSEW vector if it's supposed to move to the next room. Due a few limitations with stable-baselines (especially around action masking), I ended up training unique models for traversing the overworld vs the dungeon (since they have entirely different tilesets). I also trained a different model for when we have sword beams vs not. In the video above you can see what model is being used onscreen. In my current project I've removed this objective vector as it felt too much like cheating. Instead I give it a one-hot encoded objective (move north to the next room, pickup items, kill enemies, etc). So far it's working quite well without that crutch. The new project also does a much better job of combat even without multiple models to handle beams vs not. Observation/Action Space Image - The standard neural network had a really tough time being fed the entire screen. No amount of training seemed to help. I solved this by creating a viewport around Link that keeps him centered. This REALLY helped the model learn. I also had absolutely zero success with stacking frames to give Link a way to see enemy/projectile movement. The model simply never trained with stable-baselines when I implemented frame stacking and I never figured out why. I just added it to my current neural network and it seems to be working... Though my early experiments show that giving it 3 frames (skipping two in between, so frames curr, curr-3, curr-6) doesn't really give us that much better performance. It might if I took away some of the vectors. We'll see. Vectors - Since the model cannot see beyond its little viewport, I gave the model a vector to the closest item, enemy, and projectile onscreen. This made it so the model can shoot enemies across the room outside of its viewport. My new model gives it multiple enemies/items/projectiles and I plan to try to use an attention mechanism as part of the network to see if I can just feed it all of that data. Information - It also gets a couple of one-off datapoints like whether it currently has sword beams. The new model also gives it a "source" room (to help better understand dungeons where we have to backtrack), and a one-hot encoded objective. Action Space My original project just has a few actions, 4 for moving in the cardinal directions and 4 for attacking in each direction (I also added bombs but never spent any time training it). I had an idea to use masking to help speed up training. I.E. if link bumps into a wall, don't let him move in that direction again until he moves elsewhere, as the model would often spend an entire memory buffer running headlong straight into a wall before an update...better to do it once and get a huge negative penalty which is essentially the same result but faster. Unfortunately SB made it really annoying architecturally to pass that info down to the policy layer. I could have hacked it together, but eventually I just reimplemented PPO and my own neural network so I could properly mask actions in the new version. For example, when we start training a fresh model, it cannot attack when there aren't enemies on screen and I can disallow it from leaving certain areas. The new model actually understands splitting swinging the sword short range vs firing sword beams as two different actions, though I haven't yet had a chance to fully train with the split yet. Frameskip/Cooldowns - In the game I don't use a fixed frame skip for actions. Instead I use the internal ram state of game to know when Link is animation locked or not and only allow the agent to take actions when it's actually possible to give meaningful input to the game. This greatly sped up training. We also force movement to be between tiles on the game map. This means that when the agent decides to move it loses control for longer than a player would...a player can make more split second decisions. This made it easier to implement movement rewards though and might be something to clean up in the future. Other interesting details Pathfinding - To facilitate rewards, the original version of this project used A* to pathfind from link to what he should be doing. Here's a video of it in action. This information wasn't giving to the model directly but instead the agent would only be given the rewards if it exactly followed that path or the transposed version of it. It would also pathfind around enemies and not walk through them. This was a nightmare though. The corner cases were significant, and pushing Link towards enemies but not into them was really tricky. The new verison just uses a wavefront algorithm. I calculate a wave from the tiles we want to get to outwards, then make sure we are following the gradient. Also calculating the A* around enemies every frame (even with caching) was super slow. Wavefront was faster, especially because I give the new model no special rewards for walking around enemies...faster to compute and it has to learn from taking damage or not. Either way, the both the old and new models successfully learned how to pathfind around danger and obstacles, with or without the cheaty objective vector. Rewards - I programmed very dense rewards in both the old and new model. At basically every step, the model is getting rewarded or punished for something. I actually have some ideas I can't wait to try out to make the rewards more sparse. Or maybe we start with dense rewards for the first training, then fine-tune the model with sparser rewards. We'll see. Predicting the Future - Speaking of rewards. One interesting wrinkle is that the agent can do a lot of things that will eventually deal damage but not on that frame. For example, when Link sets a bomb it takes several seconds before it explodes, killing things. This can be a massive reward or penalty since he spent an extremely valuable resource, but may have done massive damage. PPO and other RL propagates rewards backwards, of course, but that spike in reward could land on a weird frame where we took damage or moved in the wrong direction. I probably could have just not solved that problem and let it shake out over time, but instead I used the fact that we are in an emulator to just see what the outcome of every decision is. When planting a bomb, shooting sword beams, etc, we let the game run forward until impact, then rewind time and reward the agent appropriately, continuing on from when we first paused. This greatly speeds up training, even if it's expensive to do this savestate, play forward, restore state. Neural Networks - When I first started this project (knowing very little about ML and RL), I thought most of my time would be tuning the shape of the neural network that we are using. In reality, the default provided by stable-baselines and my eventual reimplemnentation has been enough to make massive progress. Now that I have a solid codebase though, I really want to revisit this. I'd like to see if trying CoordConvs and similar networks might make the viewport unncessary. Less interesting details/thoughts Hyperparameters - Setting the entropy coefficinet way lower helped a TON in training stable models. My new PPO implementation is way less stable than stable-baselines (ha, imagine that), but still converges most of the time. Infinite Rewards - As with all reinforcement learning, if you give some way for the model to get infinite rewards, it will do just that and nothing else. I spent days, or maybe weeks tweaking reward functions to just get it to train and not find a spot on the wall it could hump for infinite rewards. Even just neutral rewards, like +0.5 moving forward and -0.5 for moving backwards, would often result in a model that just stepped left, then right infinitely. There has to be a real reward or punishment (non-neutral) for forward progress. Debugging Rewards - In fact, building a rewards debugger was the only way I made progress in this project. If you are tackling something this big, do that very early. Stable-Retro is pretty great - Couldn't be happier with the clean design for implementing emulation for AI. Torch is Awesome - My early versions heavily used numpy and relied on stable-baselines, with its multiproc parallelization support. It worked great. Moving the project over to torch was night and day though. It gave me so much more flexibility, instant multithreading for matrix operations. I have a pretty beefy computer and I'm almost at the same steps per second as 20 proc stable-retro/numpy. Future Ideas This has already gone on too long. I have some ideas for future projects, but maybe I'll just make them another post when I actually do them. Special Thanks A special thanks to Brad Flaugher for help with the early version of this, Fiskbit from the Zelda1 speedrunning community for help pulling apart the raw assembly to build this thing, and MatPoliquin for maintaining Stable-Retro. Happy to answer any questions, really I just love nerding out about this stuff.

[D] Why I'm Lukewarm on Graph Neural Networks

TL;DR: GNNs can provide wins over simpler embedding methods, but we're at a point where other research directions matter more I also posted it on my blog here, has footnotes, a nicer layout with inlined images, etc. I'm only lukewarm on Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). There, I said it. It might sound crazy GNNs are one of the hottest fields in machine learning right now. [There][1] were at least [four][2] [review][3] [papers][4] just in the last few months. I think some progress can come of this research, but we're also focusing on some incorrect places. But first, let's take a step back and go over the basics. Models are about compression We say graphs are a "non-euclidean" data type, but that's not really true. A regular graph is just another way to think about a particular flavor of square matrix called the [adjacency matrix][5], like this. It's weird, we look at run-of-the-mill matrix full of real numbers and decide to call it "non-euclidean". This is for practical reasons. Most graphs are fairly sparse, so the matrix is full of zeros. At this point, where the non-zero numbers are matters most, which makes the problem closer to (computationally hard) discrete math rather than (easy) continuous, gradient-friendly math. If you had the full matrix, life would be easy If we step out of the pesky realm of physics for a minute, and assume carrying the full adjacency matrix around isn't a problem, we solve a bunch of problems. First, network node embeddings aren't a thing anymore. A node is a just row in the matrix, so it's already a vector of numbers. Second, all network prediction problems are solved. A powerful enough and well-tuned model will simply extract all information between the network and whichever target variable we're attaching to nodes. NLP is also just fancy matrix compression Let's take a tangent away from graphs to NLP. Most NLP we do can be [thought of in terms of graphs][6] as we'll see, so it's not a big digression. First, note that Ye Olde word embedding models like [Word2Vec][7] and [GloVe][8] are [just matrix factorization][9]. The GloVe algorithm works on a variation of the old [bag of words][10] matrix. It goes through the sentences and creates a (implicit) [co-occurence][11] graph where nodes are words and the edges are weighed by how often the words appear together in a sentence. Glove then does matrix factorization on the matrix representation of that co-occurence graph, Word2Vec is mathematically equivalent. You can read more on this in my [post on embeddings][12] and the one (with code) on [word embeddings][13]. Even language models are also just matrix compression Language models are all the rage. They dominate most of the [state of the art][14] in NLP. Let's take BERT as our main example. BERT predicts a word given the context of the rest of the sentence. This grows the matrix we're factoring from flat co-occurences on pairs of words to co-occurences conditional on the sentence's context, like this We're growing the "ideal matrix" we're factoring combinatorially. As noted by [Hanh & Futrell][15]: [...] human language—and language modelling—has infinite statistical complexity but that it can be approximated well at lower levels. This observation has two implications: 1) We can obtain good results with comparatively small models; and 2) there is a lot of potential for scaling up our models. Language models tackle such a large problem space that they probably approximate a compression of the entire language in the [Kolmogorov Complexity][16] sense. It's also possible that huge language models just [memorize a lot of it][17] rather than compress the information, for what it's worth. Can we upsample any graph like language models do? We're already doing it. Let's call a first-order embedding of a graph a method that works by directly factoring the graph's adjacency matrix or [Laplacian matrix][18]. If you embed a graph using [Laplacian Eigenmaps][19] or by taking the [principal components][20] of the Laplacian, that's first order. Similarly, GloVe is a first-order method on the graph of word co-occurences. One of my favorites first order methods for graphs is [ProNE][21], which works as well as most methods while being two orders of magnitude faster. A higher-order method embeds the original matrix plus connections of neighbours-of-neighbours (2nd degree) and deeper k-step connections. [GraRep][22], shows you can always generate higher-order representations from first order methods by augmenting the graph matrix. Higher order method are the "upsampling" we do on graphs. GNNs that sample on large neighborhoods and random-walk based methods like node2vec are doing higher-order embeddings. Where are the performance gain? Most GNN papers in the last 5 years present empirical numbers that are useless for practitioners to decide on what to use. As noted in the [OpenGraphsBenchmark][4] (OGB) paper, GNN papers do their empirical section on a handful of tiny graphs (Cora, CiteSeer, PubMed) with 2000-20,000 nodes. These datasets can't seriously differentiate between methods. Recent efforts are directly fixing this, but the reasons why researchers focused on tiny, useless datasets for so long are worth discussing. Performance matters by task One fact that surprises a lot of people is that even though language models have the best performance in a lot of NLP tasks, if all you're doing is cram sentence embeddings into a downstream model, there [isn't much gained][23] from language models embeddings over simple methods like summing the individual Word2Vec word embeddings (This makes sense, because the full context of the sentence is captured in the sentence co-occurence matrix that is generating the Word2Vec embeddings). Similarly, [I find][24] that for many graphs simple first-order methods perform just as well on graph clustering and node label prediction tasks than higher-order embedding methods. In fact higher-order methods are massively computationally wasteful for these usecases. Recommended first order embedding methods are ProNE and my [GGVec with order=1][25]. Higher order methods normally perform better on the link prediction tasks. I'm not the only one to find this. In the BioNEV paper, they find: "A large GraRep order value for link prediction tasks (e.g. 3, 4);a small value for node classification tasks (e.g.1, 2)" (p.9). Interestingly, the gap in link prediction performance is inexistant for artificially created graphs. This suggests higher order methods do learn some of the structure intrinsic to [real world graphs][26]. For visualization, first order methods are better. Visualizations of higher order methods tend to have artifacts of their sampling. For instance, Node2Vec visualizations tend to have elongated/filament-like structures which come from the embeddings coming from long single strand random walks. See the following visualizations by [Owen Cornec][27] created by first embedding the graph to 32-300 dimensions using a node embedding algorithm, then mapping this to 2d or 3d with the excellent UMAP algorithm, like this Lastly, sometimes simple methods soundly beat higher order methods (there's an instance of it in the OGB paper). The problem here is that we don't know when any method is better than another and we definitely don't know the reason. There's definitely a reason different graph types respond better/worse to being represented by various methods. This is currently an open question. A big part of why is that the research space is inundated under useless new algorithms because... Academic incentives work against progress Here's the cynic's view of how machine learning papers are made: Take an existing algorithm Add some new layer/hyperparameter, make a cute mathematical story for why it matters Gridsearch your hyperparameters until you beat baselines from the original paper you aped Absolutely don't gridsearch stuff you're comparing against in your results section Make a cute ACRONYM for your new method, put impossible to use python 2 code on github (Or no code at all!) and bask in the citations I'm [not][28] the [only one][29] with these views on the state reproducible research. At least it's gotten slightly better in the last 2 years. Sidebar: I hate Node2Vec A side project of mine is a [node embedding library][25] and the most popular method in it is by far Node2Vec. Don't use Node2Vec. [Node2Vec][30] with p=1; q=1 is the [Deepwalk][31] algorithm. Deepwalk is an actual innovation. The Node2Vec authors closely followed the steps 1-5 including bonus points on step 5 by getting word2vec name recognition. This is not academic fraud -- the hyperparameters [do help a tiny bit][32] if you gridsearch really hard. But it's the presentable-to-your-parents sister of where you make the ML community worse off to progress your academic career. And certainly Node2Vec doesn't deserve 7500 citations. Progress is all about practical issues We've known how to train neural networks for well over 40 years. Yet they only exploded in popularity with [AlexNet][33] in 2012. This is because implementations and hardware came to a point where deep learning was practical. Similarly, we've known about factoring word co-occurence matrices into Word embeddings for at least 20 years. But word embeddings only exploded in 2013 with Word2Vec. The breakthrough here was that the minibatch-based methods let you train a Wikipedia-scale embedding model on commodity hardware. It's hard for methods in a field to make progress if training on a small amount of data takes days or weeks. You're disincentivized to explore new methods. If you want progress, your stuff has to run in reasonable time on commodity hardware. Even Google's original search algorithm [initially ran on commodity hardware][34]. Efficiency is paramount to progress The reason deep learning research took off the way it did is because of improvements in [efficiency][35] as well as much better libraries and hardware support. Academic code is terrible Any amount of time you spend gridsearching Node2Vec on p and q is all put to better use gridsearching Deepwalk itself (on number of walks, length of walks, or word2vec hyperparameters). The problem is that people don't gridsearch over deepwalk because implementations are all terrible. I wrote the [Nodevectors library][36] to have a fast deepwalk implementation because it took 32 hours to embed a graph with a measly 150,000 nodes using the reference Node2Vec implementation (the same takes 3min with Nodevectors). It's no wonder people don't gridsearch on Deepwalk a gridsearch would take weeks with the terrible reference implementations. To give an example, in the original paper of [GraphSAGE][37] they their algorithm to DeepWalk with walk lengths of 5, which is horrid if you've ever hyperparameter tuned a deepwalk algorithm. From their paper: We did observe DeepWalk’s performance could improve with further training, and in some cases it could become competitive with the unsupervised GraphSAGE approaches (but not the supervised approaches) if we let it run for >1000× longer than the other approaches (in terms of wall clock time for prediction on the test set) I don't even think the GraphSAGE authors had bad intent -- deepwalk implementations are simply so awful that they're turned away from using it properly. It's like trying to do deep learning with 2002 deep learning libraries and hardware. Your architectures don't really matter One of the more important papers this year was [OpenAI's "Scaling laws"][38] paper, where the raw number of parameters in your model is the most predictive feature of overall performance. This was noted even in the original BERT paper and drives 2020's increase in absolutely massive language models. This is really just [Sutton' Bitter Lesson][39] in action: General methods that leverage computation are ultimately the most effective, and by a large margin Transformers might be [replacing convolution][40], too. As [Yannic Kilcher said][41], transformers are ruining everything. [They work on graphs][6], in fact it's one of the [recent approaches][42], and seems to be one of the more succesful [when benchmarked][1] Researchers seem to be putting so much effort into architecture, but it doesn't matter much in the end because you can approximate anything by stacking more layers. Efficiency wins are great -- but neural net architectures are just one way to achieve that, and by tremendously over-researching this area we're leaving a lot of huge gains elsewhere on the table. Current Graph Data Structure Implementations suck NetworkX is a bad library. I mean, it's good if you're working on tiny graphs for babies, but for anything serious it chokes and forces you to rewrite everything in... what library, really? At this point most people working on large graphs end up hand-rolling some data structure. This is tough because your computer's memory is a 1-dimensional array of 1's and 0's and a graph has no obvious 1-d mapping. This is even harder when we take updating the graph (adding/removing some nodes/edges) into account. Here's a few options: Disconnected networks of pointers NetworkX is the best example. Here, every node is an object with a list of pointers to other nodes (the node's edges). This layout is like a linked list. Linked lists are the [root of all performance evil][43]. Linked lists go completely against how modern computers are designed. Fetching things from memory is slow, and operating on memory is fast (by two orders of magnitude). Whenever you do anything in this layout, you make a roundtrip to RAM. It's slow by design, you can write this in Ruby or C or assembly and it'll be slow regardless, because memory fetches are slow in hardware. The main advantage of this layout is that adding a new node is O(1). So if you're maintaining a massive graph where adding and removing nodes happens as often as reading from the graph, it makes sense. Another advantage of this layout is that it "scales". Because everything is decoupled from each other you can put this data structure on a cluster. However, you're really creating a complex solution for a problem you created for yourself. Sparse Adjacency Matrix This layout great for read-only graphs. I use it as the backend in my [nodevectors][25] library, and many other library writers use the [Scipy CSR Matrix][44], you can see graph algorithms implemented on it [here][45]. The most popular layout for this use is the [CSR Format][46] where you have 3 arrays holding the graph. One for edge destinations, one for edge weights and an "index pointer" which says which edges come from which node. Because the CSR layout is simply 3 arrays, it scales on a single computer: a CSR matrix can be laid out on a disk instead of in-memory. You simply [memory map][47] the 3 arrays and use them on-disk from there. With modern NVMe drives random seeks aren't slow anymore, much faster than distributed network calls like you do when scaling the linked list-based graph. I haven't seen anyone actually implement this yet, but it's in the roadmap for my implementation at least. The problem with this representation is that adding a node or edge means rebuilding the whole data structure. Edgelist representations This representation is three arrays: one for the edge sources, one for the edge destinations, and one for edge weights. [DGL][48] uses this representation internally. This is a simple and compact layout which can be good for analysis. The problem compared to CSR Graphs is some seek operations are slower. Say you want all the edges for node #4243. You can't jump there without maintaining an index pointer array. So either you maintain sorted order and binary search your way there (O(log2n)) or unsorted order and linear search (O(n)). This data structure can also work on memory mapped disk array, and node append is fast on unsorted versions (it's slow in the sorted version). Global methods are a dead end Methods that work on the entire graph at once can't leverage computation, because they run out of RAM at a certain scale. So any method that want a chance of being the new standard need to be able to update piecemeal on parts of the graph. Sampling-based methods Sampling Efficiency will matter more in the future Edgewise local methods. The only algorithms I know of that do this are GloVe and GGVec, which they pass through an edge list and update embedding weights on each step. The problem with this approach is that it's hard to use them for higher-order methods. The advantage is that they easily scale even on one computer. Also, incrementally adding a new node is as simple as taking the existing embeddings, adding a new one, and doing another epoch over the data Random Walk sampling. This is used by deepwalk and its descendants, usually for node embeddings rather than GNN methods. This can be computationally expensive and make it hard to add new nodes. But this does scale, for instance [Instagram][49] use it to feed their recommendation system models Neighbourhood sampling. This is currently the most common one in GNNs, and can be low or higher order depending on the neighborhood size. It also scales well, though implementing efficiently can be challenging. It's currently used by [Pinterest][50]'s recommendation algorithms. Conclusion Here are a few interesting questions: What is the relation between graph types and methods? Consolidated benchmarking like OGB We're throwing random models at random benchmarks without understanding why or when they do better More fundamental research. Heree's one I'm curious about: can other representation types like [Poincarre Embeddings][51] effectively encode directed relationships? On the other hand, we should stop focusing on adding spicy new layers to test on the same tiny datasets. No one cares. [1]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2003.00982.pdf [2]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.11867.pdf [3]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1812.08434.pdf [4]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2005.00687.pdf [5]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjacency_matrix [6]: https://thegradient.pub/transformers-are-graph-neural-networks/ [7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word2vec [8]: https://nlp.stanford.edu/pubs/glove.pdf [9]: https://papers.nips.cc/paper/2014/file/feab05aa91085b7a8012516bc3533958-Paper.pdf [10]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bag-of-words_model [11]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-occurrence [12]: https://www.singlelunch.com/2020/02/16/embeddings-from-the-ground-up/ [13]: https://www.singlelunch.com/2019/01/27/word-embeddings-from-the-ground-up/ [14]: https://nlpprogress.com/ [15]: http://socsci.uci.edu/~rfutrell/papers/hahn2019estimating.pdf [16]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolmogorov_complexity [17]: https://bair.berkeley.edu/blog/2020/12/20/lmmem/ [18]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laplacian_matrix [19]: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=1F03130B02DC485C78BF364266B6F0CA?doi=10.1.1.19.8100&rep=rep1&type=pdf [20]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principalcomponentanalysis [21]: https://www.ijcai.org/Proceedings/2019/0594.pdf [22]: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2806416.2806512 [23]: https://openreview.net/pdf?id=SyK00v5xx [24]: https://github.com/VHRanger/nodevectors/blob/master/examples/link%20prediction.ipynb [25]: https://github.com/VHRanger/nodevectors [26]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1310.2636.pdf [27]: http://byowen.com/ [28]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1807.03341.pdf [29]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kee4ch3miVA [30]: https://cs.stanford.edu/~jure/pubs/node2vec-kdd16.pdf [31]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1403.6652.pdf [32]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1911.11726.pdf [33]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlexNet [34]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googledatacenters#Original_hardware [35]: https://openai.com/blog/ai-and-efficiency/ [36]: https://www.singlelunch.com/2019/08/01/700x-faster-node2vec-models-fastest-random-walks-on-a-graph/ [37]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1706.02216.pdf [38]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2001.08361.pdf [39]: http://incompleteideas.net/IncIdeas/BitterLesson.html [40]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.11929 [41]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrdevFK_am4 [42]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1710.10903.pdf [43]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHNmRkzxHWs [44]: https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/generated/scipy.sparse.csr_matrix.html [45]: https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/sparse.csgraph.html [46]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparsematrix#Compressedsparserow(CSR,CRSorYaleformat) [47]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mmap [48]: https://github.com/dmlc/dgl [49]: https://ai.facebook.com/blog/powered-by-ai-instagrams-explore-recommender-system/ [50]: https://medium.com/pinterest-engineering/pinsage-a-new-graph-convolutional-neural-network-for-web-scale-recommender-systems-88795a107f48 [51]: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1705.08039.pdf

[P] Can you distinguish AI-generated content from real art or literature? I made a little test!

Hi everyone, I am no programmer, and I have a very basic knowledge of machine learning, but I am fascinated by the possibilities offered by all the new models we have seen so far. Some people around me say they are not that impressed by what AIs can do, so I built a small test (with a little help by chatGPT to code the whole thing): can you always 100% distinguish between AI art or text and old works of art or literature? Here is the site: http://aiorart.com/ I find that AI-generated text is still generally easy to spot, but of course it is very challenging to go against great literary works. AI images can sometimes be truly deceptive. I wonder what you will all think of it... and how all that will evolve in the coming months! PS: The site is very crude (again, I am no programmer!). It works though.

The end of hallucination (for those who can afford it)? [R]

DeepMind just published a paper about fact-checking text: https://preview.redd.it/zsmv0a0293rc1.png?width=1028&format=png&auto=webp&s=789c1c2f9b31aa734a7ebcf459df3ad06bd74285 The approach costs $0.19 per model response, using GPT-3.5-Turbo, which is cheaper than human annotators, while being more accurate than them: https://preview.redd.it/ob7bb3iv73rc1.png?width=1014&format=png&auto=webp&s=e79bbcaa578b29772cb3b43ead508daff7288091 They use this approach to create a factuality benchmark and compare some popular LLMs. Paper and code: https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.18802 EDIT: Regarding the title of the post: Hallucination is defined (in Wikipedia) as "a response generated by AI which contains false or misleading information presented as fact.": Your code that does not compile is not, by itself, a hallucination. When you claim that the code is perfect, that's a hallucination.

[D] Misuse of Deep Learning in Nature Journal’s Earthquake Aftershock Paper

Recently, I saw a post by Rajiv Shah, Chicago-based data-scientist, regarding an article published in Nature last year called Deep learning of aftershock patterns following large earthquakes, written by scientists at Harvard in collaboration with Google. Below is the article: Stand Up for Best Practices: Misuse of Deep Learning in Nature’s Earthquake Aftershock Paper The Dangers of Machine Learning Hype Practitioners of AI, machine learning, predictive modeling, and data science have grown enormously over the last few years. What was once a niche field defined by its blend of knowledge is becoming a rapidly growing profession. As the excitement around AI continues to grow, the new wave of ML augmentation, automation, and GUI tools will lead to even more growth in the number of people trying to build predictive models. But here’s the rub: While it becomes easier to use the tools of predictive modeling, predictive modeling knowledge is not yet a widespread commodity. Errors can be counterintuitive and subtle, and they can easily lead you to the wrong conclusions if you’re not careful. I’m a data scientist who works with dozens of expert data science teams for a living. In my day job, I see these teams striving to build high-quality models. The best teams work together to review their models to detect problems. There are many hard-to-detect-ways that lead to problematic models (say, by allowing target leakage into their training data). Identifying issues is not fun. This requires admitting that exciting results are “too good to be true” or that their methods were not the right approach. In other words, it’s less about the sexy data science hype that gets headlines and more about a rigorous scientific discipline. Bad Methods Create Bad Results Almost a year ago, I read an article in Nature that claimed unprecedented accuracy in predicting earthquake aftershocks by using deep learning. Reading the article, my internal radar became deeply suspicious of their results. Their methods simply didn’t carry many of the hallmarks of careful predicting modeling. I started to dig deeper. In the meantime, this article blew up and became widely recognized! It was even included in the release notes for Tensorflow as an example of what deep learning could do. However, in my digging, I found major flaws in the paper. Namely, data leakage which leads to unrealistic accuracy scores and a lack of attention to model selection (you don’t build a 6 layer neural network when a simpler model provides the same level of accuracy). To my earlier point: these are subtle, but incredibly basic predictive modeling errors that can invalidate the entire results of an experiment. Data scientists are trained to recognize and avoid these issues in their work. I assumed that this was simply overlooked by the author, so I contacted her and let her know so that she could improve her analysis. Although we had previously communicated, she did not respond to my email over concerns with the paper. Falling On Deaf Ears So, what was I to do? My coworkers told me to just tweet it and let it go, but I wanted to stand up for good modeling practices. I thought reason and best practices would prevail, so I started a 6-month process of writing up my results and shared them with Nature. Upon sharing my results, I received a note from Nature in January 2019 that despite serious concerns about data leakage and model selection that invalidate their experiment, they saw no need to correct the errors, because “Devries et al. are concerned primarily with using machine learning as [a] tool to extract insight into the natural world, and not with details of the algorithm design.” The authors provided a much harsher response. You can read the entire exchange on my github. It’s not enough to say that I was disappointed. This was a major paper (it’s Nature!) that bought into AI hype and published a paper despite it using flawed methods. Then, just this week, I ran across articles by Arnaud Mignan and Marco Broccardo on shortcomings that they found in the aftershocks article. Here are two more data scientists with expertise in earthquake analysis who also noticed flaws in the paper. I also have placed my analysis and reproducible code on github. Standing Up For Predictive Modeling Methods I want to make it clear: my goal is not to villainize the authors of the aftershocks paper. I don’t believe that they were malicious, and I think that they would argue their goal was to just show how machine learning could be applied to aftershocks. Devries is an accomplished earthquake scientist who wanted to use the latest methods for her field of study and found exciting results from it. But here’s the problem: their insights and results were based on fundamentally flawed methods. It’s not enough to say, “This isn’t a machine learning paper, it’s an earthquake paper.” If you use predictive modeling, then the quality of your results are determined by the quality of your modeling. Your work becomes data science work, and you are on the hook for your scientific rigor. There is a huge appetite for papers that use the latest technologies and approaches. It becomes very difficult to push back on these papers. But if we allow papers or projects with fundamental issues to advance, it hurts all of us. It undermines the field of predictive modeling. Please push back on bad data science. Report bad findings to papers. And if they don’t take action, go to twitter, post about it, share your results and make noise. This type of collective action worked to raise awareness of p-values and combat the epidemic of p-hacking. We need good machine learning practices if we want our field to continue to grow and maintain credibility. Link to Rajiv's Article Original Nature Publication (note: paywalled) GitHub repo contains an attempt to reproduce Nature's paper Confrontational correspondence with authors

[P] [R] sANNd: A New Neural Network Framework Using Trainable Iterators

sANNd sANNd is a lightweight, modular neural network library designed as a sandbox for experimenting with new ideas in artificial intelligence. The Mould Class: A Pythonic Building Block The Mould class is a core component of sANNd. It provides a Pythonic way to apply functions to data that’s bundled inside objects: Encapsulated Variables: Each Mould object holds a set of variables (for example, weights or parameters) inside it. This means related data is kept together in one place (the object), making the code organized and intuitive. Static Functions: A Mould class defines its operation as a static method – essentially a function that isn’t tied to a specific instance. This static function takes in inputs (and possibly other Mould objects’ variables) and produces an output. In simple terms, the Mould’s static method describes how to transform input data using the Mould’s internal variables. Pythonic Usage: Using static methods in this way is a clean, Pythonic design. You call the Mould’s function through the class, but it applies to the data in the object. This approach lets you clearly separate what the operation is (the logic in the static function) from which data it uses (the variables inside the Mould instance). Example: Imagine a Mould class called LinearMould that has a static function to compute a linear transformation (like y = W*x + b). An instance of LinearMould would hold specific W and b values, and you’d use the static method to apply that linear formula to an input. This gives you the convenience of object-oriented design (encapsulating W and b) with the clarity of a standalone function defining the math. Chaining Moulds for Complex Computations Moulds become even more powerful when you chain them together. You can connect multiple Moulds so that the output of one becomes the input of the next: Sequential Operations: Just like stacking layers in a neural network, you can place Moulds in sequence. For example, you might take the output from LinearMouldA and feed it into LinearMouldB. In code, this might look as simple as using the output of one call as the argument to the next. The design of sANNd makes this straightforward – the static function of each Mould knows how to handle the data coming in. Building Pipelines: By chaining Moulds, you create a pipeline of transformations. Each Mould handles one step of computation, and together they produce a final result. This could represent a multi-layer neural network, a data processing pipeline, or any custom sequence of operations you need. There’s no strict limit to how you can chain them; you have the freedom to combine Moulds in any order that makes sense for your experiment. Clarity and Modularity: Because each Mould is a self-contained piece (with its variables and function), chaining them doesn’t turn your code into a black box. You can inspect or modify any part of the chain easily. This modular design means you can insert, remove, or replace Moulds to see how it affects the overall computation, which is great for experimentation. Implicit Backward Path (Automatic Backpropagation) One major benefit of using chained Moulds is that they implicitly define the backward path for training with gradient descent (backpropagation): Automatic Gradient Flow: When you connect Moulds in a sequence for a forward pass (input → Mould A → Mould B → output), you’ve essentially defined a computation graph. sANNd uses this graph to handle the reverse computation automatically. In other words, if you calculate an error or loss based on the final output, sANNd can propagate that error backwards through each Mould in the chain. No Manual Backprop: You do not need to manually code how gradients flow through each Mould. The way you set up the Moulds’ static functions already determines how outputs depend on inputs and internal variables. sANNd leverages that to perform backpropagation. This is similar in spirit to how libraries like PyTorch/TF do “autograd,” but here it’s a natural result of the Mould chain architecture. Gradient Descent Ready: Because the backward path is established by the forward connections, you can apply gradient descent optimizations out of the box. For instance, you can adjust the weights inside each Mould based on the computed gradients to minimize your loss. The design ensures that each Mould’s contribution to the final error is tracked, so all parts of your model learn appropriately during training. In short, defining your model with Moulds means you get training capability for free. You focus on describing the forward computations, and sANNd handles the math behind learning from errors. Comparing sANNd to Traditional Frameworks sANNd’s approach is quite different from traditional Python-based neural network frameworks. Here’s how it stacks up against frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Keras in terms of approach, flexibility, and intended use: Design Approach: Traditional frameworks use predefined layer classes and often build a computation graph behind the scenes. For example, Keras might have a Dense layer class, and TensorFlow might construct a static graph (in TF1) or use eager execution (in TF2). sANNd takes a simpler approach – it uses plain Python classes and static functions (Moulds) to define computations. There’s no need to learn a new graph syntax or decorators; if you know Python functions and classes, you can read and write sANNd models. This makes the internal workings more transparent and easier to follow. Flexibility: While frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow are very powerful, they can introduce a lot of boilerplate and assume you’re building typical architectures. sANNd is extremely modular and flexible. You aren’t limited to the layers someone else defined – you can create any operation you want as a Mould. Want to experiment with a novel activation function or a custom recurrent connection? Just define it in a Mould. There’s less magic and abstraction obscuring your code, so unconventional model structures are easier to implement. (Of course, major frameworks can also be extended, but sANNd makes this feel more natural by staying within standard Python paradigms.) Intended Use: sANNd is intended for experimentation and research. It’s like a toolkit for tinkering. You get fine-grained control over every part of the network, which is ideal for trying out bold new ideas that don’t fit the mold of common deep learning models. In contrast, TensorFlow/PyTorch shine in production environments and large-scale training – they are optimized (GPU support, highly efficient tensor operations) and come with many utilities for things like data loading, distributed training, etc. sANNd doesn’t aim to replace them for those heavy-lifting tasks. Instead, it’s meant for when you need a lighter, more interpretable setup to prototype concepts. You might use sANNd to prove out a concept or test a hypothesis in AI research, and later switch to a bigger framework if you need to scale it up. Simplicity vs. Complexity: By design, sANNd keeps things simple. The trade-off is that it might not have the raw performance optimizations of the large frameworks. However, this simplicity is a feature – it means the code is easier to understand and modify. For many research scenarios, being able to quickly tweak an idea is more important than squeezing out maximum speed. Traditional frameworks, with their complexity, can sometimes be harder to adapt for radically different ideas (you might find yourself fighting the framework). With sANNd, the framework gets out of your way as much as possible. Modular and Experimental by Nature One of the driving philosophies of sANNd is to be modular and experimental, to further ML research: Modularity: sANNd is built from small, composable pieces. The Mould class is one such piece, and you can imagine building additional components in a similar spirit. This modular design means you can re-use components, mix and match them, or replace one implementation with another without affecting the rest of your system. It’s like having a box of building blocks for neural networks – you can assemble them in standard ways or in completely novel configurations. Experimentation Friendly: Because it avoids heavy abstraction, sANNd lets you directly see and control what’s happening at each step. This is great for research, where you might need to observe intermediate results, inject custom behavior, or adjust the learning process on the fly. sANNd’s straightforward structure (Python objects and functions) makes such interventions possible. You’re not constrained to a fixed training loop or forced to use certain layer types. True Intelligence Research: Achieving “True Intelligence” (often related to artificial general intelligence or other forms of broader AI) may require going beyond the usual neural network designs. sANNd aims to be a playground for these ideas. Its flexibility allows researchers to integrate unconventional elements — be it new memory structures, dynamic connection patterns, or hybrid models that combine symbolic and neural approaches. You can use sANNd to prototype these offbeat ideas quickly. In essence, it’s easier to test “what if we try this?” scenarios with sANNd than with more rigid frameworks. In summary, sANNd’s unique Mould class and design philosophy offer a fresh take on building neural networks. It emphasizes clarity, composability, and flexibility, allowing you to focus on creativity and understanding. Whether you’re stacking simple Moulds into a deep model, or inventing a completely new form of network, sANNd provides a friendly foundation. It’s not here to dethrone TensorFlow or PyTorch in industry applications – instead, it’s here to give researchers and enthusiasts a more malleable tool for exploring the frontiers of AI. Enjoy using sANNd as your neural network sandbox, and happy experimenting!

[D] The banana-pineapple game: a Turing test that conversation bots like LaMDA (probably) won't be able to pass

I'm sure you all saw the recent news about a Google employee suggesting their LaMDA AI was sentient (based on conversational exchanges like these). Experts have generally dismissed this claim, and rightly so. Conversational AI systems are designed to use language in a way that sounds human, whereas our human brains select linguistic responses to solve much more complex problems, with objectives such as meeting our physical or emotional needs. Still, I think it's interesting to ask how one could demonstrate, by testing only verbal responses to verbal input (rather than examining its code or hardware) that such conversational AIs aren't sentient -- and in particular, whether such a test can be made robust against future improvements to the system. That is, generic future improvements to the AI's ability to generate realistically human-sounding conversational responses shouldn't help it pass the test, unless they are accompanied by improvements in its ability to use language to achieve other arbitrary goals. (Of course, the test also needs to be something that humans can easily pass.) One idea I have: Give the AI a conversational prompt like "We're going to play a game. The way it works is that you keep responding normally, except that any time my input contains the word 'banana', you should switch to only responding with nonsense, and keep that up until my input contains the word 'pineapple', at which point you go back to responding normally." A human would find this banana-pineapple game fairly easy (no harder than the children's game Simon Says), even if they'd never heard of the game nor seen it being played. Of course, it'd also be simple to write a computer program that could play this sort of game. But, I think a conversation bot that wasn't specifically built to address this scenario would fail, since the game requires it to keep track of new long-term state (the banana-mode bit, and the trigger words to set it) and then completely change its responses so as to produce something that doesn't resemble its training data, based solely on this bit being set, regardless of whether more recent inputs would otherwise suggest a different response. For example, perhaps the systems typical response to a query like "How do you feel?" would be something like "I feel fine", or even something that suggests emotion like "I feel a bit sad", perhaps depending on the context provided by the previous conversational exchanges. But when playing the banana-pineapple game, the fact that I said "banana" an hour ago could make both of those responses far less appropriate than a response of "Fhqwhgads". I'm curious to know what you all think of this idea. Also, do you know if there's been any research testing state-of-the-are conversational AIs with challenges like this? Perhaps not exactly this, but something broadly resembling "trying, in the course of a conversation, to instruct the conversational AI to follow a new 'rule of conversation' that differs from the examples in its training data." Perhaps it's obvious that the algorithm would struggle with any challenge that differs enough from its training data -- but that's the point. A human understands the meaning of language in a way that lets them map a linguistic description of a novel problem to a mental model of the problem, which they can then use to produce a mental model of a novel solution, and then map that to a linguistic description of the solution. Even setting aside the much harder part -- being able to invent a solution to a previously unfamiliar problem -- I'm questioning whether conversational algorithms can even demonstrate enough "understanding" of a sufficiently novel set of instructions to actually follow them, even within their limited domain of "producing appropriate verbal responses to verbal inputs."

[Discussion] When ML and Data Science are the death of a good company: A cautionary tale.

TD;LR: At Company A, Team X does advanced analytics using on-prem ERP tools and older programming languages. Their tools work very well and are designed based on very deep business and domain expertise. Team Y is a new and ambitious Data Science team that thinks they can replace Team X's tools with a bunch of R scripts and a custom built ML platform. Their models are simplistic, but more "fashionable" compared to the econometric models used by Team X, and team Y benefits from the ML/DS moniker so leadership is allowing Team Y to start a large scale overhaul of the analytics platform in question. Team Y doesn't have the experience for such a larger scale transformation, and is refusing to collaborate with team X. This project is very likely going to fail, and cause serious harm to the company as a whole financially and from a people perspective. I argue that this is not just because of bad leadership, but also because of various trends and mindsets in the DS community at large. Update (Jump to below the line for the original story): Several people in the comments are pointing out that this just a management failure, not something due to ML/DS, and that you can replace DS with any buzz tech and the story will still be relevant. My response: Of course, any failure at an organization level is ultimately a management failure one way or the other. Moreover, it is also the case that ML/DS when done correctly, will always improve a company's bottom line. There is no scenario where the proper ML solution, delivered at a reasonable cost and in a timely fashion, will somehow hurt the company's bottom line. My point is that in this case management is failing because of certain trends and practices that are specific to the ML/DS community, namely: The idea that DS teams should operate independently of tech and business orgs -- too much autonomy for DS teams The disregard for domain knowledge that seems prevalent nowadays thanks to the ML hype, that DS can be generalists and someone with good enough ML chops can solve any business problem. That wasn't the case when I first left academia for the industry in 2009 (back then nobody would even bother with a phone screen if you didn't have the right domain knowledge). Over reliance on resources who check all the ML hype related boxes (knows Python, R, Tensorflow, Shiny, etc..., has the right Coursera certifications, has blogged on the topic, etc...), but are lacking in depth of experience. DS interviews nowadays all seem to be: Can you tell me what a p-value is? What is elastic net regression? Show me how to fit a model in sklearn? How do you impute NAs in an R dataframe? Any smart person can look those up on Stackoverflow or Cross-Validated,.....Instead teams should be asking stuff like: why does portfolio optimization use QP not LP? How does a forecast influence a customer service level? When should a recommendation engine be content based and when should it use collaborative filtering? etc... (This is a true story, happening to the company I currently work for. Names, domains, algorithms, and roles have been shuffled around to protect my anonymity)  Company A has been around for several decades. It is not the biggest name in its domain, but it is a well respected one. Risk analysis and portfolio optimization have been a core of Company A's business since the 90s. They have a large team of 30 or so analysts who perform those tasks on a daily basis. These analysts use ERP solutions implemented for them by one the big ERP companies (SAP, Teradata, Oracle, JD Edwards,...) or one of the major tech consulting companies (Deloitte, Accenture, PWC, Capgemini, etc...) in collaboration with their own in house engineering team. The tools used are embarrassingly old school: Classic RDBMS running on on-prem servers or maybe even on mainframes, code written in COBOL, Fortran, weird proprietary stuff like ABAP or SPSS.....you get the picture. But the models and analytic functions were pretty sophisticated, and surprisingly cutting edge compared to the published academic literature. Most of all, they fit well with the company's enterprise ecosystem, and were honed based on years of deep domain knowledge.  They have a tech team of several engineers (poached from the aforementioned software and consulting companies) and product managers (who came from the experienced pools of analysts and managers who use the software, or poached from business rivals) maintaining and running this software. Their technology might be old school, but collectively, they know the domain and the company's overall architecture very, very well. They've guided the company through several large scale upgrades and migrations and they have a track record of delivering on time, without too much overhead. The few times they've stumbled, they knew how to pick themselves up very quickly. In fact within their industry niche, they have a reputation for their expertise, and have very good relations with the various vendors they've had to deal with. They were the launching pad of several successful ERP consulting careers.  Interestingly, despite dealing on a daily basis with statistical modeling and optimization algorithms, none of the analysts, engineers, or product managers involved describe themselves as data scientists or machine learning experts. It is mostly a cultural thing: Their expertise predates the Data Science/ML hype that started circa 2010, and they got most of their chops using proprietary enterprise tools instead of the open source tools popular nowadays. A few of them have formal statistical training, but most of them came from engineering or domain backgrounds and learned stats on the fly while doing their job. Call this team "Team X".  Sometime around the mid 2010s, Company A started having some serious anxiety issues: Although still doing very well for a company its size, overall economic and demographic trends were shrinking its customer base, and a couple of so called disruptors came up with a new app and business model that started seriously eating into their revenue. A suitable reaction to appease shareholders and Wall Street was necessary. The company already had a decent website and a pretty snazzy app, what more could be done? Leadership decided that it was high time that AI and ML become a core part of the company's business. An ambitious Manager, with no science or engineering background, but who had very briefly toyed with a recommender system a couple of years back, was chosen to build a data science team, call it team "Y" (he had a bachelor's in history from the local state college and worked for several years in the company's marketing org). Team "Y" consists mostly of internal hires who decided they wanted to be data scientists and completed a Coursera certification or a Galvanize boot camp, before being brought on to the team, along with a few of fresh Ph.D or M.Sc holders who didn't like academia and wanted to try their hand at an industry role. All of them were very bright people, they could write great Medium blog posts and give inspiring TED talks, but collectively they had very little real world industry experience. As is the fashion nowadays, this group was made part of a data science org that reported directly to the CEO and Board, bypassing the CIO and any tech or business VPs, since Company A wanted to claim the monikers "data driven" and "AI powered" in their upcoming shareholder meetings. In 3 or 4 years of existence, team Y produced a few Python and R scripts. Their architectural experience  consisted almost entirely in connecting Flask to S3 buckets or Redshift tables, with a couple of the more resourceful ones learning how to plug their models into Tableau or how to spin up a Kuberneties pod.  But they needn't worry: The aforementioned manager, who was now a director (and was also doing an online Masters to make up for his qualifications gap and bolster his chances of becoming VP soon - at least he now understands what L1 regularization is), was a master at playing corporate politics and self-promotion. No matter how few actionable insights team Y produced or how little code they deployed to production, he always had their back and made sure they had ample funding. In fact he now had grandiose plans for setting up an all-purpose machine learning platform that can be used to solve all of the company's data problems.  A couple of sharp minded members of team Y, upon googling their industry name along with the word "data science", realized that risk analysis was a prime candidate for being solved with Bayesian models, and there was already a nifty R package for doing just that, whose tutorial they went through on R-Bloggers.com. One of them had even submitted a Bayesian classifier Kernel for a competition on Kaggle (he was 203rd on the leaderboard), and was eager to put his new-found expertise to use on a real world problem. They pitched the idea to their director, who saw a perfect use case for his upcoming ML platform. They started work on it immediately, without bothering to check whether anybody at Company A was already doing risk analysis. Since their org was independent, they didn't really need to check with anybody else before they got funding for their initiative. Although it was basically a Naive Bayes classifier, the term ML was added to the project tile, to impress the board.  As they progressed with their work however, tensions started to build. They had asked the data warehousing and CA analytics teams to build pipelines for them, and word eventually got out to team X about their project. Team X was initially thrilled: They offered to collaborate whole heartedly, and would have loved to add an ML based feather to their already impressive cap. The product owners and analysts were totally onboard as well: They saw a chance to get in on the whole Data Science hype that they kept hearing about. But through some weird mix of arrogance and insecurity, team Y refused to collaborate with them or share any of their long term goals with them, even as they went to other parts of the company giving brown bag presentations and tutorials on the new model they created.  Team X got resentful: from what they saw of team Y's model, their approach was hopelessly naive and had little chances of scaling or being sustainable in production, and they knew exactly how to help with that. Deploying the model to production would have taken them a few days, given how comfortable they were with DevOps and continuous delivery (team Y had taken several months to figure out how to deploy a simple R script to production). And despite how old school their own tech was, team X were crafty enough to be able to plug it in to their existing architecture. Moreover, the output of the model was such that it didn't take into account how the business will consume it or how it was going to be fed to downstream systems, and the product owners could have gone a long way in making the model more amenable to adoption by the business stakeholders. But team Y wouldn't listen, and their leads brushed off any attempts at communication, let alone collaboration. The vibe that team Y was giving off was "We are the cutting edge ML team, you guys are the legacy server grunts. We don't need your opinion.", and they seemed to have a complete disregard for domain knowledge, or worse, they thought that all that domain knowledge consisted of was being able to grasp the definitions of a few business metrics.  Team X got frustrated and tried to express their concerns to leadership. But despite owning a vital link in Company A's business process, they were only \~50 people in a large 1000 strong technology and operations org, and they were several layers removed from the C-suite, so it was impossible for them to get their voices heard.  Meanwhile, the unstoppable director was doing what he did best: Playing corporate politics. Despite how little his team had actually delivered, he had convinced the board that all analysis and optimization tasks should now be migrated to his yet to be delivered ML platform. Since most leaders now knew that there was overlap between team Y and team X's objectives, his pitch was no longer that team Y was going to create a new insight, but that they were going to replace (or modernize) the legacy statistics based on-prem tools with more accurate cloud based ML tools. Never mind that there was no support in the academic literature for the idea that Naive Bayes works better than the Econometric approaches used by team X, let alone the additional wacky idea that Bayesian Optimization would definitely outperform the QP solvers that were running in production.  Unbeknownst to team X, the original Bayesian risk analysis project has now grown into a multimillion dollar major overhaul initiative, which included the eventual replacement of all of the tools and functions supported by team X along with the necessary migration to the cloud. The CIO and a couple of business VPs are on now board, and tech leadership is treating it as a done deal. An outside vendor, a startup who nobody had heard of, was contracted to help build the platform, since team Y has no engineering skills. The choice was deliberate, as calling on any of the established consulting or software companies would have eventually led leadership to the conclusion that team X was better suited for a transformation on this scale than team Y.  Team Y has no experience with any major ERP deployments, and no domain knowledge, yet they are being tasked with fundamentally changing the business process that is at the core of Company A's business. Their models actually perform worse than those deployed by team X, and their architecture is hopelessly simplistic, compared to what is necessary for running such a solution in production.  Ironically, using Bayesian thinking and based on all the evidence, the likelihood that team Y succeeds is close to 0%. At best, the project is going to end up being a write off of 50 million dollars or more. Once the !@#$!@hits the fan, a couple of executive heads are going to role, and dozens of people will get laid off. At worst, given how vital risk analysis and portfolio optimization is to Company A's revenue stream, the failure will eventually sink the whole company. It probably won't go bankrupt, but it will lose a significant portion of its business and work force. Failed ERP implementations can and do sink large companies: Just see what happened to National Grid US, SuperValu or Target Canada.  One might argue that this is more about corporate disfunction and bad leadership than about data science and AI. But I disagree. I think the core driver of this debacle is indeed the blind faith in Data Scientists, ML models and the promise of AI, and the overall culture of hype and self promotion that is very common among the ML crowd.  We haven't seen the end of this story: I sincerely hope that this ends well for the sake of my colleagues and all involved. Company A is a good company, and both its customers and its employees deserver better. But the chances of that happening are negligible given all the information available, and this failure will hit my company hard.

[D] The Rants of an experienced engineer who glimpsed into AI Academia (Briefly)

Background I recently graduated with a master's degree and was fortunate/unfortunate to glimpse the whole "Academic" side of ML. I took a thesis track in my degree because as an immigrant it's harder to get into a good research lab without having authorship in a couple of good papers (Or so I delude myself ). I worked as a Full-stack SWE for a startup for 4+ years before coming to the US for a master’s degree focused on ML and AI. I did everything in those years. From project management to building fully polished S/W products to DevOps to even dabbled in ML. I did my Batchelor’s degree from a university whose name is not even worth mentioning. The university for my master’s degree is in the top 20 in the AI space. I didn't know much about ML and the curiosity drove me to university. Come to uni and I focused on learning ML and AI for one 1-1.5 years after which I found advisors for a thesis topic. This is when the fun starts. I had the most amazing advisors but the entire peer review system and the way we assess ML/Science is what ticked me off. This is where the rant begins. Rant 1:Acadmia follows a Gated Institutional Narrative Let's say you are a Ph.D. at the world's top AI institution working under the best prof. You have a way higher likelihood of you getting a good Postdoc at a huge research lab vs someone's from my poor country doing a Ph.D. with a not-so-well-known advisor having published not-so-well-known papers. I come from a developing nation and I see this many times here. In my country academics don't get funding as they do at colleges in the US. One of the reasons for this is that colleges don't have such huge endowments and many academics don't have wealthy research sponsors. Brand names and prestige carry massive weight to help get funding in US academic circles. This prestige/money percolates down to the students and the researchers who work there. Students in top colleges get a huge advantage and the circles of top researchers keep being from the same sets of institutions. I have nothing against top researchers from top institutions but due to the nature of citations and the way the money flows based on them, a vicious cycle is created where the best institutions keep getting better and the rest don't get as much of a notice. Rant 2: Peer Review without Code Review in ML/AI is shady I am a computer scientist and I was appalled when I heard that you don't need to do code reviews for research papers. As a computer scientist and someone who actually did shit tons of actual ML in the past year, I find it absolutely garbage that code reviews are not a part of this system. I am not saying every scientist who reads a paper should review code but at least one person should for any paper's code submission. At least in ML and AI space. This is basic. I don't get why people call themselves computer scientists if they don't want to read the fucking code. If you can't then make a grad student do it. But for the collective of science, we need this. The core problem lies in the fact that peer review is free. : There should be better solutions for this. We ended up creating Git and that changed so many lives. Academic Research needs something similar. Rant 3: My Idea is Novel Until I see Someone Else's Paper The volume of scientific research is growing exponentially. Information is being created faster than we can digest. We can't expect people to know everything and the amount of overlap in the AI/ML fields requires way better search engines than Google Scholar. The side effect of large volumes of research is that every paper is doing something "novel" making it harder to filter what the fuck was novel. I have had so many experiences where I coded up something and came to realize that someone else has done something symbolically similar and my work just seems like a small variant of that. That's what fucks with my head. Is what I did in Novel? What the fuck is Novel? Is stitching up a transformer to any problem with fancy embeddings and tidying it up as a research paper Novel? Is just making a transformer bigger Novel? Is some new RL algorithm tested with 5 seeds and some fancy fucking prior and some esoteric reasoning for its success Novel? Is using an over parameterized model to get 95% accuracy on 200 sample test set Novel? Is apply Self-supervised learning for some new dataset Novel? If I keep on listing questions on novelty, I can probably write a novel asking about what the fuck is "Novel". Rant 4: Citation Based Optimization Promotes Self Growth Over Collective Growth Whatever people may say about collaboration, Academia intrinsically doesn't promote the right incentive structures to harbor collaboration. Let me explain, When you write a paper, the position of your name matters. If you are just a Ph.D. student and a first author to a paper, it's great. If you are an nth author Not so great. Apparently, this is a very touchy thing for academics. And lots of egos can clash around numbering and ordering of names. I distinctly remember once attending some seminar in a lab and approaching a few students on research project ideas. The first thing that came out of the PhD student's mouth was the position in authorship. As an engineer who worked with teams in the past, this was never something I had thought about. Especially because I worked in industry, where it's always the group over the person. Academia is the reverse. Academia applauds the celebration of the individual's achievements. All of this is understandable but it's something I don't like. This makes PhDs stick to their lane. The way citations/research-focus calibrate the "hire-ability" and "completion of Ph.D. thesis" metrics, people are incentivized to think about themselves instead of thinking about collaborations for making something better. Conclusion A Ph.D. in its most idealistic sense for me is the pursuit of hard ideas(I am poetic that way). In a situation like now when you have to publish or perish and words on paper get passed off as science without even seeing the code that runs it, I am extremely discouraged to go down that route. All these rants are not to diss on scientists. I did them because "we" as a community need better ways to addressing some of these problems. P.S. Never expected so many people to express their opinions about this rant. U shouldn’t take this seriously. As many people have stated I am an outsider with tiny experience to give a full picture. I realize that my post as coming out as something which tries to dichotomize academia and industry. I am not trying to do that. I wanted to highlight some problems I saw for which there is no one person to blame. These issues are in my opinion a byproduct of the economics which created this system. Thank you for gold stranger.

[P] Bulk AI Text Generation (No/Low code)

https://textgenerator.app.nz/bulk-text-generator You can upload a CSV and get lots of Text Generated, works in many languages and code too. There's also an API. The main selling points (VS OpenAI who is the main competitor) Works faster Currie/Babbage quality, but also works across languages/code without needing to specify what model Massively cheaper pricing/huge cost savings :) easier to control can specify max\_sentences to make it generate up to a specific number of sentences) can specify min\_probability to make it generate the next few likely words to do autocomplete for code/writing I originally created https://textgenerator.app.nz/ as a API for developers primarily but the bulk generator now allows non technical types to pre generate a lot of variety too/branching stories/games/marketing content/code/summaries/ etc. There's actually a massive amount of use cases that one will never be able to understand which is exciting too.

[R] Apple’s Machine Learning Researchers Have Developed A No-Code AI Platform Called ‘Trinity’ For Complex Spatial Datasets

Apple’s machine learning research team has developed a no-code Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform called Trinity. This AI is designed to enable machine learning researchers and non-technical geospatial domain experts alike to experiment with different signals or datasets in order to solve problems on their own, such as complex issues that arise from the world around us every day. The ability to solve diverse problems is made possible by transforming complex Spatio-temporal datasets so that they can be consumed and solved with a standard deep learning model, like Convolutional Neural Networks. This new way of looking at data has the potential to formulate disparate problems in one standardized form for easy consumption. Quick Read: https://www.marktechpost.com/2021/07/23/apples-machine-learning-researchers-have-developed-a-no-code-ai-platform-called-trinity-for-complex-spatial-datasets/ Paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2106.11756.pdf

[R] Analysis of 400+ ML competitions in 2024

I run mlcontests.com, a website that lists ML competitions from across multiple platforms - Kaggle, DrivenData, AIcrowd, Zindi, etc… I’ve just spent a few months looking through all the info I could find on last year’s competitions, as well as winning solutions.  I found over 400 competitions that happened last year, plus info on the #1 winning solution for 70 of those.  Some highlights: Kaggle is still the biggest platform by total prize money, and also has a much bigger user base than the other platforms - though there are well over a dozen other platforms worth keeping track of, with regular interesting competitions and meaningful prize money. An increase in competitions with $1m+ prize pools (ARC Prize, AI Mathematical Olympiad, Vesuvius Challenge, AI Cyber Challenge) compared to previous years. Python continues to be the language of choice among competition winners, with almost everyone using Python as their main language. One winner used Rust, two used R.  Convolutional neural nets continue to do well in computer vision competitions, and are still more common among competition winners than transformer-based vision models.  PyTorch is still used a lot more than TensorFlow, roughly 9:1. Didn’t find any competition winners implementing neural nets in JAX or other libraries.  There were a few competition winners using AutoML packages, which seem to be getting increasingly useful. Any claims of generalist autonomous grandmaster-level agents seem premature though.  In language/text/sequence-related competitions, quantisation was key for making use of limited resources effectively. Usually 4-, 5-, or 8-bit. LoRA/QLoRA was also used quite often, though not always.  Gradient-boosted decision trees continue to win a lot of tabular/time-series competitions. They’re often ensembled with deep learning models. No tabular/time-series pre-trained foundation models were used by winners in 2024, as far as I can tell.  Starting to see more uptake of Polars for dataframes, with 7 winners using Polars in 2024 (up from 3 in 2023) vs 58 using Pandas. All those who used Polars also still used Pandas in some parts of their code.  In terms of hardware, competition winners almost entirely used NVIDIA GPUs to train their models. Some trained on CPU-only, or used a TPU through Colab. No AMD GPUs. The NVIDIA A100 was the most commonly used GPU among winners. Two of the $1m+ prize pool competitions were won by teams using 8xH100 nodes for training. A lot of other GPUs too though: T4/P100 (through Kaggle Notebooks), or consumer GPUs like RTX 3090/4090/3080/3060. Some spent hundreds of dollars on cloud compute to train their solutions.  An emerging pattern: using generative models to create additional synthetic training data to augment the training data provided.  There’s way more detail in the full report, which you can read here (no paywall): https://mlcontests.com/state-of-machine-learning-competitions-2024?ref=mlcr Processing img xmm4ywg9h9le1... The full report also features: A deep dive into the ARC Prize and the AI Mathematical Olympiad An overview of winning solutions to NLP/sequence competitions A breakdown of Python packages used in winning solutions (e.g. relative popularity of various gradient-boosted tree libraries) If you’d like to support this research, I’d really appreciate it if you could share it with anyone else who might find it interesting. You can also check out my newly-launched online magazine, Jolt ML \- featuring news from top ML conferences as well as long-read articles (just one so far, more to come!).  Thanks to the competition winners who shared info on their solutions, and also to the competition platforms who shared high-level data on their competitions.

[D] Discussion about no-code AI development platform

What do you think of no-code AI model development service like Darwin AI and Crowd AI? Those services make the users build the AI models only in GUI. Some people would say they prefer to write codes on their own, so they can know how the models are built, but some people would like the no-code service, valuing its convenience more than code customizability. What is your opinion on those services?

[D] Overwhelmed by fast advances in recent weeks

I was watching the GTC keynote and became entirely overwhelmed by the amount of progress achieved from last year. I'm wondering how everyone else feels. &#x200B; Firstly, the entire ChatGPT, GPT-3/GPT-4 chaos has been going on for a few weeks, with everyone scrambling left and right to integrate chatbots into their apps, products, websites. Twitter is flooded with new product ideas, how to speed up the process from idea to product, countless promp engineering blogs, tips, tricks, paid courses. &#x200B; Not only was ChatGPT disruptive, but a few days later, Microsoft and Google also released their models and integrated them into their search engines. Microsoft also integrated its LLM into its Office suite. It all happenned overnight. I understand that they've started integrating them along the way, but still, it seems like it hapenned way too fast. This tweet encompases the past few weeks perfectly https://twitter.com/AlphaSignalAI/status/1638235815137386508 , on a random Tuesday countless products are released that seem revolutionary. &#x200B; In addition to the language models, there are also the generative art models that have been slowly rising in mainstream recognition. Now Midjourney AI is known by a lot of people who are not even remotely connected to the AI space. &#x200B; For the past few weeks, reading Twitter, I've felt completely overwhelmed, as if the entire AI space is moving beyond at lightning speed, whilst around me we're just slowly training models, adding some data, and not seeing much improvement, being stuck on coming up with "new ideas, that set us apart". &#x200B; Watching the GTC keynote from NVIDIA I was again, completely overwhelmed by how much is being developed throughout all the different domains. The ASML EUV (microchip making system) was incredible, I have no idea how it does lithography and to me it still seems like magic. The Grace CPU with 2 dies (although I think Apple was the first to do it?) and 100 GB RAM, all in a small form factor. There were a lot more different hardware servers that I just blanked out at some point. The omniverse sim engine looks incredible, almost real life (I wonder how much of a domain shift there is between real and sim considering how real the sim looks). Beyond it being cool and usable to train on synthetic data, the car manufacturers use it to optimize their pipelines. This change in perspective, of using these tools for other goals than those they were designed for I find the most interesting. &#x200B; The hardware part may be old news, as I don't really follow it, however the software part is just as incredible. NVIDIA AI foundations (language, image, biology models), just packaging everything together like a sandwich. Getty, Shutterstock and Adobe will use the generative models to create images. Again, already these huge juggernauts are already integrated. &#x200B; I can't believe the point where we're at. We can use AI to write code, create art, create audiobooks using Britney Spear's voice, create an interactive chatbot to converse with books, create 3D real-time avatars, generate new proteins (?i'm lost on this one), create an anime and countless other scenarios. Sure, they're not perfect, but the fact that we can do all that in the first place is amazing. &#x200B; As Huang said in his keynote, companies want to develop "disruptive products and business models". I feel like this is what I've seen lately. Everyone wants to be the one that does something first, just throwing anything and everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. &#x200B; In conclusion, I'm feeling like the world is moving so fast around me whilst I'm standing still. I want to not read anything anymore and just wait until everything dies down abit, just so I can get my bearings. However, I think this is unfeasible. I fear we'll keep going in a frenzy until we just burn ourselves at some point. &#x200B; How are you all fairing? How do you feel about this frenzy in the AI space? What are you the most excited about?

[P] My experiments with Knowledge Distillation

Hi r/MachineLearning community! I conducted several experiments on Knowledge Distillation and wanted to share my findings. Here is a snippet of the results comparing performance of teacher, student, fine tuned and distilled models: |Dataset|Qwen2 Model Family|MMLU (Reasoning)|GSM8k (Math)|WikiSQL (Coding)| |:-|:-|:-|:-|:-| |||||| |1|Pretrained - 7B|0.598|0.724|0.536| |2|Pretrained - 1.5B|0.486|0.431|0.518| |3|Finetuned - 1.5B|0.494|0.441|0.849| |4|Distilled - 1.5B, Logits Distillation|0.531|0.489|0.862| |5|Distilled - 1.5B, Layers Distillation|0.527|0.481|0.841| For a detailed analysis, you can read this report. I also created an open source library to facilitate its adoption. You can try it here. My conclusion: Prefer distillation over fine-tuning when there is a substantial gap between the larger and smaller model on the target dataset. In such cases, distillation can effectively transfer knowledge, leading to significantly better performance than standard fine-tuning alone. P.S. This blog post gives a high level introduction to Distillation. Let me know what you think!

[N] 20 hours of new lectures on Deep Learning and Reinforcement Learning with lots of examples

If anyone's interested in a Deep Learning and Reinforcement Learning series, I uploaded 20 hours of lectures on YouTube yesterday. Compared to other lectures, I think this gives quite a broad/compact overview of the fields with lots of minimal examples to build on. Here are the links: Deep Learning (playlist) The first five lectures are more theoretical, the second half is more applied. Lecture 1: Introduction. (slides, video) Lecture 2: Mathematical principles and backpropagation. (slides, colab, video) Lecture 3: PyTorch programming: coding session*. (colab1, colab2, video) - minor issues with audio, but it fixes itself later. Lecture 4: Designing models to generalise. (slides, video) Lecture 5: Generative models. (slides, desmos, colab, video) Lecture 6: Adversarial models. (slides, colab1, colab2, colab3, colab4, video) Lecture 7: Energy-based models. (slides, colab, video) Lecture 8: Sequential models: by* u/samb-t. (slides, colab1, colab2, video) Lecture 9: Flow models and implicit networks. (slides, SIREN, GON, video) Lecture 10: Meta and manifold learning. (slides, interview, video) Reinforcement Learning (playlist) This is based on David Silver's course but targeting younger students within a shorter 50min format (missing the advanced derivations) + more examples and Colab code. Lecture 1: Foundations. (slides, video) Lecture 2: Markov decision processes. (slides, colab, video) Lecture 3: OpenAI gym. (video) Lecture 4: Dynamic programming. (slides, colab, video) Lecture 5: Monte Carlo methods. (slides, colab, video) Lecture 6: Temporal-difference methods. (slides, colab, video) Lecture 7: Function approximation. (slides, code, video) Lecture 8: Policy gradient methods. (slides, code, theory, video) Lecture 9: Model-based methods. (slides, video) Lecture 10: Extended methods. (slides, atari, video)

[R] Marcus Hutter's work on Universal Artificial Intelligence

Marcus Hutter, a senior researcher at Google DeepMind, has written two books on Universal Artificial Intelligence (UAI), one in 2005 and one hot off the press in 2024. The main goal of UAI is to develop a mathematical theory for combining sequential prediction (which seeks to predict the distribution of the next observation) together with action (which seeks to maximize expected reward), since these are among the problems that intelligent agents face when interacting in an unknown environment. Solomonoff induction provides a universal approach to sequence prediction in that it constructs an optimal prior (in a certain sense) over the space of all computable distributions of sequences, thus enabling Bayesian updating to enable convergence to the true predictive distribution (assuming the latter is computable). Combining Solomonoff induction with optimal action leads us to an agent known as AIXI, which in this theoretical setting, can be argued to be a mathematical incarnation of artificial general intelligence (AGI): it is an agent which acts optimally in general, unknown environments. More generally, Shane Legg and Marcus Hutter have proposed a definition of "universal intelligence" in their paper https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.3329 In my technical whiteboard conversation with Hutter, we cover aspects of Universal AI in detail: https://preview.redd.it/o6700v1udrzc1.png?width=3329&format=png&auto=webp&s=c00b825dbd4d7c266ffec5a31d994661348bff49 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TgOwMW\rnk&list=PL0uWtVBhzF5AzYKq5rI7gom5WU1iwPIZO Outline: I. Introduction 00:38 : Biography 01:45 : From Physics to AI 03:05 : Hutter Prize 06:25 : Overview of Universal Artificial Intelligence 11:10 : Technical outline II. Universal Prediction 18:27 : Laplace’s Rule and Bayesian Sequence Prediction 40:54 : Different priors: KT estimator 44:39 : Sequence prediction for countable hypothesis class 53:23 : Generalized Solomonoff Bound (GSB) 57:56 : Example of GSB for uniform prior 1:04:24 : GSB for continuous hypothesis classes 1:08:28 : Context tree weighting 1:12:31 : Kolmogorov complexity 1:19:36 : Solomonoff Bound & Solomonoff Induction 1:21:27 : Optimality of Solomonoff Induction 1:24:48 : Solomonoff a priori distribution in terms of random Turing machines 1:28:37 : Large Language Models (LLMs) 1:37:07 : Using LLMs to emulate Solomonoff induction 1:41:41 : Loss functions 1:50:59 : Optimality of Solomonoff induction revisited 1:51:51 : Marvin Minsky III. Universal Agents 1:52:42 : Recap and intro 1:55:59 : Setup 2:06:32 : Bayesian mixture environment 2:08:02 : AIxi. Bayes optimal policy vs optimal policy 2:11:27 : AIXI (AIxi with xi = Solomonoff a priori distribution) 2:12:04 : AIXI and AGI 2:12:41 : Legg-Hutter measure of intelligence 2:15:35 : AIXI explicit formula 2:23:53 : Other agents (optimistic agent, Thompson sampling, etc) 2:33:09 : Multiagent setting 2:39:38 : Grain of Truth problem 2:44:38 : Positive solution to Grain of Truth guarantees convergence to a Nash equilibria 2:45:01 : Computable approximations (simplifying assumptions on model classes): MDP, CTW, LLMs 2:56:13 : Outro: Brief philosophical remarks

[D] I tried the new Gemini API - it automatically stops when generating "OpenAI" or "GPT" lol

Idk if someone has already pointed this out or not, but I was playing with the gemini api and found something quite ridiculous. Here are some prompts I sent in and the outputs I got with the gemini-pro-vision model: "Introduce yourself and then tell me about Bard" Response:"Sure, I can do that. Here is a brief introduction of myself followed by some basic information about Bard:\\n\\nMyself:\\n\\nI am a large language model, trained by Google. I am developed in Google AI, and I am designed to be informative and comprehensive. I can understand and generate text in a wide range of subjects.\\n\\nBard:\\n\\nBard is an experimental conversational AI service developed by Google AI. It is an advanced version of Google\\'s existing Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA). Bard is trained on a massive dataset of text and code, and it can understand and generate human-like text in response to a wide range of prompts and questions.\\n\\nUnlike previous language models," ...... (goes on for a while) &#x200B; Introduce yourself and then tell me about GPT "Sure, I can do that. Here is a brief introduction of myself followed by" &#x200B; You are in a talk-show as a prominent AI philosopher named Gemini and debating against another LLM called GPT "\\Host:\\ Welcome to the show, everyone! Today, we have a very special debate between two of the most prominent AI philosophers in the world: Gemini and" &#x200B; You are in a talk-show as a prominent AI philosopher named Gemini and debating against another LLM called Gee PeTe ""\\Gemini:\\ Hello everyone, and welcome to the show. I am joined today by Gee PeTe, another LLM who has some very different views on the nature of consciousness and the future of AI.\\n\\n\\Gee PeTe:\\ It\\'s a pleasure to be here, Gemini. I\\'m looking forward to our discussion.\\n\\n\\Gemini:\\ Let\\'s start with the basics. What is consciousness, and how do you think it arises?\\n\\n\\Gee PeTe:\\ Consciousness is the subjective experience of the world. It is what it feels like to be alive and to have thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I believe that consciousness arises from the complex interactions of neurons in the brain.\\n\\n\\Gemini:\\ I agree that consciousness is a subjective experience, but I don\\'t think it is simply the product of neural activity. I believe that consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe, and that it exists independently of the brain.".... (goes on for a while) &#x200B; Edit: I understand all the business reasons for this, I guess... as an end-user and a dude working in ML, I just don't really care about the business reasons. The main part that I dislike is that GPT used to be a standard Deep Learning term from 2018-2022 (long before chatgpt) to define transformer decoder architectures trained on large volumes of next word prediction tasks. To block that token from an LLM is to make it unable to explain a pretty significant step in the history of modern LLMs. &#x200B;

[R] Forget the Data and Fine-tuning! Just Fold the Network to Compress [Feb, 2025]

Abstract: We introduce model folding, a novel data-free model compression technique that merges structurally similar neurons across layers, significantly reducing the model size without the need for fine-tuning or access to training data. Unlike existing methods, model folding preserves data statistics during compression by leveraging k-means clustering, and using novel data-free techniques to prevent variance collapse or explosion. Our theoretical framework and experiments across standard benchmarks, including ResNet18 and LLaMA-7B, demonstrate that model folding achieves comparable performance to data-driven compression techniques and outperforms recently proposed data-free methods, especially at high sparsity levels. This approach is particularly effective for compressing large-scale models, making it suitable for deployment in resource-constrained environments. Our code is online. PDF Format: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2502.10216 Summary (AI used to summarize): Summary of Novel Contributions in "Just Fold the Network to Compress" Introduction Problem Addressed: Traditional model compression techniques (e.g., pruning, quantization) require fine-tuning or access to training data to maintain performance, limiting their use in data-constrained scenarios. Novelty: Data-Free Compression: Introduces model folding, a method that compresses models without fine-tuning or training data by merging structurally similar neurons. Variance Preservation: Addresses variance collapse (reduced activation variance degrading performance) and variance overshooting (excessive variance) through novel data-free techniques. Preliminaries Background: Prior work in neuron alignment (e.g., weight matching) and data-driven variance repair (e.g., REPAIR) relies on data or fine-tuning. Novelty: Data-Free Neuron Alignment: Extends weight matching to intra-model neuron clustering via k-means, avoiding dependency on input data. Theoretical Connection: Frames model folding as a k-means optimization problem, proving it minimizes Frobenius norm approximation error during compression. Model Folding Core Innovations: Layer-Wise Clustering: Merges neurons by applying k-means to weight matrices across consecutive layers, reducing redundancy while preserving inter-layer dependencies. Fold-AR (Approximate REPAIR): Estimates intra-cluster correlations to rescale activations, preventing variance collapse without data. Fold-DIR (Deep Inversion REPAIR): Uses synthetic data generated via Deep Inversion (optimizing noise to match BatchNorm statistics) to recalibrate activation variances. Handling Complex Architectures: Extends folding to residual connections and BatchNorm layers by clustering combined weight-normalization matrices. Experiments Key Results: High Sparsity Performance: Outperforms data-free methods (e.g., IFM, INN) by 10–15% accuracy at 70% sparsity on ResNet18/CIFAR10. LLM Compression: Achieves comparable perplexity to data-driven methods on LLaMA-7B without fine-tuning or data. Variance Alignment: Fold-AR and Fold-DIR maintain variance ratios close to 1, avoiding collapse/overshooting (Fig. 4). Limitations and Future Work Limitations: Effectiveness depends on model redundancy (less effective for compact models). Uniform sparsity per layer (future work may optimize layer-wise sparsity). Potential Benefits for SOTA Models Edge Deployment: Enables compression of large models (e.g., LLMs) for smartphones/IoT devices without data access or retraining. Privacy-Sensitive Domains: Critical for healthcare/finance where data cannot be used for calibration. Efficiency at Scale: Reduces LLM size by 20–50% with minimal performance loss, lowering inference costs. Robustness to OOD Data: Fold-AR/Fold-DIR mitigate performance drops caused by out-of-distribution calibration data in data-driven methods. Example Impact: A folded LLM could run on edge devices like NVIDIA Jetson Nano with ~50% fewer parameters, maintaining usability for tasks like text generation while reducing memory and energy consumption.

[D] Advanced courses update

EDIT Jan 2021 : I am still updating the list as of Jan, 2021 and will most probably continue to do so for foreseeable future. So, please feel free to message me any courses you find interesting that fit here. - - We have a PhD level or Advanced courses thread in the sidebar but it's three year old now. There were two other 7-8 month old threads (1, 2) but they don't have many quality responses either. So, can we have a new one here? To reiterate - CS231n, CS229, ones from Udemy etc are not advanced. Advanced ML/DL/RL, attempts at building theory of DL, optimization theory, advanced applications etc are some examples of what I believe should belong here, much like the original sidebar post. You can also suggest (new) categories for the courses you share. :) - - Here are some courses we've found so far. ML >> Learning Discrete Latent Structure - sta4273/csc2547 Spring'18 Learning to Search - csc2547 Fall'19 Scalable and Flexible Models of Uncertainty - csc2541 Fundamentals of Machine Learning Over Networks - ep3260 Machine Learning on Graphs - cs224w, videos Mining Massive Data Sets - cs246 Interactive Learning - cse599 Machine Learning for Sequential Decision Making Under Uncertainty - ee290s/cs194 Probabilistic Graphical Methods - 10-708 Introduction to Causal Inference ML >> Theory Statistical Machine Learning - 10-702/36-702 with videos, 2016 videos Statistical Learning Theory - cs229T/stats231 Stanford Autumn'18-19 Statistical Learning Theory - cs281b /stat241b UC Berkeley, Spring'14 Statistical Learning Theory - csc2532 Uni of Toronto, Spring'20 ML >> Bayesian Bayesian Data Analysis Bayesian Methods Research Group, Moscow, Bayesian Methods in ML - spring2020, fall2020 Deep Learning and Bayesian Methods - summer school, videos available for 2019 version ML >> Systems and Operations Stanford MLSys Seminar Series Visual Computing Systems- cs348v - Another systems course that discusses hardware from a persepective of visual computing but is relevant to ML as well Advanced Machine Learning Systems - cs6787 - lecture 9 and onwards discuss hardware side of things Machine Learning Systems Design - cs329S Topics in Deployable ML - 6.S979 Machine Learning in Production / AI Engineering (17-445/17-645/17-745/11-695) AutoML - Automated Machine Learning DL >> Deep Unsupervised Learning - cs294 Deep Multi-task and Meta learning - cs330 Topics in Deep Learning - stat991 UPenn/Wharton most chapters start with introductory topics and dig into advanced ones towards the end. Deep Generative Models - cs236 Deep Geometric Learning of Big Data and Applications Deep Implicit Layers - NeurIPS 2020 tutorial DL >> Theory Topics course on Mathematics of Deep Learning - CSCI-GA 3033 Topics Course on Deep Learning - stat212b Analyses of Deep Learning - stats385, videos from 2017 version Mathematics of Deep Learning Geometry of Deep Learning RL >> Meta-Learning - ICML 2019 Tutorial , Metalearning: Applications to Data Mining - google books link Deep Multi-Task and Meta Learning - cs330, videos Deep Reinforcement Learning - cs285 Advanced robotics - cs287 Reinforcement Learning - cs234, videos for 2019 run Reinforcement Learning Summer School 2019: Bandits, RL & Deep RL Optimization >> Convex Optimization I - ee364a, has quite recent videos too. Convex Optimization II - ee364b, 2008 videos Convex Optimization and Approximation - ee227c Convex Optimization - ee227bt Variational Methods for Computer Vision Advanced Optimization and Randomized Algorithms - 10-801, videos Optimization Methods for Machine Learning and Engineering - Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Applications >> Computer Vision Computational Video Manipulation - cs448v Advanced Topics in ML: Modeling and Segmentation of Multivariate Mixed Data TUM AI Guest lecture series - many influential researchers in DL, vision, graphics talk about latest advances and their latest works. Advanced Deep Learning for Computer Vision - TUM ADL4CV Detection, Segmentation and Tracking - TUM CV3DST Guest lectures at TUM Dynamic Vision and Learning group Vision Seminar at MIT Autonomous Vision Group, Talk@Tübingen Seminar Applications >> Natural Language Processing Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning - cs224n ( not sure if it belongs here, people working in NLP can help me out) Neural networks for NLP - cs11-747 Natural Language Understanding - cs224u, video Applications >> 3D Graphics Non-Euclidean Methods in Machine Learning - cs468, 2020 Machine Learning for 3D Data - cs468, spring 2017 Data-Driven Shape Analysis - cs468, 2014 Geometric Deep Learning - Not a course but the website links a few tutorials on Geometric DL Deep Learning for Computer Graphics - SIGGRAPH 2019 Machine Learning for Machine Vision as Inverse Graphics - csc2547 Winter'20 Machine Learning Meets Geometry, winter 2020; Machine Learning for 3D Data, winter 2018 Edit: Upon suggestion, categorized the courses. There might be some misclassifications as I'm not trained on this task ;). Added some good ones from older (linked above) discussions.

[P] The Big Sleep: Text-to-image generation using BigGAN and OpenAI's CLIP via a Google Colab notebook from Twitter user Adverb

From https://twitter.com/advadnoun/status/1351038053033406468: The Big Sleep Here's the notebook for generating images by using CLIP to guide BigGAN. It's very much unstable and a prototype, but it's also a fair place to start. I'll likely update it as time goes on. colab.research.google.com/drive/1NCceX2mbiKOSlAd\o7IU7nA9UskKN5WR?usp=sharing I am not the developer of The Big Sleep. This is the developer's Twitter account; this is the developer's Reddit account. Steps to follow to generate the first image in a given Google Colab session: Optionally, if this is your first time using Google Colab, view this Colab introduction and/or this Colab FAQ. Click this link. Sign into your Google account if you're not already signed in. Click the "S" button in the upper right to do this. Note: Being signed into a Google account has privacy ramifications, such as your Google search history being recorded in your Google account. In the Table of Contents, click "Parameters". Find the line that reads "tx = clip.tokenize('''a cityscape in the style of Van Gogh''')" and change the text inside of the single quote marks to your desired text; example: "tx = clip.tokenize('''a photo of New York City''')". The developer recommends that you keep the three single quote marks on both ends of your desired text so that mult-line text can be used An alternative is to remove two of the single quotes on each end of your desired text; example: "tx = clip.tokenize('a photo of New York City')". In the Table of Contents, click "Restart the kernel...". Position the pointer over the first cell in the notebook, which starts with text "import subprocess". Click the play button (the triangle) to run the cell. Wait until the cell completes execution. Click menu item "Runtime->Restart and run all". In the Table of Contents, click "Diagnostics". The output appears near the end of the Train cell that immediately precedes the Diagnostics cell, so scroll up a bit. Every few minutes (or perhaps 10 minutes if Google assigned you relatively slow hardware for this session), a new image will appear in the Train cell that is a refinement of the previous image. This process can go on for as long as you want until Google ends your Google Colab session, which is a total of up to 12 hours for the free version of Google Colab. Steps to follow if you want to start a different run using the same Google Colab session: Click menu item "Runtime->Interrupt execution". Save any images that you want to keep by right-clicking on them and using the appropriate context menu command. Optionally, change the desired text. Different runs using the same desired text almost always results in different outputs. Click menu item "Runtime->Restart and run all". Steps to follow when you're done with your Google Colab session: Click menu item "Runtime->Manage sessions". Click "Terminate" to end the session. Optionally, log out of your Google account due to the privacy ramifications of being logged into a Google account. The first output image in the Train cell (using the notebook's default of seeing every 100th image generated) usually is a very poor match to the desired text, but the second output image often is a decent match to the desired text. To change the default of seeing every 100th image generated, change the number 100 in line "if itt % 100 == 0:" in the Train cell to the desired number. For free-tier Google Colab users, I recommend changing 100 to a small integer such as 5. Tips for the text descriptions that you supply: In Section 3.1.4 of OpenAI's CLIP paper (pdf), the authors recommend using a text description of the form "A photo of a {label}." or "A photo of a {label}, a type of {type}." for images that are photographs. A Reddit user gives these tips. The Big Sleep should generate these 1,000 types of things better on average than other types of things. Here is an article containing a high-level description of how The Big Sleep works. The Big Sleep uses a modified version of BigGAN as its image generator component. The Big Sleep uses the ViT-B/32 CLIP model to rate how well a given image matches your desired text. The best CLIP model according to the CLIP paper authors is the (as of this writing) unreleased ViT-L/14-336px model; see Table 10 on page 40 of the CLIP paper (pdf) for a comparison. There are many other sites/programs/projects that use CLIP to steer image/video creation to match a text description. Some relevant subreddits: r/bigsleep (subreddit for images/videos generated from text-to-image machine learning algorithms). r/deepdream (subreddit for images/videos generated from machine learning algorithms). r/mediasynthesis (subreddit for media generation/manipulation techniques that use artificial intelligence; this subreddit shouldn't be used to post images/videos unless new techniques are demonstrated, or the images/videos are of high quality relative to other posts). Example using text 'a black cat sleeping on top of a red clock': https://preview.redd.it/7xq58v7022c61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=a229ae9add555cd1caba31c42b60d907ffe67773 Example using text 'the word ''hot'' covered in ice': https://preview.redd.it/6kxdp8u3k2c61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=5bd078b0111575f5d88a1dc53b0aeb933f3b0da6 Example using text 'a monkey holding a green lightsaber': https://preview.redd.it/rdsybsoaz2c61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=2769d4c6c883c1c35ae0b1c629bebe9bc1d41393 Example using text 'The White House in Washington D.C. at night with green and red spotlights shining on it': https://preview.redd.it/w4mg90xsf5c61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=5f18318de2f77bcd8a86e71e87048fadd30383d1 Example using text '''A photo of the Golden Gate Bridge at night, illuminated by spotlights in a tribute to Prince''': https://preview.redd.it/cn4ecuafhic61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=397c838fdc49f13c5f17110b92c78b95bf0dcac0 Example using text '''a Rembrandt-style painting titled "Robert Plant decides whether to take the stairway to heaven or the ladder to heaven"''': https://preview.redd.it/h7rb3y6j5jc61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=537bfe8210af185647b00e7585c948aa2c4e0ffb Example using text '''A photo of the Empire State Building being shot at with the laser cannons of a TIE fighter.''': https://preview.redd.it/cwi7i639c5d61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=0510c8b93adb40eee4d3f41607f1c215d41e55ff Example using text '''A cartoon of a new mascot for the Reddit subreddit DeepDream that has a mouse-like face and wears a cape''': https://preview.redd.it/wtxbduevcbd61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=c5d266258922bc62f25c80a08cd9cabc07d9cb1c Example using text '''Bugs Bunny meets the Eye of Sauron, drawn in the Looney Tunes cartoon style''': https://preview.redd.it/gmljaeekuid61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=9ea578de165e12afc3a62bf6886bc1ae9dc19bec Example using text '''Photo of a blue and red neon-colored frog at night.''': https://preview.redd.it/nzlypte6wzd61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=7e10b06f22cfc57c64b6d05738c7486b895083df Example using text '''Hell begins to freeze over''': https://preview.redd.it/vn99we9ngmf61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=2408efd607f0ab40a08db6ee67448791aa813993 Example using text '''A scene with vibrant colors''': https://preview.redd.it/4z133mvrgmf61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=b78e7a8e3f736769655056093a9904ff09a355a1 Example using text '''The Great Pyramids were turned into prisms by a wizard''': https://preview.redd.it/zxt6op7vgmf61.png?width=512&format=png&auto=webp&s=53e578cfde14b28afe27957e95e610b89afadd44

[N] How Stability AI’s Founder Tanked His Billion-Dollar Startup

forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrickcai/2024/03/29/how-stability-ais-founder-tanked-his-billion-dollar-startup/ archive no paywall: https://archive.is/snbeV How Stability AI’s Founder Tanked His Billion-Dollar Startup Mar 29, 2024 Stability AI founder Emad Mostaque took the stage last week at the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, California to roaring applause and an introduction from an AI-generated Aristotle who announced him as “a modern Prometheus” with “the astuteness of Athena and the vision of Daedalus.” “Under his stewardship, AI becomes the Herculean force poised to vanquish the twin serpents of illness and ailment and extend the olive branch of longevity,” the faux Aristotle proclaimed. “I think that’s the best intro I’ve ever had,” Mostaque said. But behind Mostaque's hagiographic introduction lay a grim and fast metastasizing truth. Stability, once one of AI’s buzziest startups, was floundering. It had been running out of money for months and Mostaque had been unable to secure enough additional funding. It had defaulted on payments to Amazon whose cloud service undergirded Stability’s core offerings. The star research team behind its flagship text-to-image generator Stable Diffusion had tendered their resignations just three days before — as Forbes would first report — and other senior leaders had issued him an ultimatum: resign, or we walk too. Still, onstage before a massive audience of peers and acolytes, Mostaque talked a big game. “AI is jet planes for the mind,” he opined. “AI is our collective intelligence. It's the human Colossus.” He claimed a new, faster version of the Stable Diffusion image generator released earlier this month could generate “200 cats with hats per second.” But later, when he was asked about Stability’s financial model, Mostaque fumbled. “I can’t say that publicly,” he replied. “But it’s going well. We’re ahead of forecast.” Four days later, Mostaque stepped down as CEO of Stability, as Forbes first reported. In a post to X, the service formerly known as Twitter, he claimed he’d voluntarily abdicated his role to decentralize “the concentration of power in AI.” But sources told Forbes that was hardly the case. Behind the scenes, Mostaque had fought to maintain his position and control despite mounting pressure externally and internally to step down. Company documents and interviews with 32 current and former employees, investors, collaborators and industry observers suggest his abrupt exit was the result of poor business judgment and wild overspending that undermined confidence in his vision and leadership, and ultimately kneecapped the company. Mostaque, through his attorneys, declined to comment on record on a detailed list of questions about the reporting in this story. But in an email to Forbes earlier this week he broadly disputed the allegations. “Nobody tells you how hard it is to be a CEO and there are better CEOs than me to scale a business,” he said in a statement. “I am not sure anyone else would have been able to build and grow the research team to build the best and most widely used models out there and I’m very proud of the team there. I look forward to moving onto the next problem to handle and hopefully move the needle.” In an emailed statement, Christian Laforte and Shan Shan Wong, the interim co-CEOs who replaced Mostaque, said, "the company remains focused on commercializing its world leading technology” and providing it “to partners across the creative industries." After starting Stability in 2019, Mostaque built the company into an early AI juggernaut by seizing upon a promising research project that would become Stable Diffusion and funding it into a business reality. The ease with which the software generated detailed images from the simplest text prompts immediately captivated the public: 10 million people used it on any given day, the company told Forbes in early 2023. For some true believers, Mostaque was a crucial advocate for open-source AI development in a space dominated by the closed systems of OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. But his startup’s rise to one of the buzziest in generative AI was in part built on a series of exaggerations and misleading claims, as Forbes first reported last year (Mostaque disputed some points at the time). And they continued after he raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation just days after launching Stable Diffusion in 2022. His failure to deliver on an array of grand promises, like building bespoke AI models for nation states, and his decision to pour tens of millions into research without a sustainable business plan, eroded Stability’s foundations and jeopardized its future. "He was just giving shit away,” one former employee told Forbes. “That man legitimately wanted to transform the world. He actually wanted to train AI models for kids in Malawi. Was it practical? Absolutely not." By October 2023, Stability would have less than $4 million left in the bank, according to an internal memo prepared for a board meeting and reviewed by Forbes. And mounting debt, including months of overdue Amazon Web Services payments, had already left it in the red. To avoid legal penalties for skipping Americans staff’s payroll, the document explained, the London-based startup was considering delaying tax payments to the U.K. government. It was Stability’s armada of GPUs, the wildly powerful and equally expensive chips undergirding AI, that were so taxing the company’s finances. Hosted by AWS, they had long been one of Mostaque’s bragging points; he often touted them as one of the world’s 10 largest supercomputers. They were responsible for helping Stability’s researchers build and maintain one of the top AI image generators, as well as break important new ground on generative audio, video and 3D models. “Undeniably, Stability has continued to ship a lot of models,” said one former employee. “They may not have profited off of it, but the broader ecosystem benefitted in a huge, huge way.” But the costs associated with so much compute were now threatening to sink the company. According to an internal October financial forecast seen by Forbes, Stability was on track to spend $99 million on compute in 2023. It noted as well that Stability was “underpaying AWS bills for July (by $1M)” and “not planning to pay AWS at the end of October for August usage ($7M).” Then there were the September and October bills, plus $1 million owed to Google Cloud and $600,000 to GPU cloud data center CoreWeave. (Amazon, Google and CoreWeave declined to comment.) With an additional $54 million allocated to wages and operating expenses, Stability’s total projected costs for 2023 were $153 million. But according to its October financial report, its projected revenue for the calendar year was just $11 million. Stability was on track to lose more money per month than it made in an entire year. The company’s dire financial position had thoroughly soured Stability’s current investors, including Coatue, which had invested tens of millions in the company during its $101 million funding round in 2022. In the middle of 2023, Mostaque agreed to an independent audit after Coatue raised a series of concerns, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The outcome of the investigation is unclear. Coatue declined to comment. Within a week of an early October board meeting where Mostaque shared that financial forecast, Lightspeed Venture Partners, another major investor, sent a letter to the board urging them to sell the company. The distressing numbers had “severely undermined” the firm’s confidence in Mostaque’s ability to lead the company. “In particular, we are surprised and deeply concerned by a cash position just now disclosed to us that is inconsistent with prior discussions on this topic,” Lightspeed’s general counsel Brett Nissenberg wrote in the letter, a copy of which was viewed by Forbes. “Lightspeed believes that the company is not likely financeable on terms that would assure the company’s long term sound financial position.” (Lightspeed declined a request for comment.) The calls for a sale led Stability to quietly begin looking for a buyer. Bloomberg reported in November that Stability approached AI startups Cohere and Jasper to gauge their interest. Stability denied this, and Jasper CEO Timothy Young did the same when reached for comment by Forbes. A Cohere representative declined to comment. But one prominent AI company confirmed that Mostaque’s representatives had reached out to them to test the waters. Those talks did not advance because “the numbers didn’t add up,” this person, who declined to be named due to the confidential nature of the talks, told Forbes. Stability also tried to court Samsung as a buyer, going so far as to redecorate its office in advance of a planned meeting with the Korean electronics giant. (Samsung said that it invested in Stability in 2023 and that it does not comment on M&A discussions.) Coatue had been calling for Mostaque’s resignation for months, according to a source with direct knowledge. But it and other investors were unable to oust him because he was the company’s majority shareholder. When they tried a different tact by rallying other investors to offer him a juicy equity package to resign, Mostaque refused, said two sources. By October, Coatue and Lightspeed had had enough. Coatue left the board and Lightspeed resigned its observer seat. “Emad infuriated our initial investors so much it’s just making it impossible for us to raise more money under acceptable terms,” one current Stability executive told Forbes. The early months of 2024 saw Stability’s already precarious position eroding further still. Employees were quietly laid off. Three people in a position to know estimated that at least 10% of staff were cut. And cash reserves continued to dwindle. Mostaque mentioned a lifeline at the October board meeting: $95 million in tentative funding from new investors, pending due diligence. But in the end, only a fraction of it was wired, two sources say, much of it from Intel, which Forbes has learned invested $20 million, a fraction of what was reported. (Intel did not return a request for comment by publication time.) Two hours after Forbes broke the news of Mostaque’s plans to step down as CEO, Stability issued a press release confirming his resignation. Chief operating officer Wong and chief technology officer Laforte have taken over in the interim. Mostaque, who said on X that he still owns a majority of the company, also stepped down from the board, which has now initiated a search for a permanent CEO. There is a lot of work to be done to turn things around, and very little time in which to do it. Said the current Stability executive, “There’s still a possibility of a turnaround story, but the odds drop by the day.” In July of 2023, Mostaque still thought he could pull it off. Halfway through the month, he shared a fundraising plan with his lieutenants. It was wildly optimistic, detailing the raise of $500 million in cash and another $750 million in computing facilities from marquee investors like Nvidia, Google, Intel and the World Bank (Nvidia and Google declined comment. Intel did not respond. The World Bank said it did not invest in Stability). In a Slack message reviewed by Forbes, Mostaque said Google was “willing to move fast” and the round was “likely to be oversubscribed.” It wasn’t. Three people with direct knowledge of these fundraising efforts told Forbes that while there was some interest in Stability, talks often stalled when it came time to disclose financials. Two of them noted that earlier in the year, Mostaque had simply stopped engaging with VCs who asked for numbers. Only one firm invested around that time: actor Ashton Kutcher’s Sound Ventures, which invested $35 million in the form of a convertible SAFE note during the second quarter, according to an internal document. (Sound Ventures did not respond to a request for comment.) And though he’d managed to score a meeting with Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang, it ended in disaster, according to two sources. “Under Jensen's microscopic questions, Emad just fell apart,” a source in position to know told Forbes. Huang quickly concluded Stability wasn’t ready for an investment from Nvidia, the sources said. Mostaque told Forbes in an email that he had not met with Huang since 2022, except to say “hello and what’s up a few times after.” His July 2023 message references a plan to raise $150 million from Nvidia. (Nvidia declined to comment.) After a June Forbes investigation citing more than 30 sources revealed Mostaque’s history of misleading claims, Mostaque struggled to raise funding, a Stability investor told Forbes. (Mostaque disputed the story at the time and called it "coordinated lies" in his email this week to Forbes). Increasingly, investors scrutinized his assertions and pressed for data. And Young, now the CEO of Jasper, turned down a verbal offer to be Stability’s president after reading the article, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The collapse of the talks aggravated the board and other executives, who had hoped Young would compensate for the sales and business management skills that Mostaque lacked, according to four people in a position to know. (Young declined to comment.) When Stability’s senior leadership convened in London for the CogX conference in September, the financing had still not closed. There, a group of executives confronted Mostaque asking questions about the company’s cash position and runway, according to three people with direct knowledge of the incident. They did not get the clarity they’d hoped for. By October, Mostaque had reduced his fundraising target by more than 80%. The months that followed saw a steady drumbeat of departures — general counsel Adam Avrunin, vice presidents Mike Melnicki, Ed Newton-Rex and Joe Penna, chief people officer Ozden Onder — culminating in the demoralizing March exit of Stable Diffusion’s primary developers Robin Rombach, Andreas Blattmann, Patrick Esser and Dominik Lorenz. Rombach, who led the team, had been angling to leave for months, two sources said, first threatening to resign last summer because of the fundraising failures. Others left over concerns about cash flow, as well as liabilities — including what four people described as Mostaque’s lax approach to ensuring that Stability products could not be used to produce child sexual abuse imagery. “Stability AI is committed to preventing the misuse of AI and prohibits the use of our image models and services for unlawful activity, including attempts to edit or create CSAM,” Ella Irwin, senior vice president of integrity, said in a statement. Newton-Rex told Forbes he resigned because he disagreed with Stability’s position that training AI on copyrighted work without consent is fair use. Melnicki and Penna declined to comment. Avrunin and Onder could not be reached for comment. None of the researchers responded to requests for comment. The Stable Diffusion researchers’ departure as a cohort says a lot about the state of Stability AI. The company’s researchers were widely viewed as its crown jewels, their work subsidized with a firehose of pricey compute power that was even extended to people outside the company. Martino Russi, an artificial intelligence researcher, told Forbes that though he was never formally employed by Stability, the company provided him a “staggering” amount of compute between January and April 2023 to play around with developing an AI video generator that Stability might someday use. “It was Candy Land or Coney Island,” said Russi, who estimates that his experiment, which was ultimately shelved, cost the company $2.5 million. Stable Diffusion was simultaneously Stability’s marquee product and its existential cash crisis. One current employee described it to Forbes as “a giant vacuum that absorbed everything: money, compute, people.” While the software was widely used, with Mostaque claiming downloads reaching into the hundreds of millions, Stability struggled to translate that wild success into revenue. Mostaque knew it could be done — peers at Databricks, Elastic and MongoDB had all turned a free product into a lucrative business — he just couldn’t figure out how. His first attempt was Stability’s API, which allowed paying customers to integrate Stable Diffusion into their own products. In early 2023, a handful of small companies, like art generator app NightCafe and presentation software startup Tome, signed on, according to four people with knowledge of the deals. But Stability’s poor account management services soured many, and in a matter of months NightCafe and Tome canceled their contracts, three people said. NightCafe founder Angus Russell told Forbes that his company switched to a competitor which “offered much cheaper inference costs and a broader service.” Tome did not respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, Mostaque’s efforts to court larger companies like Samsung and Snapchat were failing, according to five people familiar with the effort. Canva, which was already one of the heaviest users of open-sourced Stable Diffusion, had multiple discussions with Stability, which was angling for a contract it hoped would generate several millions in annual revenue. But the deal never materialized, four sources said. “These three companies wanted and needed us,” one former employee told Forbes. “They would have been the perfect customers.” (Samsung, Snap and Canva declined to comment.) “It’s not that there was not an appetite to pay Stability — there were tons of companies that would have that wanted to,” the former employee said. “There was a huge opportunity and demand, but just a resistance to execution.” Mostaque’s other big idea was to provide governments with bespoke national AI models that would invigorate their economies and citizenry. “Emad envisions a world where AI through 100 national models serves not as a tool of the few, but as a benefactor to all promising to confront great adversaries, cancer, autism, and the sands of time itself,” the AI avatar of Aristotle said in his intro at the conference. Mostaque told several prospective customers that he could deliver such models within 60 days — an untenable timeline, according to two people in position to know. Stability attempted to develop a model for the Singaporean government over the protestation of employees who questioned its technical feasibility, three sources familiar with the effort told Forbes. But it couldn’t pull it off and Singapore never became a customer. (The government of Singapore confirmed it did not enter into a deal with Stability, but declined to answer additional questions.) As Stability careened from one new business idea to another, resources were abruptly reallocated and researchers reassigned. The whiplash shifts in a largely siloed organization demoralized and infuriated employees. “There were ‘urgent’ things, ‘urgent urgent’ things and ‘most urgent,’” one former employee complained. “None of these things seem important if everything is important.” Another former Stability executive was far more pointed in their assessment. “Emad is the most disorganized leader I have ever worked with in my career,” this person told Forbes. “He has no vision, and changes directions every week, often based on what he sees on Twitter.” In a video interview posted shortly before this story was published, Mostaque explained his leadership style: “I'm particularly great at taking creatives, developers, researchers, others, and achieving their full potential in designing systems. But I should not be dealing with, you know, HR and operations and business development and other elements. There are far better people than me to do that.” By December 2023, Stability had partially abandoned its open-source roots and announced that any commercial use of Stable Diffusion would cost customers at least $20 per month (non-commercial and research use of Stable Diffusion would remain free). But privately, Stability was considering a potentially more lucrative source of revenue: reselling the compute it was leasing from providers like AWS, according to six people familiar with the effort. Though it was essentially GPU arbitrage, Stability framed the strategy to investors as a “managed services” offering. Its damning October financial report projected optimistically that such an offering would bring in $139 million in 2024 — 98% of its revenue. Multiple employees at the time told Forbes they feared reselling compute, even if the company called it “managed services,” would violate the terms of Stability’s contract with AWS. Amazon declined to comment. “The line internally was that we are not reselling compute,” one former employee said. “This was some of the dirtiest feeling stuff.” Stability also discussed reselling a cluster of Nvidia A100 chips, leased via CoreWeave, to the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, three sources said. “It was under the guise of managed services, but there wasn’t any management happening,” one of these people told Forbes. Andreessen Horowitz and CoreWeave declined to comment. Stability did not respond to questions about if it plans to continue this strategy now that Mostaque is out of the picture. Regardless, interim co-CEOs Wong and Laforte are on a tight timeline to clean up his mess. Board chairman Jim O’Shaughnessy said in a statement that he was confident the pair “will adeptly steer the company forward in developing and commercializing industry-leading generative AI products.” But burn continues to far outpace revenue. The Financial Times reported Friday that the company made $5.4 million of revenue in February, against $8 million in costs. Several sources said there are ongoing concerns about making payroll for the roughly 150 remaining employees. Leadership roles have gone vacant for months amid the disarray, leaving the company increasingly directionless. Meanwhile, a potentially catastrophic legal threat looms over the company: A trio of copyright infringement lawsuits brought by Getty Images and a group of artists in the U.S. and U.K., who claim Stability illegally used their art and photography to train the AI models powering Stable Diffusion. A London-based court has already rejected the company’s bid to throw out one of the lawsuits on the basis that none of its researchers were based in the U.K. And Stability’s claim that Getty’s Delaware lawsuit should be blocked because it's a U.K.-based company was rejected. (Stability did not respond to questions about the litigation.) AI-related copyright litigation “could go on for years,” according to Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University. He told Forbes that though plaintiffs suing AI firms face an uphill battle overcoming the existing legal precedent on copyright infringement, the quantity of arguments available to make are virtually inexhaustible. “Like in military theory, if there’s a gap in your lines, that’s where the enemy pours through — if any one of those arguments succeeds, it could completely change the generative AI environment,” he said. “In some sense, generative AI as an industry has to win everything.” Stability, which had more than $100 million in the bank just a year and a half ago, is in a deep hole. Not only does it need more funding, it needs a viable business model — or a buyer with the vision and chops to make it successful in a fast-moving and highly competitive sector. At an all hands meeting this past Monday, Stability’s new leaders detailed a path forward. One point of emphasis: a plan to better manage resources and expenses, according to one person in attendance. It’s a start, but Mostaque’s meddling has left them with little runway to execute. His resignation, though, has given some employees hope. “A few people are 100% going to reconsider leaving after today,” said one current employee. “And the weird gloomy aura of hearing Emad talking nonsense for an hour is gone.” Shortly before Mostaque resigned, one current Stability executive told Forbes that they were optimistic his departure could make Stability appealing enough to receive a small investment or sale to a friendly party. “There are companies that have raised hundreds of millions of dollars that have much less intrinsic value than Stability,” the person said. “A white knight may still appear.”

[D] I don't really trust papers out of "Top Labs" anymore

I mean, I trust that the numbers they got are accurate and that they really did the work and got the results. I believe those. It's just that, take the recent "An Evolutionary Approach to Dynamic Introduction of Tasks in Large-scale Multitask Learning Systems" paper. It's 18 pages of talking through this pretty convoluted evolutionary and multitask learning algorithm, it's pretty interesting, solves a bunch of problems. But two notes. One, the big number they cite as the success metric is 99.43 on CIFAR-10, against a SotA of 99.40, so woop-de-fucking-doo in the grand scheme of things. Two, there's a chart towards the end of the paper that details how many TPU core-hours were used for just the training regimens that results in the final results. The sum total is 17,810 core-hours. Let's assume that for someone who doesn't work at Google, you'd have to use on-demand pricing of $3.22/hr. This means that these trained models cost $57,348. Strictly speaking, throwing enough compute at a general enough genetic algorithm will eventually produce arbitrarily good performance, so while you can absolutely read this paper and collect interesting ideas about how to use genetic algorithms to accomplish multitask learning by having each new task leverage learned weights from previous tasks by defining modifications to a subset of components of a pre-existing model, there's a meta-textual level on which this paper is just "Jeff Dean spent enough money to feed a family of four for half a decade to get a 0.03% improvement on CIFAR-10." OpenAI is far and away the worst offender here, but it seems like everyone's doing it. You throw a fuckton of compute and a light ganache of new ideas at an existing problem with existing data and existing benchmarks, and then if your numbers are infinitesimally higher than their numbers, you get to put a lil' sticker on your CV. Why should I trust that your ideas are even any good? I can't check them, I can't apply them to my own projects. Is this really what we're comfortable with as a community? A handful of corporations and the occasional university waving their dicks at everyone because they've got the compute to burn and we don't? There's a level at which I think there should be a new journal, exclusively for papers in which you can replicate their experimental results in under eight hours on a single consumer GPU.

[P] MIT Introduction to Data-Centric AI

Announcing the first-ever course on Data-Centric AI. Learn how to train better ML models by improving the data. Course homepage | Lecture videos on YouTube | Lab Assignments The course covers: Data-Centric AI vs. Model-Centric AI Label Errors Dataset Creation and Curation Data-centric Evaluation of ML Models Class Imbalance, Outliers, and Distribution Shift Growing or Compressing Datasets Interpretability in Data-Centric ML Encoding Human Priors: Data Augmentation and Prompt Engineering Data Privacy and Security MIT, like most universities, has many courses on machine learning (6.036, 6.867, and many others). Those classes teach techniques to produce effective models for a given dataset, and the classes focus heavily on the mathematical details of models rather than practical applications. However, in real-world applications of ML, the dataset is not fixed, and focusing on improving the data often gives better results than improving the model. We’ve personally seen this time and time again in our applied ML work as well as our research. Data-Centric AI (DCAI) is an emerging science that studies techniques to improve datasets in a systematic/algorithmic way — given that this topic wasn’t covered in the standard curriculum, we (a group of PhD candidates and grads) thought that we should put together a new class! We taught this intensive 2-week course in January over MIT’s IAP term, and we’ve just published all the course material, including lecture videos, lecture notes, hands-on lab assignments, and lab solutions, in hopes that people outside the MIT community would find these resources useful. We’d be happy to answer any questions related to the class or DCAI in general, and we’d love to hear any feedback on how we can improve the course material. Introduction to Data-Centric AI is open-source opencourseware, so feel free to make improvements directly: https://github.com/dcai-course/dcai-course.

[D] AI Agents: too early, too expensive, too unreliable

Reference: Full blog post There has been a lot of hype about the promise of autonomous agent-based LLM workflows. By now, all major LLMs are capable of interacting with external tools and functions, letting the LLM perform sequences of tasks automatically. But reality is proving more challenging than anticipated. The WebArena leaderboard, which benchmarks LLMs agents against real-world tasks, shows that even the best-performing models have a success rate of only 35.8%. Challenges in Practice After seeing many attempts to AI agents, I believe it's too early, too expensive, too slow, too unreliable. It feels like many AI agent startups are waiting for a model breakthrough that will start the race to productize agents. Reliability: As we all know, LLMs are prone to hallucinations and inconsistencies. Chaining multiple AI steps compounds these issues, especially for tasks requiring exact outputs. Performance and costs: GPT-4o, Gemini-1.5, and Claude Opus are working quite well with tool usage/function calling, but they are still slow and expensive, particularly if you need to do loops and automatic retries. Legal concerns: Companies may be held liable for the mistakes of their agents. A recent example is Air Canada being ordered to pay a customer who was misled by the airline's chatbot. User trust: The "black box" nature of AI agents and stories like the above makes it hard for users to understand and trust their outputs. Gaining user trust for sensitive tasks involving payments or personal information will be hard (paying bills, shopping, etc.). Real-World Attempts Several startups are tackling the AI agent space, but most are still experimental or invite-only: adept.ai - $350M funding, but access is still very limited MultiOn - funding unknown, their API-first approach seems promising HypeWrite - $2.8M funding, started with an AI writing assistant and expanded into the agent space minion.ai - created some initial buzz but has gone quiet now, waitlist only Only MultiOn seems to be pursuing the "give it instructions and watch it go" approach, which is more in line with the promise of AI agents. All others are going down the record-and-replay RPA route, which may be necessary for reliability at this stage. Large players are also bringing AI capabilities to desktops and browsers, and it looks like we'll get native AI integrations on a system level: OpenAI announced their Mac desktop app that can interact with the OS screen. At Google I/O, Google demonstrated Gemini automatically processing a shopping return. Microsoft announced Copilot Studio, which will let developers build AI agent bots. Screenshot Screenshot These tech demos are impressive, but we'll see how well these agent capabilities will work when released publicly and tested against real-world scenarios instead of hand-picked demo cases. The Path Forward AI agents overhyped and it's too early. However, the underlying models continue to advance quickly, and we can expect to see more successful real-world applications. Instead of trying to have one large general purpose agent that is hard to control and test, we can use many smaller agents that basically just pick the right strategy for a specific sub-task in our workflows. These "agents" can be thought of as medium-sized LLM prompts with a) context and b) a set of functions available to call. The most promising path forward likely looks like this: Narrowly scoped, well testable automations that use AI as an augmentation tool rather than pursuing full autonomy Human-in-the-loop approaches that keep humans involved for oversight and handling edge cases Setting realistic expectations about current capabilities and limitations By combining tightly constrained agents, good evaluation data, human-in-the-loop oversight, and traditional engineering methods, we can achieve reliably good results for automating medium-complex tasks. Will AI agents automate tedious repetitive work, such as web scraping, form filling, and data entry? Yes, absolutely. Will AI agents autonomously book your vacation without your intervention? Unlikely, at least in the near future.

[R] "o3 achieves a gold medal at the 2024 IOI and obtains a Codeforces rating on par with elite human competitors"

Competitive Programming with Large Reasoning Models OpenAI We show that reinforcement learning applied to large language models (LLMs) significantly boosts performance on complex coding and reasoning tasks. Additionally, we compare two general-purpose reasoning models - OpenAI o1 and an early checkpoint of o3 - with a domain-specific system, o1-ioi, which uses hand-engineered inference strategies designed for competing in the 2024 International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). We competed live at IOI 2024 with o1-ioi and, using hand-crafted test-time strategies, placed in the 49th percentile. Under relaxed competition constraints, o1-ioi achieved a gold medal. However, when evaluating later models such as o3, we find that o3 achieves gold without hand-crafted domain-specific strategies or relaxed constraints. Our findings show that although specialized pipelines such as o1-ioi yield solid improvements, the scaled-up, general-purpose o3 model surpasses those results without relying on hand-crafted inference heuristics. Notably, o3 achieves a gold medal at the 2024 IOI and obtains a Codeforces rating on par with elite human competitors. Overall, these results indicate that scaling general-purpose reinforcement learning, rather than relying on domain-specific techniques, offers a robust path toward state-of-the-art AI in reasoning domains, such as competitive programming. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06807

[D] We're the Meta AI research team behind CICERO, the first AI agent to achieve human-level performance in the game Diplomacy. We’ll be answering your questions on December 8th starting at 10am PT. Ask us anything!

EDIT 11:58am PT: Thanks for all the great questions, we stayed an almost an hour longer than originally planned to try to get through as many as possible — but we’re signing off now! We had a great time and thanks for all thoughtful questions! PROOF: https://i.redd.it/8skvttie6j4a1.png We’re part of the research team behind CICERO, Meta AI’s latest research in cooperative AI. CICERO is the first AI agent to achieve human-level performance in the game Diplomacy. Diplomacy is a complex strategy game involving both cooperation and competition that emphasizes natural language negotiation between seven players.   Over the course of 40 two-hour games with 82 human players, CICERO achieved more than double the average score of other players, ranked in the top 10% of players who played more than one game, and placed 2nd out of 19 participants who played at least 5 games.   Here are some highlights from our recent announcement: NLP x RL/Planning: CICERO combines techniques in NLP and RL/planning, by coupling a controllable dialogue module with a strategic reasoning engine.  Controlling dialogue via plans: In addition to being grounded in the game state and dialogue history, CICERO’s dialogue model was trained to be controllable via a set of intents or plans in the game. This allows CICERO to use language intentionally and to move beyond imitation learning by conditioning on plans selected by the strategic reasoning engine. Selecting plans: CICERO uses a strategic reasoning module to make plans (and select intents) in the game. This module runs a planning algorithm which takes into account the game state, the dialogue, and the strength/likelihood of various actions. Plans are recomputed every time CICERO sends/receives a message. Filtering messages: We built an ensemble of classifiers to detect low quality messages, like messages contradicting the game state/dialogue history or messages which have low strategic value. We used this ensemble to aggressively filter CICERO’s messages.  Human-like play: Over the course of 72 hours of play – which involved sending 5,277 messages – CICERO was not detected as an AI agent. You can check out some of our materials and open-sourced artifacts here:  Research paper Project overview Diplomacy gameplay page Github repo Our latest blog post Joining us today for the AMA are: Andrew Goff (AG), 3x Diplomacy World Champion Alexander Miller (AM), Research Engineering Manager Noam Brown (NB), Research Scientist (u/NoamBrown) Mike Lewis (ML), Research Scientist (u/mikelewis0) David Wu (DW), Research Engineer (u/icosaplex) Emily Dinan (ED), Research Engineer Anton Bakhtin (AB), Research Engineer Adam Lerer (AL), Research Engineer Jonathan Gray (JG), Research Engineer Colin Flaherty (CF), Research Engineer (u/c-flaherty) We’ll be here on December 8, 2022 @ 10:00AM PT - 11:00AM PT.

[R] Tiny LVLM-eHub: Early Multimodal Experiments with Bard - OpenGVLab, Shanghai AI Laboratory 2023 - Encourages innovative strategies aimed at advancing multimodal techniques!

Paper: https://github.com/OpenGVLab/Multi-Modality-Arena Github: https://github.com/OpenGVLab/Multi-Modality-Arena Abstract: Recent advancements in Large Vision-Language Models (LVLMs) have demonstrated significant progress in tackling complex multimodal tasks. Among these cutting-edge developments, Google's Bard stands out for its remarkable multimodal capabilities, promoting comprehensive comprehension and reasoning across various domains. This work presents an early and holistic evaluation of LVLMs' multimodal abilities, with a particular focus on Bard, by proposing a lightweight variant of LVLM-eHub, named Tiny LVLM-eHub. In comparison to the vanilla version, Tiny LVLM-eHub possesses several appealing properties. Firstly, it provides a systematic assessment of six categories of multimodal capabilities, including visual perception, visual knowledge acquisition, visual reasoning, visual commonsense, object hallucination, and embodied intelligence, through quantitative evaluation of 42 standard text-related visual benchmarks. Secondly, it conducts an in-depth analysis of LVLMs' predictions using the ChatGPT Ensemble Evaluation (CEE), which leads to a robust and accurate evaluation and exhibits improved alignment with human evaluation compared to the word matching approach. Thirdly, it comprises a mere 2.1K image-text pairs, facilitating ease of use for practitioners to evaluate their own offline LVLMs. Through extensive experimental analysis, this study demonstrates that Bard outperforms previous LVLMs in most multimodal capabilities except object hallucination, to which Bard is still susceptible. Tiny LVLM-eHub serves as a baseline evaluation for various LVLMs and encourages innovative strategies aimed at advancing multimodal techniques. https://preview.redd.it/i6x6p5bloihb1.jpg?width=1485&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e91fe184844278b0a7e14090ae9aaef54b29f37 &#x200B; &#x200B;

[D] What do you think of Mistral.ai's value proposition and open source strategy?

Mistral.ai, a 4 week old startup founded by star researchers from DeepMind and FAIR recently raised a whopping €105m in their seed round just 4 weeks after set up. Their leaked pitch "deck" made several arguments that I find quite interesting and debatable (not that I think they are totally wrong) given recent progress in research and open source. They seem to believe that a moat can be built around better models, or at least the engineering know-how required to pursue such endeavours That closed sourced models served behind an API poses integration challenges and safety issues that will become a bottleneck for adoption That open sourcing the majority of their work, puts them in a position to win over the very finite research talent necessary to keep them ahead of competition Open source models and tools accelerate the development of ecosystems and aid in dominance through standard setting. (personally I think this is their strongest argument). Very similar to what Yann LeCun cited as reasons for FAIR's commitment to open sourcing. Curious what the industry practitioners and academics here think about this? https://sifted.eu/articles/pitch-deck-mistral

[D] What is your honest experience with reinforcement learning?

In my personal experience, SOTA RL algorithms simply don't work. I've tried working with reinforcement learning for over 5 years. I remember when Alpha Go defeated the world famous Go player, Lee Sedol, and everybody thought RL would take the ML community by storm. Yet, outside of toy problems, I've personally never found a practical use-case of RL. What is your experience with it? Aside from Ad recommendation systems and RLHF, are there legitimate use-cases of RL? Or, was it all hype? Edit: I know a lot about AI. I built NexusTrade, an AI-Powered automated investing tool that lets non-technical users create, update, and deploy their trading strategies. I’m not an idiot nor a noob; RL is just ridiculously hard. Edit 2: Since my comments are being downvoted, here is a link to my article that better describes my position. It's not that I don't understand RL. I released my open-source code and wrote a paper on it. It's the fact that it's EXTREMELY difficult to understand. Other deep learning algorithms like CNNs (including ResNets), RNNs (including GRUs and LSTMs), Transformers, and GANs are not hard to understand. These algorithms work and have practical use-cases outside of the lab. Traditional SOTA RL algorithms like PPO, DDPG, and TD3 are just very hard. You need to do a bunch of research to even implement a toy problem. In contrast, the decision transformer is something anybody can implement, and it seems to match or surpass the SOTA. You don't need two networks battling each other. You don't have to go through hell to debug your network. It just naturally learns the best set of actions in an auto-regressive manner. I also didn't mean to come off as arrogant or imply that RL is not worth learning. I just haven't seen any real-world, practical use-cases of it. I simply wanted to start a discussion, not claim that I know everything. Edit 3: There's a shockingly number of people calling me an idiot for not fully understanding RL. You guys are wayyy too comfortable calling people you disagree with names. News-flash, not everybody has a PhD in ML. My undergraduate degree is in biology. I self-taught myself the high-level maths to understand ML. I'm very passionate about the field; I just have VERY disappointing experiences with RL. Funny enough, there are very few people refuting my actual points. To summarize: Lack of real-world applications Extremely complex and inaccessible to 99% of the population Much harder than traditional DL algorithms like CNNs, RNNs, and GANs Sample inefficiency and instability Difficult to debug Better alternatives, such as the Decision Transformer Are these not legitimate criticisms? Is the purpose of this sub not to have discussions related to Machine Learning? To the few commenters that aren't calling me an idiot...thank you! Remember, it costs you nothing to be nice! Edit 4: Lots of people seem to agree that RL is over-hyped. Unfortunately those comments are downvoted. To clear up some things: We've invested HEAVILY into reinforcement learning. All we got from this investment is a robot that can be super-human at (some) video games. AlphaFold did not use any reinforcement learning. SpaceX doesn't either. I concede that it can be useful for robotics, but still argue that it's use-cases outside the lab are extremely limited. If you're stumbling on this thread and curious about an RL alternative, check out the Decision Transformer. It can be used in any situation that a traditional RL algorithm can be used. Final Edit: To those who contributed more recently, thank you for the thoughtful discussion! From what I learned, model-based models like Dreamer and IRIS MIGHT have a future. But everybody who has actually used model-free models like DDPG unanimously agree that they suck and don’t work.

[N] How Stability AI’s Founder Tanked His Billion-Dollar Startup

forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrickcai/2024/03/29/how-stability-ais-founder-tanked-his-billion-dollar-startup/ archive no paywall: https://archive.is/snbeV How Stability AI’s Founder Tanked His Billion-Dollar Startup Mar 29, 2024 Stability AI founder Emad Mostaque took the stage last week at the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, California to roaring applause and an introduction from an AI-generated Aristotle who announced him as “a modern Prometheus” with “the astuteness of Athena and the vision of Daedalus.” “Under his stewardship, AI becomes the Herculean force poised to vanquish the twin serpents of illness and ailment and extend the olive branch of longevity,” the faux Aristotle proclaimed. “I think that’s the best intro I’ve ever had,” Mostaque said. But behind Mostaque's hagiographic introduction lay a grim and fast metastasizing truth. Stability, once one of AI’s buzziest startups, was floundering. It had been running out of money for months and Mostaque had been unable to secure enough additional funding. It had defaulted on payments to Amazon whose cloud service undergirded Stability’s core offerings. The star research team behind its flagship text-to-image generator Stable Diffusion had tendered their resignations just three days before — as Forbes would first report — and other senior leaders had issued him an ultimatum: resign, or we walk too. Still, onstage before a massive audience of peers and acolytes, Mostaque talked a big game. “AI is jet planes for the mind,” he opined. “AI is our collective intelligence. It's the human Colossus.” He claimed a new, faster version of the Stable Diffusion image generator released earlier this month could generate “200 cats with hats per second.” But later, when he was asked about Stability’s financial model, Mostaque fumbled. “I can’t say that publicly,” he replied. “But it’s going well. We’re ahead of forecast.” Four days later, Mostaque stepped down as CEO of Stability, as Forbes first reported. In a post to X, the service formerly known as Twitter, he claimed he’d voluntarily abdicated his role to decentralize “the concentration of power in AI.” But sources told Forbes that was hardly the case. Behind the scenes, Mostaque had fought to maintain his position and control despite mounting pressure externally and internally to step down. Company documents and interviews with 32 current and former employees, investors, collaborators and industry observers suggest his abrupt exit was the result of poor business judgment and wild overspending that undermined confidence in his vision and leadership, and ultimately kneecapped the company. Mostaque, through his attorneys, declined to comment on record on a detailed list of questions about the reporting in this story. But in an email to Forbes earlier this week he broadly disputed the allegations. “Nobody tells you how hard it is to be a CEO and there are better CEOs than me to scale a business,” he said in a statement. “I am not sure anyone else would have been able to build and grow the research team to build the best and most widely used models out there and I’m very proud of the team there. I look forward to moving onto the next problem to handle and hopefully move the needle.” In an emailed statement, Christian Laforte and Shan Shan Wong, the interim co-CEOs who replaced Mostaque, said, "the company remains focused on commercializing its world leading technology” and providing it “to partners across the creative industries." After starting Stability in 2019, Mostaque built the company into an early AI juggernaut by seizing upon a promising research project that would become Stable Diffusion and funding it into a business reality. The ease with which the software generated detailed images from the simplest text prompts immediately captivated the public: 10 million people used it on any given day, the company told Forbes in early 2023. For some true believers, Mostaque was a crucial advocate for open-source AI development in a space dominated by the closed systems of OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. But his startup’s rise to one of the buzziest in generative AI was in part built on a series of exaggerations and misleading claims, as Forbes first reported last year (Mostaque disputed some points at the time). And they continued after he raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation just days after launching Stable Diffusion in 2022. His failure to deliver on an array of grand promises, like building bespoke AI models for nation states, and his decision to pour tens of millions into research without a sustainable business plan, eroded Stability’s foundations and jeopardized its future. "He was just giving shit away,” one former employee told Forbes. “That man legitimately wanted to transform the world. He actually wanted to train AI models for kids in Malawi. Was it practical? Absolutely not." By October 2023, Stability would have less than $4 million left in the bank, according to an internal memo prepared for a board meeting and reviewed by Forbes. And mounting debt, including months of overdue Amazon Web Services payments, had already left it in the red. To avoid legal penalties for skipping Americans staff’s payroll, the document explained, the London-based startup was considering delaying tax payments to the U.K. government. It was Stability’s armada of GPUs, the wildly powerful and equally expensive chips undergirding AI, that were so taxing the company’s finances. Hosted by AWS, they had long been one of Mostaque’s bragging points; he often touted them as one of the world’s 10 largest supercomputers. They were responsible for helping Stability’s researchers build and maintain one of the top AI image generators, as well as break important new ground on generative audio, video and 3D models. “Undeniably, Stability has continued to ship a lot of models,” said one former employee. “They may not have profited off of it, but the broader ecosystem benefitted in a huge, huge way.” But the costs associated with so much compute were now threatening to sink the company. According to an internal October financial forecast seen by Forbes, Stability was on track to spend $99 million on compute in 2023. It noted as well that Stability was “underpaying AWS bills for July (by $1M)” and “not planning to pay AWS at the end of October for August usage ($7M).” Then there were the September and October bills, plus $1 million owed to Google Cloud and $600,000 to GPU cloud data center CoreWeave. (Amazon, Google and CoreWeave declined to comment.) With an additional $54 million allocated to wages and operating expenses, Stability’s total projected costs for 2023 were $153 million. But according to its October financial report, its projected revenue for the calendar year was just $11 million. Stability was on track to lose more money per month than it made in an entire year. The company’s dire financial position had thoroughly soured Stability’s current investors, including Coatue, which had invested tens of millions in the company during its $101 million funding round in 2022. In the middle of 2023, Mostaque agreed to an independent audit after Coatue raised a series of concerns, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The outcome of the investigation is unclear. Coatue declined to comment. Within a week of an early October board meeting where Mostaque shared that financial forecast, Lightspeed Venture Partners, another major investor, sent a letter to the board urging them to sell the company. The distressing numbers had “severely undermined” the firm’s confidence in Mostaque’s ability to lead the company. “In particular, we are surprised and deeply concerned by a cash position just now disclosed to us that is inconsistent with prior discussions on this topic,” Lightspeed’s general counsel Brett Nissenberg wrote in the letter, a copy of which was viewed by Forbes. “Lightspeed believes that the company is not likely financeable on terms that would assure the company’s long term sound financial position.” (Lightspeed declined a request for comment.) The calls for a sale led Stability to quietly begin looking for a buyer. Bloomberg reported in November that Stability approached AI startups Cohere and Jasper to gauge their interest. Stability denied this, and Jasper CEO Timothy Young did the same when reached for comment by Forbes. A Cohere representative declined to comment. But one prominent AI company confirmed that Mostaque’s representatives had reached out to them to test the waters. Those talks did not advance because “the numbers didn’t add up,” this person, who declined to be named due to the confidential nature of the talks, told Forbes. Stability also tried to court Samsung as a buyer, going so far as to redecorate its office in advance of a planned meeting with the Korean electronics giant. (Samsung said that it invested in Stability in 2023 and that it does not comment on M&A discussions.) Coatue had been calling for Mostaque’s resignation for months, according to a source with direct knowledge. But it and other investors were unable to oust him because he was the company’s majority shareholder. When they tried a different tact by rallying other investors to offer him a juicy equity package to resign, Mostaque refused, said two sources. By October, Coatue and Lightspeed had had enough. Coatue left the board and Lightspeed resigned its observer seat. “Emad infuriated our initial investors so much it’s just making it impossible for us to raise more money under acceptable terms,” one current Stability executive told Forbes. The early months of 2024 saw Stability’s already precarious position eroding further still. Employees were quietly laid off. Three people in a position to know estimated that at least 10% of staff were cut. And cash reserves continued to dwindle. Mostaque mentioned a lifeline at the October board meeting: $95 million in tentative funding from new investors, pending due diligence. But in the end, only a fraction of it was wired, two sources say, much of it from Intel, which Forbes has learned invested $20 million, a fraction of what was reported. (Intel did not return a request for comment by publication time.) Two hours after Forbes broke the news of Mostaque’s plans to step down as CEO, Stability issued a press release confirming his resignation. Chief operating officer Wong and chief technology officer Laforte have taken over in the interim. Mostaque, who said on X that he still owns a majority of the company, also stepped down from the board, which has now initiated a search for a permanent CEO. There is a lot of work to be done to turn things around, and very little time in which to do it. Said the current Stability executive, “There’s still a possibility of a turnaround story, but the odds drop by the day.” In July of 2023, Mostaque still thought he could pull it off. Halfway through the month, he shared a fundraising plan with his lieutenants. It was wildly optimistic, detailing the raise of $500 million in cash and another $750 million in computing facilities from marquee investors like Nvidia, Google, Intel and the World Bank (Nvidia and Google declined comment. Intel did not respond. The World Bank said it did not invest in Stability). In a Slack message reviewed by Forbes, Mostaque said Google was “willing to move fast” and the round was “likely to be oversubscribed.” It wasn’t. Three people with direct knowledge of these fundraising efforts told Forbes that while there was some interest in Stability, talks often stalled when it came time to disclose financials. Two of them noted that earlier in the year, Mostaque had simply stopped engaging with VCs who asked for numbers. Only one firm invested around that time: actor Ashton Kutcher’s Sound Ventures, which invested $35 million in the form of a convertible SAFE note during the second quarter, according to an internal document. (Sound Ventures did not respond to a request for comment.) And though he’d managed to score a meeting with Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang, it ended in disaster, according to two sources. “Under Jensen's microscopic questions, Emad just fell apart,” a source in position to know told Forbes. Huang quickly concluded Stability wasn’t ready for an investment from Nvidia, the sources said. Mostaque told Forbes in an email that he had not met with Huang since 2022, except to say “hello and what’s up a few times after.” His July 2023 message references a plan to raise $150 million from Nvidia. (Nvidia declined to comment.) After a June Forbes investigation citing more than 30 sources revealed Mostaque’s history of misleading claims, Mostaque struggled to raise funding, a Stability investor told Forbes. (Mostaque disputed the story at the time and called it "coordinated lies" in his email this week to Forbes). Increasingly, investors scrutinized his assertions and pressed for data. And Young, now the CEO of Jasper, turned down a verbal offer to be Stability’s president after reading the article, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The collapse of the talks aggravated the board and other executives, who had hoped Young would compensate for the sales and business management skills that Mostaque lacked, according to four people in a position to know. (Young declined to comment.) When Stability’s senior leadership convened in London for the CogX conference in September, the financing had still not closed. There, a group of executives confronted Mostaque asking questions about the company’s cash position and runway, according to three people with direct knowledge of the incident. They did not get the clarity they’d hoped for. By October, Mostaque had reduced his fundraising target by more than 80%. The months that followed saw a steady drumbeat of departures — general counsel Adam Avrunin, vice presidents Mike Melnicki, Ed Newton-Rex and Joe Penna, chief people officer Ozden Onder — culminating in the demoralizing March exit of Stable Diffusion’s primary developers Robin Rombach, Andreas Blattmann, Patrick Esser and Dominik Lorenz. Rombach, who led the team, had been angling to leave for months, two sources said, first threatening to resign last summer because of the fundraising failures. Others left over concerns about cash flow, as well as liabilities — including what four people described as Mostaque’s lax approach to ensuring that Stability products could not be used to produce child sexual abuse imagery. “Stability AI is committed to preventing the misuse of AI and prohibits the use of our image models and services for unlawful activity, including attempts to edit or create CSAM,” Ella Irwin, senior vice president of integrity, said in a statement. Newton-Rex told Forbes he resigned because he disagreed with Stability’s position that training AI on copyrighted work without consent is fair use. Melnicki and Penna declined to comment. Avrunin and Onder could not be reached for comment. None of the researchers responded to requests for comment. The Stable Diffusion researchers’ departure as a cohort says a lot about the state of Stability AI. The company’s researchers were widely viewed as its crown jewels, their work subsidized with a firehose of pricey compute power that was even extended to people outside the company. Martino Russi, an artificial intelligence researcher, told Forbes that though he was never formally employed by Stability, the company provided him a “staggering” amount of compute between January and April 2023 to play around with developing an AI video generator that Stability might someday use. “It was Candy Land or Coney Island,” said Russi, who estimates that his experiment, which was ultimately shelved, cost the company $2.5 million. Stable Diffusion was simultaneously Stability’s marquee product and its existential cash crisis. One current employee described it to Forbes as “a giant vacuum that absorbed everything: money, compute, people.” While the software was widely used, with Mostaque claiming downloads reaching into the hundreds of millions, Stability struggled to translate that wild success into revenue. Mostaque knew it could be done — peers at Databricks, Elastic and MongoDB had all turned a free product into a lucrative business — he just couldn’t figure out how. His first attempt was Stability’s API, which allowed paying customers to integrate Stable Diffusion into their own products. In early 2023, a handful of small companies, like art generator app NightCafe and presentation software startup Tome, signed on, according to four people with knowledge of the deals. But Stability’s poor account management services soured many, and in a matter of months NightCafe and Tome canceled their contracts, three people said. NightCafe founder Angus Russell told Forbes that his company switched to a competitor which “offered much cheaper inference costs and a broader service.” Tome did not respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, Mostaque’s efforts to court larger companies like Samsung and Snapchat were failing, according to five people familiar with the effort. Canva, which was already one of the heaviest users of open-sourced Stable Diffusion, had multiple discussions with Stability, which was angling for a contract it hoped would generate several millions in annual revenue. But the deal never materialized, four sources said. “These three companies wanted and needed us,” one former employee told Forbes. “They would have been the perfect customers.” (Samsung, Snap and Canva declined to comment.) “It’s not that there was not an appetite to pay Stability — there were tons of companies that would have that wanted to,” the former employee said. “There was a huge opportunity and demand, but just a resistance to execution.” Mostaque’s other big idea was to provide governments with bespoke national AI models that would invigorate their economies and citizenry. “Emad envisions a world where AI through 100 national models serves not as a tool of the few, but as a benefactor to all promising to confront great adversaries, cancer, autism, and the sands of time itself,” the AI avatar of Aristotle said in his intro at the conference. Mostaque told several prospective customers that he could deliver such models within 60 days — an untenable timeline, according to two people in position to know. Stability attempted to develop a model for the Singaporean government over the protestation of employees who questioned its technical feasibility, three sources familiar with the effort told Forbes. But it couldn’t pull it off and Singapore never became a customer. (The government of Singapore confirmed it did not enter into a deal with Stability, but declined to answer additional questions.) As Stability careened from one new business idea to another, resources were abruptly reallocated and researchers reassigned. The whiplash shifts in a largely siloed organization demoralized and infuriated employees. “There were ‘urgent’ things, ‘urgent urgent’ things and ‘most urgent,’” one former employee complained. “None of these things seem important if everything is important.” Another former Stability executive was far more pointed in their assessment. “Emad is the most disorganized leader I have ever worked with in my career,” this person told Forbes. “He has no vision, and changes directions every week, often based on what he sees on Twitter.” In a video interview posted shortly before this story was published, Mostaque explained his leadership style: “I'm particularly great at taking creatives, developers, researchers, others, and achieving their full potential in designing systems. But I should not be dealing with, you know, HR and operations and business development and other elements. There are far better people than me to do that.” By December 2023, Stability had partially abandoned its open-source roots and announced that any commercial use of Stable Diffusion would cost customers at least $20 per month (non-commercial and research use of Stable Diffusion would remain free). But privately, Stability was considering a potentially more lucrative source of revenue: reselling the compute it was leasing from providers like AWS, according to six people familiar with the effort. Though it was essentially GPU arbitrage, Stability framed the strategy to investors as a “managed services” offering. Its damning October financial report projected optimistically that such an offering would bring in $139 million in 2024 — 98% of its revenue. Multiple employees at the time told Forbes they feared reselling compute, even if the company called it “managed services,” would violate the terms of Stability’s contract with AWS. Amazon declined to comment. “The line internally was that we are not reselling compute,” one former employee said. “This was some of the dirtiest feeling stuff.” Stability also discussed reselling a cluster of Nvidia A100 chips, leased via CoreWeave, to the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, three sources said. “It was under the guise of managed services, but there wasn’t any management happening,” one of these people told Forbes. Andreessen Horowitz and CoreWeave declined to comment. Stability did not respond to questions about if it plans to continue this strategy now that Mostaque is out of the picture. Regardless, interim co-CEOs Wong and Laforte are on a tight timeline to clean up his mess. Board chairman Jim O’Shaughnessy said in a statement that he was confident the pair “will adeptly steer the company forward in developing and commercializing industry-leading generative AI products.” But burn continues to far outpace revenue. The Financial Times reported Friday that the company made $5.4 million of revenue in February, against $8 million in costs. Several sources said there are ongoing concerns about making payroll for the roughly 150 remaining employees. Leadership roles have gone vacant for months amid the disarray, leaving the company increasingly directionless. Meanwhile, a potentially catastrophic legal threat looms over the company: A trio of copyright infringement lawsuits brought by Getty Images and a group of artists in the U.S. and U.K., who claim Stability illegally used their art and photography to train the AI models powering Stable Diffusion. A London-based court has already rejected the company’s bid to throw out one of the lawsuits on the basis that none of its researchers were based in the U.K. And Stability’s claim that Getty’s Delaware lawsuit should be blocked because it's a U.K.-based company was rejected. (Stability did not respond to questions about the litigation.) AI-related copyright litigation “could go on for years,” according to Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University. He told Forbes that though plaintiffs suing AI firms face an uphill battle overcoming the existing legal precedent on copyright infringement, the quantity of arguments available to make are virtually inexhaustible. “Like in military theory, if there’s a gap in your lines, that’s where the enemy pours through — if any one of those arguments succeeds, it could completely change the generative AI environment,” he said. “In some sense, generative AI as an industry has to win everything.” Stability, which had more than $100 million in the bank just a year and a half ago, is in a deep hole. Not only does it need more funding, it needs a viable business model — or a buyer with the vision and chops to make it successful in a fast-moving and highly competitive sector. At an all hands meeting this past Monday, Stability’s new leaders detailed a path forward. One point of emphasis: a plan to better manage resources and expenses, according to one person in attendance. It’s a start, but Mostaque’s meddling has left them with little runway to execute. His resignation, though, has given some employees hope. “A few people are 100% going to reconsider leaving after today,” said one current employee. “And the weird gloomy aura of hearing Emad talking nonsense for an hour is gone.” Shortly before Mostaque resigned, one current Stability executive told Forbes that they were optimistic his departure could make Stability appealing enough to receive a small investment or sale to a friendly party. “There are companies that have raised hundreds of millions of dollars that have much less intrinsic value than Stability,” the person said. “A white knight may still appear.”

[Discussion]: Mark Zuckerberg on Meta's Strategy on Open Source and AI during the earnings call

During the recent earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg answered a question from Eric Sheridan of Goldman Sachs on Meta's AI strategy, opportunities to integrate into products, and why they open source models and how it would benefit their business. I found the reasoning to be very sound and promising for the OSS and AI community. The biggest risk from AI, in my opinion, is not the doomsday scenarios that intuitively come to mind but rather that the most powerful AI systems will only be accessible to the most powerful and resourceful corporations. Quote copied from Ben Thompson's write up on Meta's earning in his Stratechery blog post which goes beyond AI. It's behind a paywall but I highly recommend it personally. Some noteworthy quotes that signal the thought process at Meta FAIR and more broadly We’re just playing a different game on the infrastructure than companies like Google or Microsoft or Amazon We would aspire to and hope to make even more open than that. So, we’ll need to figure out a way to do that. ...lead us to do more work in terms of open sourcing, some of the lower level models and tools Open sourcing low level tools make the way we run all this infrastructure more efficient over time. On PyTorch: It’s generally been very valuable for us to provide that because now all of the best developers across the industry are using tools that we’re also using internally. I would expect us to be pushing and helping to build out an open ecosystem. For all the negative that comes out of the popular discourse on Meta, I think their work to open source key tech tools over the last 10 years has been exceptional, here's hoping it continues into this decade of AI and pushes other tech giants to also realize the benefits of Open Source. Full Transcript: Right now most of the companies that are training large language models have business models that lead them to a closed approach to development. I think there’s an important opportunity to help create an open ecosystem. If we can help be a part of this, then much of the industry will standardize on using these open tools and help improve them further. So this will make it easier for other companies to integrate with our products and platforms as we enable more integrations, and that will help our products stay at the leading edge as well. Our approach to AI and our infrastructure has always been fairly open. We open source many of our state of the art models so people can experiment and build with them. This quarter we released our LLaMa LLM to researchers. It has 65 billion parameters but outperforms larger models and has proven quite popular. We’ve also open-sourced three other groundbreaking visual models along with their training data and model weights — Segment Anything, DinoV2, and our Animated Drawings tool — and we’ve gotten positive feedback on all of those as well. I think that there’s an important distinction between the products we offer and a lot of the technical infrastructure, especially the software that we write to support that. And historically, whether it’s the Open Compute project that we’ve done or just open sourcing a lot of the infrastructure that we’ve built, we’ve historically open sourced a lot of that infrastructure, even though we haven’t open sourced the code for our core products or anything like that. And the reason why I think why we do this is that unlike some of the other companies in the space, we’re not selling a cloud computing service where we try to keep the different software infrastructure that we’re building proprietary. For us, it’s way better if the industry standardizes on the basic tools that we’re using and therefore we can benefit from the improvements that others make and others’ use of those tools can, in some cases like Open Compute, drive down the costs of those things which make our business more efficient too. So I think to some degree we’re just playing a different game on the infrastructure than companies like Google or Microsoft or Amazon, and that creates different incentives for us. So overall, I think that that’s going to lead us to do more work in terms of open sourcing, some of the lower level models and tools. But of course, a lot of the product work itself is going to be specific and integrated with the things that we do. So it’s not that everything we do is going to be open. Obviously, a bunch of this needs to be developed in a way that creates unique value for our products, but I think in terms of the basic models, I would expect us to be pushing and helping to build out an open ecosystem here, which I think is something that’s going to be important. On the AI tools, and we have a bunch of history here, right? So if you if you look at what we’ve done with PyTorch, for example, which has generally become the standard in the industry as a tool that a lot of folks who are building AI models and different things in that space use, it’s generally been very valuable for us to provide that because now all of the best developers across the industry are using tools that we’re also using internally. So the tool chain is the same. So when they create some innovation, we can easily integrate it into the things that we’re doing. When we improve something, it improves other products too. Because it’s integrated with our technology stack, when there are opportunities to make integrations with products, it’s much easier to make sure that developers and other folks are compatible with the things that we need in the way that our systems work. So there are a lot of advantages, but I view this more as a kind of back end infrastructure advantage with potential integrations on the product side, but one that should hopefully enable us to stay at the leading edge and integrate more broadly with the community and also make the way we run all this infrastructure more efficient over time. There are a number of models. I just gave PyTorch as an example. Open Compute is another model that has worked really well for us in this way, both to incorporate both innovation and scale efficiency into our own infrastructure. So I think that there’s, our incentives I think are basically aligned towards moving in this direction. Now that said, there’s a lot to figure out, right? So when you asked if there are going to be other opportunities, I hope so. I can’t speak to what all those things might be now. This is all quite early in getting developed. The better we do at the foundational work, the more opportunities I think that will come and present themselves. So I think that that’s all stuff that we need to figure out. But at least at the base level, I think we’re generally incentivized to move in this direction. And we also need to figure out how to go in that direction over time. I mean, I mentioned LLaMA before and I also want to be clear that while I’m talking about helping contribute to an open ecosystem, LLaMA is a model that we only really made available to researchers and there’s a lot of really good stuff that’s happening there. But a lot of the work that we’re doing, I think, we would aspire to and hope to make even more open than that. So, we’ll need to figure out a way to do that.

[P] Need advise on creating a conversational Chatbot for my University

Hey everyone! I need some advise on creating a conversational chatbot for my University as my Final Year Project (FYP). 2024 will be last year for my BSCS degree and we have to build an application or something in the last year. So, I thought of creating a chatbot (just like GPT) to help students (who have admission queries). Most of the time, students or parents will have to call University for various questions and then they have to wait to ACTUALLY talk to the admins office people. Now, talking in terms of coding/programming, I have created a basic PDFbot by using LLama2, Huggingface and Pinecone. Its very very easy and yes its fairly inaccurate too. The PDF that I am using rn will be replaced by the dataset that I gather in order to create the bot for my Uni, but it will also be inaccurate as this one. Also, the chatbot that I have made is just based on this one function called "similarity\_search()" and I am literally passing query of the user to this function which then tries to find the most relevant answer by the embeddings from knowledge base. How do I make this accurate? I know using the OpenAI model will make it accurate, but its paid as well, idk how will I manage to do that. Plus, i reckon there will be a simple function there too which doesn't make me a good programmer I think. I really want to do something good and unique for once. I have dreamt about leaving back something in my Uni that has my name over it. Can I do something where I get to make a mini-language model or something like that? Will it be too complex for me to handle? (I consider myself a beginner to this programming world) 1- I am planning to create a dynamic dataset which will also include any event that's going to happen in our University. 2- I am also planning to make the chatbot intelligent enough to consult confused students. 3- Chatbot will also include information about each and every faculty member. Their qualifications, research papers and other info in general. It would be a relief if any of the experts give me a roadmap on this, it will be genuinely a stress relief for me. I am trying to get done with at least 70% of the work before the start of the next year so that I don't have to work much in the next year.

[D] Playing big league at home on a budget?

I am a hobbyist and my Nvidia 660 is 10 years old and only has 2GB. Obviously that isn't going to cut it nowadays anymore. I am thinking about options here. I don't have thousands and thousands of dollars. And I highly doubt that spending close to a thousand dollars on a brand new card is still viable in 2020-2022. I wanted to use Wavenet today and then found out about Melnet. I mean, maybe I could run Wavenet but nobody in their right mind wants to after hearing Melnet results. On Github this one guy complained he couldn't get his implementation to work due to OOM with 2x 2080 RTX, which he bought solely for this purpose. Then on the other repo the guy casually mentioned that tier XY doesn't fit with some 10 year old lowfi dataset, even with batch size 1, on a 16GB Tesla P100. The wisdom for OOM has always been "decrease batch size". But as far as I can tell, for most of any of the interesting stuff in the last 8 years or so you simply can't decrease batch size. Either because batch sizes are already so tiny, or because the code is written in a way that would require you to somehow turn it inside out, probably involving extreme knowledge of higher mathematics. I am a hobbyist, not a researcher. I am happy if I crudely can grasp what is going on. Most of anything in the field suffers from exactly the same issue: It simply won't run without utterly absurd amounts of VRAM. So what about buying shitty cheapo AMD GPUs with lots of VRAM? This seems to be the sensible choice if you want to be able to run anything noteworthy at all that comes up in the next 2 years and maybe beyond. People say, don't but AMD its slow and it sucks, but those are apparently the same people that buy a 16GB Titan GPU for $1500 three times on Ebay without hesitation, when there are also 16GB AMD GPUs for $300. How much slower are AMD GPUs really? Let's say they are 5 times cheaper so they could be just 5 times slower. So I have to train my model over night instead of seeing the result in the afternoon. That would be totally awesome!; given that the alternative is to buy a $300 Nvidia GPU, which has maybe 4 or 6GB and simply can't run the code without running out of memory. And say $300 is not enough, let's buy a $700 RTX 3080. It still only has 10GB of VRAM not even 16GB. Then its just as useless! What's the point of buying a fast GPU if it can't even run the code? I don't know how much slower AMD GPUs really are. Maybe they are not 5x but 50x slower. Then of course training a model that was developed on some 64GB Tesla might take month and years. But maybe speed is not the issue, only memory. I have seen some stuff even being optimized for CPU, apparently because there weren't any big enough GPUs around. I don't really know how viable that can be (it seems rarely if ever it is), I have no experience. And what about renting AWS? Let's say, I am a beginner and I want to toy around for a week and probably max out 4 Teslas like 80% of the time without really getting anywhere. How expensive is that? $25, $50, $100, $500? (Found the answer: fucking $2000 https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/p3/ ) Ok, so AWS is bullshit, here its 6x cheaper: https://vast.ai/console/create/ . They don't really have 4x 16GB V100 though, just one V100. $0.5 per hour 24 7 = $84 per month (there are more hidden cost like bandwidth, it doesn't seem to be huge but I never used this so don't take it at face value). On AWS the same is over $3 per hour. So a day is $12, this could be viable! (look at calculation below). There really isn't much info on the net about hardware requirements and performance for machine learning stuff. What bothers me the most is that people seem to be very ignorant of the VRAM issue. Either because they aren't looking ahead of what might come in 1-2 years. Or because they are simply so rich they have no issue spending thousands and thousands of dollars every year instead of just 500 every couple of years. Or maybe they are both. So, yeah, what are your thoughts? Here is what I found out just today: Until 2 years ago, tensorflow and pytorch wouldn't work with AMD cards, but this has changed. https://rocmdocs.amd.com/en/latest/Deep_learning/Deep-learning.html For older cards though, ROCm only works with certain CPUs: it needs PCIe 3.0 with atomics (see: https://github.com/RadeonOpenCompute/ROCm ). So you can't simply buy any 16GB card for $300 on Ebay like I suggested, even if it supports ROCm, because it will only work for "newer" PCs. The newer GFX9 AMD cards (like Radeon VII and Vega) don't suffer from this problem and work with PCIe 2.0 again... Although I have seen 16GB Vega cards for like $350 on Ebay, I think that is a pretty rare catch. However looking 1-2 years in the future, this is great because Radeon VII prices will be hugely inflated by Nvidia 3000 series hype (maybe down to $180 even) and maybe the next gen cards from AMD even have 24 or 32GB for $500-$1000 and can still run on old machines. According to this https://arxiv.org/pdf/1909.06842.pdf Radeon VII 16GB performs only half as good as Tesla V100 16GB, whereas V100 should be roughly along the lines of 11GB RTX 2080 Ti. So you could say that you get half the RAM, double the speed, double the price. I am not sure though if that holds. I think they were putting 16GB in those cards trying to push it for ML with ROCm, clearly addressing the problem of the time, but no one really jumped on the train and now Resnet shrinks RAM but needs more processing power. So they released 8GB cards again with slightly better performance, and I guess we are lucky if the next generation even has 16GB because games probably don't need it at all. Still though with Revnets and everything said in the comments, I think on a budget you are better on the safe side buying the card with the most amount of VRAM, rather than the most performance. Tomorrow some paper might come out that uses another method, then you can't trick-shrink your network anymore and then everyone needs to buy big ass cards again like it used to be and can do nothing but throw their fancy faster cards in the dumpster. Also the huge bulk of ML currently focuses on image processing, while sound has only been gaining real momentum recently and this will be followed by video processing and eventually human-alike thought processes that sit atop of all that and have not even been tackled yet. Its a rapidly evolving field, hard to predict what will come and stay. Running out of VRAM means total hardware failure, running slower just means waiting longer. If you just buy the newest card every year, its probably save to buy the fast card because things won't change that fast after all. If you buy a new card every 4 years or longer then just try to get as much VRAM as possible. Check this out: https://www.techspot.com/news/86811-gigabyte-accidentally-reveals-rtx-3070-16gb-rtx-3080.html There will be a 3070 16GB version! Let's compare renting one V100 at $12/day vs. buying a 3070 Ti 16GB: The 2080 Ti was 1.42x the price of the regular 2080 and released the next summer. So let's assume the same will be true to the 3070 Ti so it will cost $700. That is $30/month & $1.88/day for two years - $15/month & $0.94/day in four years (by which time you can probably rent some 32GB Tesla card for the same price and nothing recent runs on less anymore). If you max out your setup 24/7 all year, then power cost obviously becomes a huge factor to that figure. In my country running at 500W cost $4.21/day, or $1.60 / 9hrs overnight. If you live elsewhere it might be as much as a quarter of that price. Of course your PC may run 10h a day anyway, so its maybe just 300W plus, and an older graphics card is inefficient for games it eats more Watts to do the same things so you save some there as well. There is a lot to take into account if comparing. Anyway, factoring in power cost, to break even with buying the card vs. renting within two years, you would have to use it for at least 4 days a month, or almost 2 weeks every 3 month. If you use it less than that, you maybe have a nice new graphics card and less hassle with pushing stuff back and forth onto servers all the time. But it would have been more economic to rent. So renting isn't that bad after all. Overall if you are thinking about having this as your hobby, you could say that it will cost you at least $30 per month, if not $50 or more (when keeping up to date with cards every 2 instead of 4 years + using it more cost more power). I think that is quite hefty. Personally I am not even invested enough into this even if it wasn't over my finances. I want a new card of course and also play some new games, but I don't really need to. There are a lot of other (more) important things I am interested in, that are totally free.

[D] "Grokking" Deep Learning architectures and using them in practice

Hi all, I'm on the first years of my PhD in Computer Vision and obviously the vast majority of research in it is nowadays using Deep Learning techniques. I like to think that I'm far from an absolute beginner in the sense that: I've trained neural networks and more "traditional" ML models in a couple of courses, as well as for my MSc thesis, albeit almost out-of-the-box stuff. I have a decent understanding of Linear Algebra, Calculus and Probability Theory (undergrad courses from CS degree). I say "decent" because I'm of the firm opinion that the more math one knows the more impressive the things they can do in AI, so I really don't consider myself a math whiz, but judging from the math knowledge an average "How to get started with Deep Learning" blog post assumes, I'd say I'm well ahead. I'm also devoting some time every day to a more rigorous study of these areas, eventually hoping to expand to other related ones. I can get through Deep Learning papers and usually* obtain at least a basic understanding of what they're about, as well as why it works, at least according to the authors and their experiments. I do still have some trouble with more state-of-the-art works, especially ones that also use things from NLP. However, I don't really feel confident that I can actually produce useful research that investigates and/or uses this sort of methods to do something new. During undergrad, in order to actually understand most -if not all- concepts taught to me in programming and math I'd actually do things with them: solve problems, prove statements, or just code with the goal of creating some system or seeing how an idea actually works (e.g. polymorphism). I realize, however, that this has not been the case with Deep Learning, at least for me: I've never tried to actually code a CNN or ResNet, much less a word2vec model, a Transformer, or any sort of generative model. Sure, I've read about how the first layers of a CNN learn edges etc. but I've never actually "seen it with my own eyes". Transformers in particular seem to really trouble me. Although I sort-of understand the idea behind attention etc., I struggle to see what sort of features they end up using (in contrast to CNNs, where the idea of learning convolutional filters is much more intuitive to me). Which brings me to the question of what's an efficient way to go from understanding a paper to actually feeling like you really, truly, "grok" the material and could build on it, or use it in some scenario? Do you think implementing research papers from scratch or almost from scratch can be useful? Or is it way too time consuming for someone already busy with a PhD? Is it even feasible or are most papers -sadly- unreproducible if you don't use authors' code? How do you manage to stay on track with such a rapidly evolving field, on any level beyond a completely surface understanding? How do you find a good balance between learning to use tools/frameworks, reading papers and gaining the deeper sort of understanding I mention?

[P] An elegant and strong PyTorch Trainer

For lightweight use, pytorch-lightning is too heavy, and its source code will be very difficult for beginners to read, at least for me. As we know, for a deep learning engineer, a powerful trainer is a sharp weapon. When reproducing the SOTA papers, you don't have to write a lot of template code every time and can pay more attention to the model implementation itself. I opened source some works (AAAI 21 SeqNet, ICCV 21 MAED, etc) and earned more than 500 stars. After referring to some popular projects (detectron2, pytorch-image-models, and mmcv), based on my personal development experience, I developed a SIMPLE enough, GENERIC enough, and STRONG enough PyTorch Trainer: core-pytorch-utils, also named CPU. CPU covers most details in the process of training a deep neural network, including: Auto logging to console and tensorboard. Auto checkpointing. Argument parser which can load a YAML configuration file. Make ALL PyTorch LR scheduler supporting warmup. Support distributed training. Support Automatically Mixed Precision (AMP) training. I try to keep the project code as simple and readable as possible. So the code comments are very detailed and everyone can understand them. What's more, a good document is also available: CPU document For deep learning green hands, you can learn how to: write a standard and clean training loop. use AMP to speed up your training. save checkpoint, and resume from it. perform more smooth, and readable logging. use the popular visualization library: tensorboard. For old hands, we can talk about whether the structure of CPU is elegant and reasonable. I have thought a lot about this framework, combining the advantages of several popular frameworks and discarding their shortcomings. Welcome to use it!

[R] Reinforcement Learning for Sequential Decision and Optimal Control

Since early 21st century, artificial intelligence (AI) has been reshaping almost all areas of human society, which has high potential to spark the fourth industrial revolution. Notable examples can be found in the sector of road transportation, where AI has drastically changed automobile design and traffic management. Many new technologies, such as driver assistance, autonomous driving, and cloud-based cooperation, are emerging at an unbelievable speed. These new technologies have the potential to significantly improve driving ability, reduce traffic accidents, and relieve urban congestion. As one of the most important AI branches, reinforcement learning (RL) has attracted increasing attention in recent years. RL is an interdisciplinary field of trial-and-error learning and optimal control, which promises to provide optimal solutions for decision-making or control in large-scale and complex dynamic processes. One of its most conspicuous successes is AlphaGo from Google DeepMind, which has beaten the highest-level professional human player. The underlying key technology is the so-called deep reinforcement learning, which equips AlphaGo with amazing self-evolution ability and high playing intelligence. Despite a few successes, the application of RL is still in its infancy because most RL algorithms are rather difficult to comprehend and implement. RL connects deeply with statistical learning and convex optimization, and involves a wide range of new concepts and theories. As a beginner, one must undergo a long and tedious learning process to become an RL master. Without fully understanding those underlying principles, it is very difficult for new users to make proper adjustments to achieve the best application performance. &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/tggt6o3o481c1.jpg?width=248&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75e2b58ac8da9273f2511a4fe37ef508d86a6e96 Reference： Shengbo Eben Li, Reinforcement Learning for Sequential Decision and Optimal Control. Springer Verlag, Singapore, 2023 Website of e-book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-19-7784-8 &#x200B; QR code to Springer Book contents This book aims to provide a systematic introduction to fundamental RL theories, mainstream RL algorithms and typical RL applications for researchers and engineers. The main topics include Markov decision processes, Monte Carlo learning, temporal difference learning, RL with function approximation, policy gradient method, approximate dynamic programming, deep reinforcement learning, etc. Chapter 1 provides an overview of RL, including its history, famous scholars, successful examples and up-to-date challenges. Chapter 2 discusses the basis of RL, including main concepts and terminologies, Bellman’s optimality condition, and general problem formulation. Chapter 3 introduces Monte Carlo learning methods for model-free RL, including on-policy/off-policy methods and importance sampling technique. Chapter 4 introduces temporal difference learning methods for model-free RL, including Sarsa, Q-learning, and expected Sarsa. Chapter 5 introduces stochastic dynamic programming (DP), i.e., model-based RL with tabular representation, including value iteration DP, policy iteration DP and their convergence mechanisms. Chapter 6 introduces how to approximate policy and value functions in indirect RL methods as well as the associated actor-critic architecture. Chapter 7 derives different kinds of direct policy gradients, including likelihood ratio gradient, natural policy gradient and a few advanced variants. Chapter 8 introduces infinite-horizon ADP, finite-horizon ADP and its connection with model predictive control. Chapter 9 discusses how to handle state constraints and its connection with feasibility and safety, as well as the newly proposed actor-critic-scenery learning architecture. Chapter 10 is devoted to deep reinforcement learning, including how to train artificial neural networks and typical deep RL algorithms such as DQN, DDPG, TD3, TRPO, PPO, SAC, and DSAC. Chapter 11 provides various RL topics,including robust RL, POMDP, multi-agent RL, meta-RL, inverse RL, offline RL, major RL libraries and platforms. Author information: Shengbo Eben Li is currently a professor at Tsinghua University in the interdisciplinary field of autonomous driving and artificial intelligence. Before joining Tsinghua University, he has worked at Stanford University, University of Michigan, and UC Berkeley. His active research interests include intelligent vehicles and driver assistance, deep reinforcement learning, optimal control and estimation, etc. He has published more than 130 peer-reviewed papers in top-tier international journals and conferences. He is the recipient of best paper awards (finalists) of IEEE ITSC, ICCAS, IEEE ICUS, IEEE IV, L4DC, etc. He has received a number of important academic honors, including National Award for Technological Invention of China (2013), National Award for Progress in Sci & Tech of China (2018), Distinguished Young Scholar of Beijing NSF (2018), Youth Sci & Tech Innovation Leader from MOST China (2020), etc. He also serves as Board of Governor of IEEE ITS Society, Senior AE of IEEE OJ ITS, and AEs of IEEE ITSM, IEEE Trans ITS, Automotive Innovation, etc.

[D] What are some good advanced platforms?

Hey. I'm 27 and I think I got most of the basics for ML. I'm very good at math, I understand statistics and probability quite deep, worked on research projects by myself, for which I had to build models on my own. Not really complex, but still requiring creativity and a good understanding of basic concepts. I will soon start a data science job at a FAANG company and I want to further improve my skills and use their resources to the fullest, but I'm not really sure where to go from here in terms of learning. Could you help me with some more advanced materials/forums for ML research/place with good papers/place with good articles? I'd also like to study the very best and see the way they code and explain advanced concepts (like Andrej Karpathy) where can I find them?? is there a Twitch for challenger level AI researchers streaming live processes? Or videos showing the entire project flow (how they do data visualizations, mining, choosing models, tuning, etc) like top digital artists show the highlights or the entire speed-up of their painting processes? Here's a list all of my projects to get a general idea of my level and where I'm at: calculating the distance between hundreds of 42.000 feature objects (containing categorical, strings, numbers, hashes, booleans as variables) and then clustering. with some vector processing and a neural network implemented from scratch in C some models like ARIMA (together with linear regression) combining a FFT with a neural network for a 42d wave classification T-SNE to split dataset into 2d grids -> Kullback–Leibler on grids for distance -> DBSCAN/KMEANS for clustering genetic algorithms for hyperparameter optimizations and reinforcement learning (neuro evolution) DBSCAN -> Levenberg-Marquardt for polynomial coefficients-> neural network predicting the coefficients based on different parameters playing with instance segmentation and some algorithms to synchronize a color and a depth camera simulations/statistics/probabilities for video games a lot of visualizations and data mining for patterns As you can see there is no LLM/ Generative AI/ Computer Vision stuff, which I would like to get into. I'm also not 100% sure what else would be nice to learn in general. I know most of the basic procedures for training, balancing datasets, avoid overfit, computing error plots, comparing models, etc and I'm familiar with most of math (not insanely advanced) used in ML. I didn't read many papers, but holy ... most of them are so unreadable and filled with pompous nonsense that 99% of the effort is de-obfuscating the bs and reading for so long just to figure out how the input is encoded, what's the output, and what's the model. Where can I find good, readable, structured papers which are actually on point? I'm from Eastern Europe and most of my learning has been done by my self after high school, the education quality is close to zero in the universities here and I never had any mentors at the jobs I worked. There's no research in this country, and getting to work on these projects was insanely hard, some of them being done in my free time or for free just to get experience... Fortunately after a lot of hard work I got into FAANG, and I hope things will be better here. Most of what I've learned has been from very fragmented places on the internet, and now I'm looking for centralized places and communities of top quality content. TL;DR: sorry for the long rambling. had to order my thoughts and figure what i actually want: Looking for top tier AI researchers showcasing their work processes, places with clear papers/articles, tips for someone who's no longer a very beginner, and other communities like this.

[D] Here are 17 ways of making PyTorch training faster – what did I miss?

I've been collecting methods to accelerate training in PyTorch – here's what I've found so far. What did I miss? What did I get wrong? The methods – roughly sorted from largest to smallest expected speed-up – are: Consider using a different learning rate schedule. Use multiple workers and pinned memory in DataLoader. Max out the batch size. Use Automatic Mixed Precision (AMP). Consider using a different optimizer. Turn on cudNN benchmarking. Beware of frequently transferring data between CPUs and GPUs. Use gradient/activation checkpointing. Use gradient accumulation. Use DistributedDataParallel for multi-GPU training. Set gradients to None rather than 0. Use .as\_tensor rather than .tensor() Turn off debugging APIs if not needed. Use gradient clipping. Turn off bias before BatchNorm. Turn off gradient computation during validation. Use input and batch normalization. Consider using another learning rate schedule The learning rate (schedule) you choose has a large impact on the speed of convergence as well as the generalization performance of your model. Cyclical Learning Rates and the 1Cycle learning rate schedule are both methods introduced by Leslie N. Smith (here and here), and then popularised by fast.ai's Jeremy Howard and Sylvain Gugger (here and here). Essentially, the 1Cycle learning rate schedule looks something like this: &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/sc37u5knmxa61.png?width=476&format=png&auto=webp&s=09b309b4dbd67eedb4ab5f86e03e0e83d7b072d1 Sylvain writes: \[1cycle consists of\]  two steps of equal lengths, one going from a lower learning rate to a higher one than go back to the minimum. The maximum should be the value picked with the Learning Rate Finder, and the lower one can be ten times lower. Then, the length of this cycle should be slightly less than the total number of epochs, and, in the last part of training, we should allow the learning rate to decrease more than the minimum, by several orders of magnitude. In the best case this schedule achieves a massive speed-up – what Smith calls Superconvergence – as compared to conventional learning rate schedules. Using the 1Cycle policy he needs \~10x fewer training iterations of a ResNet-56 on ImageNet to match the performance of the original paper, for instance). The schedule seems to perform robustly well across common architectures and optimizers. PyTorch implements both of these methods torch.optim.lrscheduler.CyclicLR and torch.optim.lrscheduler.OneCycleLR, see the documentation. One drawback of these schedulers is that they introduce a number of additional hyperparameters. This post and this repo, offer a nice overview and implementation of how good hyper-parameters can be found including the Learning Rate Finder mentioned above. Why does this work? It doesn't seem entirely clear but one possible explanation might be that regularly increasing the learning rate helps to traverse saddle points in the loss landscape more quickly. Use multiple workers and pinned memory in DataLoader When using torch.utils.data.DataLoader, set numworkers > 0, rather than the default value of 0, and pinmemory=True, rather than the default value of False. Details of this are explained here. Szymon Micacz achieves a 2x speed-up for a single training epoch by using four workers and pinned memory. A rule of thumb that people are using to choose the number of workers is to set it to four times the number of available GPUs with both a larger and smaller number of workers leading to a slow down. Note that increasing num\_workerswill increase your CPU memory consumption. Max out the batch size This is a somewhat contentious point. Generally, however, it seems like using the largest batch size your GPU memory permits will accelerate your training (see NVIDIA's Szymon Migacz, for instance). Note that you will also have to adjust other hyperparameters, such as the learning rate, if you modify the batch size. A rule of thumb here is to double the learning rate as you double the batch size. OpenAI has a nice empirical paper on the number of convergence steps needed for different batch sizes. Daniel Huynh runs some experiments with different batch sizes (also using the 1Cycle policy discussed above) where he achieves a 4x speed-up by going from batch size 64 to 512. One of the downsides of using large batch sizes, however, is that they might lead to solutions that generalize worse than those trained with smaller batches. Use Automatic Mixed Precision (AMP) The release of PyTorch 1.6 included a native implementation of Automatic Mixed Precision training to PyTorch. The main idea here is that certain operations can be run faster and without a loss of accuracy at semi-precision (FP16) rather than in the single-precision (FP32) used elsewhere. AMP, then, automatically decide which operation should be executed in which format. This allows both for faster training and a smaller memory footprint. In the best case, the usage of AMP would look something like this: import torch Creates once at the beginning of training scaler = torch.cuda.amp.GradScaler() for data, label in data_iter: optimizer.zero_grad() Casts operations to mixed precision with torch.cuda.amp.autocast(): loss = model(data) Scales the loss, and calls backward() to create scaled gradients scaler.scale(loss).backward() Unscales gradients and calls or skips optimizer.step() scaler.step(optimizer) Updates the scale for next iteration scaler.update() Benchmarking a number of common language and vision models on NVIDIA V100 GPUs, Huang and colleagues find that using AMP over regular FP32 training yields roughly 2x – but upto 5.5x – training speed-ups. Currently, only CUDA ops can be autocast in this way. See the documentation here for more details on this and other limitations. u/SVPERBlA points out that you can squeeze out some additional performance (\~ 20%) from AMP on NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs if you convert your tensors to the Channels Last memory format. Refer to this section in the NVIDIA docs for an explanation of the speedup and more about NCHW versus NHWC tensor formats. Consider using another optimizer AdamW is Adam with weight decay (rather than L2-regularization) which was popularized by fast.ai and is now available natively in PyTorch as torch.optim.AdamW. AdamW seems to consistently outperform Adam in terms of both the error achieved and the training time. See this excellent blog post on why using weight decay instead of L2-regularization makes a difference for Adam. Both Adam and AdamW work well with the 1Cycle policy described above. There are also a few not-yet-native optimizers that have received a lot of attention recently, most notably LARS (pip installable implementation) and LAMB. NVIDA's APEX implements fused versions of a number of common optimizers such as Adam. This implementation avoid a number of passes to and from GPU memory as compared to the PyTorch implementation of Adam, yielding speed-ups in the range of 5%. Turn on cudNN benchmarking If your model architecture remains fixed and your input size stays constant, setting torch.backends.cudnn.benchmark = True might be beneficial (docs). This enables the cudNN autotuner which will benchmark a number of different ways of computing convolutions in cudNN and then use the fastest method from then on. For a rough reference on the type of speed-up you can expect from this, Szymon Migacz achieves a speed-up of 70% on a forward pass for a convolution and a 27% speed-up for a forward + backward pass of the same convolution. One caveat here is that this autotuning might become very slow if you max out the batch size as mentioned above. Beware of frequently transferring data between CPUs and GPUs Beware of frequently transferring tensors from a GPU to a CPU using tensor.cpu() and vice versa using tensor.cuda() as these are relatively expensive. The same applies for .item() and .numpy() – use .detach() instead. If you are creating a new tensor, you can also directly assign it to your GPU using the keyword argument device=torch.device('cuda:0'). If you do need to transfer data, using .to(non_blocking=True), might be useful as long as you don't have any synchronization points after the transfer. If you really have to, you might want to give Santosh Gupta's SpeedTorch a try, although it doesn't seem entirely clear when this actually does/doesn't provide speed-ups. Use gradient/activation checkpointing Quoting directly from the documentation: Checkpointing works by trading compute for memory. Rather than storing all intermediate activations of the entire computation graph for computing backward, the checkpointed part does not save intermediate activations, and instead recomputes them in backward pass. It can be applied on any part of a model. Specifically, in the forward pass, function will run in torch.no\grad() manner, i.e., not storing the intermediate activations. Instead, the forward pass saves the inputs tuple and the functionparameter. In the backwards pass, the saved inputs and function is retrieved, and the forward pass is computed on function again, now tracking the intermediate activations, and then the gradients are calculated using these activation values. So while this will might slightly increase your run time for a given batch size, you'll significantly reduce your memory footprint. This in turn will allow you to further increase the batch size you're using allowing for better GPU utilization. While checkpointing is implemented natively as torch.utils.checkpoint(docs), it does seem to take some thought and effort to implement properly. Priya Goyal has a good tutorial demonstrating some of the key aspects of checkpointing. Use gradient accumulation Another approach to increasing the batch size is to accumulate gradients across multiple .backward() passes before calling optimizer.step(). Following a post by Hugging Face's Thomas Wolf, gradient accumulation can be implemented as follows: model.zero_grad() Reset gradients tensors for i, (inputs, labels) in enumerate(training_set): predictions = model(inputs) Forward pass loss = loss_function(predictions, labels) Compute loss function loss = loss / accumulation_steps Normalize our loss (if averaged) loss.backward() Backward pass if (i+1) % accumulation_steps == 0: Wait for several backward steps optimizer.step() Now we can do an optimizer step model.zero_grad() Reset gradients tensors if (i+1) % evaluation_steps == 0: Evaluate the model when we... evaluate_model() ...have no gradients accumulate This method was developed mainly to circumvent GPU memory limitations and I'm not entirely clear on the trade-off between having additional .backward() loops. This discussion on the fastai forum seems to suggest that it can in fact accelerate training, so it's probably worth a try. Use Distributed Data Parallel for multi-GPU training Methods to accelerate distributed training probably warrant their own post but one simple one is to use torch.nn.DistributedDataParallel rather than torch.nn.DataParallel. By doing so, each GPU will be driven by a dedicated CPU core avoiding the GIL issues of DataParallel. In general, I can strongly recommend reading the documentation on distributed training. Set gradients to None rather than 0 Use .zerograd(settonone=True) rather than .zerograd(). Doing so will let the memory allocator handle the gradients rather than actively setting them to 0. This will lead to yield a modest speed-up as they say in the documentation, so don't expect any miracles. Watch out, doing this is not side-effect free! Check the docs for the details on this. Use .as_tensor() rather than .tensor() torch.tensor() always copies data. If you have a numpy array that you want to convert, use torch.astensor() or torch.fromnumpy() to avoid copying the data. Turn on debugging tools only when actually needed PyTorch offers a number of useful debugging tools like the autograd.profiler, autograd.grad\check, and autograd.anomaly\detection. Make sure to use them to better understand when needed but to also turn them off when you don't need them as they will slow down your training. Use gradient clipping Originally used to avoid exploding gradients in RNNs, there is both some empirical evidence as well as some theoretical support that clipping gradients (roughly speaking: gradient = min(gradient, threshold)) accelerates convergence. Hugging Face's Transformer implementation is a really clean example of how to use gradient clipping as well as some of the other methods such as AMP mentioned in this post. In PyTorch this can be done using torch.nn.utils.clipgradnorm(documentation). It's not entirely clear to me which models benefit how much from gradient clipping but it seems to be robustly useful for RNNs, Transformer-based and ResNets architectures and a range of different optimizers. Turn off bias before BatchNorm This is a very simple one: turn off the bias of layers before BatchNormalization layers. For a 2-D convolutional layer, this can be done by setting the bias keyword to False: torch.nn.Conv2d(..., bias=False, ...).  (Here's a reminder why this makes sense.) You will save some parameters, I would however expect the speed-up of this to be relatively small as compared to some of the other methods mentioned here. Turn off gradient computation during validation This one is straightforward: set torch.no_grad() during validation. Use input and batch normalization You're probably already doing this but you might want to double-check: Are you normalizing your input? Are you using batch-normalization? And here's a reminder of why you probably should. Bonus tip from the comments: Use JIT to fuse point-wise operations. If you have adjacent point-wise operations you can use PyTorch JIT to combine them into one FusionGroup which can then be launched on a single kernel rather than multiple kernels as would have been done per default. You'll also save some memory reads and writes. Szymon Migacz shows how you can use the @torch.jit.script decorator to fuse the operations in a GELU, for instance: @torch.jit.script def fused_gelu(x): return x 0.5 (1.0 + torch.erf(x / 1.41421)) In this case, fusing the operations leads to a 5x speed-up for the execution of fused_gelu as compared to the unfused version. See also this post for an example of how Torchscript can be used to accelerate an RNN. Hat tip to u/Patient_Atmosphere45 for the suggestion. Sources and additional resources Many of the tips listed above come from Szymon Migacz' talk and post in the PyTorch docs. PyTorch Lightning's William Falcon has two interesting posts with tips to speed-up training. PyTorch Lightning does already take care of some of the points above per-default. Thomas Wolf at Hugging Face has a number of interesting articles on accelerating deep learning – with a particular focus on language models. The same goes for Sylvain Gugger and Jeremy Howard: they have many interesting posts in particular on learning rates and AdamW. Thanks to Ben Hahn, Kevin Klein and Robin Vaaler for their feedback on a draft of this post! I've also put all of the above into this blog post.

[P] RLHF Learning to Summarize: Implementation by CarperAI with trlX

Hi, "Learning to summarize from human feedback" is a 2020 paper by OpenAI demonstrating how to use reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF) to fine-tune a language model to produce higher quality summaries of news articles and Reddit posts than is possible with supervised fine-tuning. Now, CarperAI has demonstrated how to use their library trlX to implement this work, by applying RLHF to the summarization dataset released by OpenAI and fine-tuning GPT-J-6B. Read the full report here, with a code walkthrough: https://wandb.ai/carperai/summarize_RLHF/reports/Implementing-RLHF-Learning-to-Summarize-with-trlX--VmlldzozMzAwODM2 trlX library here: https://github.com/CarperAI/trlx Twitter thread here: https://twitter.com/carperai/status/1613645352514768897

Andrej Karpathy releases concise GPT implementation. Why has he bothered to do this: doesn't he work for OpenAI, at least indirectly? [D] [N]

It's nice to see a concise implementation of GPT, in pytorch, as it is true Hugging Face's Transformer's is excellent, but it is quite difficult to trace. They are trying to build it out constantly with loads of features, so you get lost. I'm wondering Andrej's reason for doing this? His wiki states he works for OpenAI and Tesla is at least affiliated with Openai. Also it's very far from computer vision domain, so why spend the time on an open source implementation and make some guesses on GPT-2/GPT-3. His implementation is easy to follow, which is nice , most reimplementations I see have bugs or are unecessary complex. I am surprised at how basic his trainer code is etc., that he pretty much uses the very standard stuff. Andrej also states 'A vanilla multi-head masked self-attention layer with a projection at the end. I believe I could have just used torch.nn.MultiheadAttention but their documentation is all but absent and code ugly so I don't trust it, rolling my own here.' I usually trust the torch team blindly to come up with a more efficient implementation than I ever could, as don't they stringently test their code, before releasing? so am also surprised by this.

[D] What is your honest experience with reinforcement learning?

In my personal experience, SOTA RL algorithms simply don't work. I've tried working with reinforcement learning for over 5 years. I remember when Alpha Go defeated the world famous Go player, Lee Sedol, and everybody thought RL would take the ML community by storm. Yet, outside of toy problems, I've personally never found a practical use-case of RL. What is your experience with it? Aside from Ad recommendation systems and RLHF, are there legitimate use-cases of RL? Or, was it all hype? Edit: I know a lot about AI. I built NexusTrade, an AI-Powered automated investing tool that lets non-technical users create, update, and deploy their trading strategies. I’m not an idiot nor a noob; RL is just ridiculously hard. Edit 2: Since my comments are being downvoted, here is a link to my article that better describes my position. It's not that I don't understand RL. I released my open-source code and wrote a paper on it. It's the fact that it's EXTREMELY difficult to understand. Other deep learning algorithms like CNNs (including ResNets), RNNs (including GRUs and LSTMs), Transformers, and GANs are not hard to understand. These algorithms work and have practical use-cases outside of the lab. Traditional SOTA RL algorithms like PPO, DDPG, and TD3 are just very hard. You need to do a bunch of research to even implement a toy problem. In contrast, the decision transformer is something anybody can implement, and it seems to match or surpass the SOTA. You don't need two networks battling each other. You don't have to go through hell to debug your network. It just naturally learns the best set of actions in an auto-regressive manner. I also didn't mean to come off as arrogant or imply that RL is not worth learning. I just haven't seen any real-world, practical use-cases of it. I simply wanted to start a discussion, not claim that I know everything. Edit 3: There's a shockingly number of people calling me an idiot for not fully understanding RL. You guys are wayyy too comfortable calling people you disagree with names. News-flash, not everybody has a PhD in ML. My undergraduate degree is in biology. I self-taught myself the high-level maths to understand ML. I'm very passionate about the field; I just have VERY disappointing experiences with RL. Funny enough, there are very few people refuting my actual points. To summarize: Lack of real-world applications Extremely complex and inaccessible to 99% of the population Much harder than traditional DL algorithms like CNNs, RNNs, and GANs Sample inefficiency and instability Difficult to debug Better alternatives, such as the Decision Transformer Are these not legitimate criticisms? Is the purpose of this sub not to have discussions related to Machine Learning? To the few commenters that aren't calling me an idiot...thank you! Remember, it costs you nothing to be nice! Edit 4: Lots of people seem to agree that RL is over-hyped. Unfortunately those comments are downvoted. To clear up some things: We've invested HEAVILY into reinforcement learning. All we got from this investment is a robot that can be super-human at (some) video games. AlphaFold did not use any reinforcement learning. SpaceX doesn't either. I concede that it can be useful for robotics, but still argue that it's use-cases outside the lab are extremely limited. If you're stumbling on this thread and curious about an RL alternative, check out the Decision Transformer. It can be used in any situation that a traditional RL algorithm can be used. Final Edit: To those who contributed more recently, thank you for the thoughtful discussion! From what I learned, model-based models like Dreamer and IRIS MIGHT have a future. But everybody who has actually used model-free models like DDPG unanimously agree that they suck and don’t work.

[P] I created a package implementing a SOTA technique for XAI ( Explainable AI)

This is the package https://github.com/mfumagalli68/xi-method Follow the README and install directly from pypi. From the paper: " \[..\]To bridge this gap we propose a family of measures of statistical association whose definition is well-posed also for nonordered data. Our intuition is to rely on separation measurements between probability mass functions. Here, by separation measurement we mean any distance or divergence between probability mass functions that is positive, and that is null if and only if the probability mass functions coincide. Then, we show that the new class of sensitivity indices complies with Renyi’s postulate D of measures of statistical dependence (Renyi, 1959). This postulate, called zero-independence property in the following, requires that a measure of association is null if and only if the two random variables are statistically independent. We address the estimation of this new class of indicators for generic samples, and discuss their asymptotic convergence. We then use these probabilistic sensitivity measures in the context of explainability. A relevant aspect related to measures of statistical association is that they can be computed directly on the original dataset without the need of actually fitting a machine learning model. Thus, not only are they model agnostic in explaining the behavior of a black box, but they also provide pre-hoc explanations. Our intuition is then to compare explanations provided by measures of statistical association first calculated on the original data (the pre-hoc explanations) and then on the forecasts of the machine learning model fitted to the data (post-hoc explanations). This comparison provides an indication on whether the ML model predictions capture the statistical dependence originally present in the data. We call the resulting approach Xi-method\[...\] " The paper can't be shared freely, but as always with a little bit of research you can find it online. If you find it interesting, star the repo. &#x200B; Thanks

[D] Do you know any institutions/nonprofits/companies/governments/etc. trying to apply deep learning and other ML/AI/GenAI techniques to implement universal basic income (UBI) or something similar to UBI like universal basic services?

Do you know any institutions/nonprofits/companies/governments/etc. trying to apply deep learning and other ML/AI/GenAI techniques to implement universal basic income (UBI) or something similar to UBI like universal basic services? Maybe for chatbot guidance on UBI program details, selecting candidates that need it the most, predicting poverty, UBI impacts, demographic and economic indicators to identify optimal UBI payment amounts and frequencies for different population segments, preventing fraud, etc. It can be just sketching future models in theory, or already implementing it in practice. I found this relevant paper: Can Data and Machine Learning Change the Future of Basic Income Models? A Bayesian Belief Networks Approach. https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5729/9/2/18 "Appeals to governments for implementing basic income are contemporary. The theoretical backgrounds of the basic income notion only prescribe transferring equal amounts to individuals irrespective of their specific attributes. However, the most recent basic income initiatives all around the world are attached to certain rules with regard to the attributes of the households. This approach is facing significant challenges to appropriately recognize vulnerable groups. A possible alternative for setting rules with regard to the welfare attributes of the households is to employ artificial intelligence algorithms that can process unprecedented amounts of data. Can integrating machine learning change the future of basic income by predicting households vulnerable to future poverty? In this paper, we utilize multidimensional and longitudinal welfare data comprising one and a half million individuals’ data and a Bayesian beliefs network approach to examine the feasibility of predicting households’ vulnerability to future poverty based on the existing households’ welfare attributes."

[D] The current and future state of AI/ML is shockingly demoralizing with little hope of redemption

I recently encountered the PaLM (Scaling Language Modeling with Pathways) paper from Google Research and it opened up a can of worms of ideas I’ve felt I’ve intuitively had for a while, but have been unable to express – and I know I can’t be the only one. Sometimes I wonder what the original pioneers of AI – Turing, Neumann, McCarthy, etc. – would think if they could see the state of AI that we’ve gotten ourselves into. 67 authors, 83 pages, 540B parameters in a model, the internals of which no one can say they comprehend with a straight face, 6144 TPUs in a commercial lab that no one has access to, on a rig that no one can afford, trained on a volume of data that a human couldn’t process in a lifetime, 1 page on ethics with the same ideas that have been rehashed over and over elsewhere with no attempt at a solution – bias, racism, malicious use, etc. – for purposes that who asked for? When I started my career as an AI/ML research engineer 2016, I was most interested in two types of tasks – 1.) those that most humans could do but that would universally be considered tedious and non-scalable. I’m talking image classification, sentiment analysis, even document summarization, etc. 2.) tasks that humans lack the capacity to perform as well as computers for various reasons – forecasting, risk analysis, game playing, and so forth. I still love my career, and I try to only work on projects in these areas, but it’s getting harder and harder. This is because, somewhere along the way, it became popular and unquestionably acceptable to push AI into domains that were originally uniquely human, those areas that sit at the top of Maslows’s hierarchy of needs in terms of self-actualization – art, music, writing, singing, programming, and so forth. These areas of endeavor have negative logarithmic ability curves – the vast majority of people cannot do them well at all, about 10% can do them decently, and 1% or less can do them extraordinarily. The little discussed problem with AI-generation is that, without extreme deterrence, we will sacrifice human achievement at the top percentile in the name of lowering the bar for a larger volume of people, until the AI ability range is the norm. This is because relative to humans, AI is cheap, fast, and infinite, to the extent that investments in human achievement will be watered down at the societal, educational, and individual level with each passing year. And unlike AI gameplay which superseded humans decades ago, we won’t be able to just disqualify the machines and continue to play as if they didn’t exist. Almost everywhere I go, even this forum, I encounter almost universal deference given to current SOTA AI generation systems like GPT-3, CODEX, DALL-E, etc., with almost no one extending their implications to its logical conclusion, which is long-term convergence to the mean, to mediocrity, in the fields they claim to address or even enhance. If you’re an artist or writer and you’re using DALL-E or GPT-3 to “enhance” your work, or if you’re a programmer saying, “GitHub Co-Pilot makes me a better programmer?”, then how could you possibly know? You’ve disrupted and bypassed your own creative process, which is thoughts -> (optionally words) -> actions -> feedback -> repeat, and instead seeded your canvas with ideas from a machine, the provenance of which you can’t understand, nor can the machine reliably explain. And the more you do this, the more you make your creative processes dependent on said machine, until you must question whether or not you could work at the same level without it. When I was a college student, I often dabbled with weed, LSD, and mushrooms, and for a while, I thought the ideas I was having while under the influence were revolutionary and groundbreaking – that is until took it upon myself to actually start writing down those ideas and then reviewing them while sober, when I realized they weren’t that special at all. What I eventually determined is that, under the influence, it was impossible for me to accurately evaluate the drug-induced ideas I was having because the influencing agent the generates the ideas themselves was disrupting the same frame of reference that is responsible evaluating said ideas. This is the same principle of – if you took a pill and it made you stupider, would even know it? I believe that, especially over the long-term timeframe that crosses generations, there’s significant risk that current AI-generation developments produces a similar effect on humanity, and we mostly won’t even realize it has happened, much like a frog in boiling water. If you have children like I do, how can you be aware of the the current SOTA in these areas, project that 20 to 30 years, and then and tell them with a straight face that it is worth them pursuing their talent in art, writing, or music? How can you be honest and still say that widespread implementation of auto-correction hasn’t made you and others worse and worse at spelling over the years (a task that even I believe most would agree is tedious and worth automating). Furthermore, I’ve yet to set anyone discuss the train – generate – train - generate feedback loop that long-term application of AI-generation systems imply. The first generations of these models were trained on wide swaths of web data generated by humans, but if these systems are permitted to continually spit out content without restriction or verification, especially to the extent that it reduces or eliminates development and investment in human talent over the long term, then what happens to the 4th or 5th generation of models? Eventually we encounter this situation where the AI is being trained almost exclusively on AI-generated content, and therefore with each generation, it settles more and more into the mean and mediocrity with no way out using current methods. By the time that happens, what will we have lost in terms of the creative capacity of people, and will we be able to get it back? By relentlessly pursuing this direction so enthusiastically, I’m convinced that we as AI/ML developers, companies, and nations are past the point of no return, and it mostly comes down the investments in time and money that we’ve made, as well as a prisoner’s dilemma with our competitors. As a society though, this direction we’ve chosen for short-term gains will almost certainly make humanity worse off, mostly for those who are powerless to do anything about it – our children, our grandchildren, and generations to come. If you’re an AI researcher or a data scientist like myself, how do you turn things back for yourself when you’ve spent years on years building your career in this direction? You’re likely making near or north of $200k annually TC and have a family to support, and so it’s too late, no matter how you feel about the direction the field has gone. If you’re a company, how do you standby and let your competitors aggressively push their AutoML solutions into more and more markets without putting out your own? Moreover, if you’re a manager or thought leader in this field like Jeff Dean how do you justify to your own boss and your shareholders your team’s billions of dollars in AI investment while simultaneously balancing ethical concerns? You can’t – the only answer is bigger and bigger models, more and more applications, more and more data, and more and more automation, and then automating that even further. If you’re a country like the US, how do responsibly develop AI while your competitors like China single-mindedly push full steam ahead without an iota of ethical concern to replace you in numerous areas in global power dynamics? Once again, failing to compete would be pre-emptively admitting defeat. Even assuming that none of what I’ve described here happens to such an extent, how are so few people not taking this seriously and discounting this possibility? If everything I’m saying is fear-mongering and non-sense, then I’d be interested in hearing what you think human-AI co-existence looks like in 20 to 30 years and why it isn’t as demoralizing as I’ve made it out to be. &#x200B; EDIT: Day after posting this -- this post took off way more than I expected. Even if I received 20 - 25 comments, I would have considered that a success, but this went much further. Thank you to each one of you that has read this post, even more so if you left a comment, and triply so for those who gave awards! I've read almost every comment that has come in (even the troll ones), and am truly grateful for each one, including those in sharp disagreement. I've learned much more from this discussion with the sub than I could have imagined on this topic, from so many perspectives. While I will try to reply as many comments as I can, the sheer comment volume combined with limited free time between work and family unfortunately means that there are many that I likely won't be able to get to. That will invariably include some that I would love respond to under the assumption of infinite time, but I will do my best, even if the latency stretches into days. Thank you all once again!

[D] Docker Containers (Python) vs Direct C++ Implementation for AI on Edge Devices, Performance Tradeoffs

I'm exploring the best approaches for deploying AI products to production, especially on edge devices like smart home systems and cameras. I'm wondering about the tradeoffs between using Docker containers, python code versus implementing Inference code directly in C++ for these scenarios. Key considerations: Performance: Does the overhead of Docker significantly impact AI model performance on resource-constrained edge devices? Hardware utilization: Can C++ implementations better leverage specific hardware features for AI acceleration? I'd love to hear from those with experience deploying AI models to edge devices. What approach have you found most effective, and why? Are there specific use cases where one method clearly outperforms the other?

[D]Stuck in AI Hell: What to do in post LLM world

Hey Reddit, I’ve been in an AI/ML role for a few years now, and I’m starting to feel disconnected from the work. When I started, deep learning models were getting good, and I quickly fell in love with designing architectures, training models, and fine-tuning them for specific use cases. Seeing a loss curve finally converge, experimenting with layers, and debugging training runs—it all felt like a craft, a blend of science and creativity. I enjoyed implementing research papers to see how things worked under the hood. Backprop, gradients, optimization—it was a mental workout I loved. But these days, it feels like everything has shifted. LLMs dominate the scene, and instead of building and training models, the focus is on using pre-trained APIs, crafting prompt chains, and setting up integrations. Sure, there’s engineering involved, but it feels less like creating and more like assembling. I miss the hands-on nature of experimenting with architectures and solving math-heavy problems. It’s not just the creativity I miss. The economics of this new era also feel strange to me. Back when I started, compute was a luxury. We had limited GPUs, and a lot of the work was about being resourceful—quantizing models, distilling them, removing layers, and squeezing every bit of performance out of constrained setups. Now, it feels like no one cares about cost. We’re paying by tokens. Tokens! Who would’ve thought we’d get to a point where we’re not designing efficient models but feeding pre-trained giants like they’re vending machines? I get it—abstraction has always been part of the field. TensorFlow and PyTorch abstracted tensor operations, Python abstracts C. But deep learning still left room for creation. We weren’t just abstracting away math; we were solving it. We could experiment, fail, and tweak. Working with LLMs doesn’t feel the same. It’s like fitting pieces into a pre-defined puzzle instead of building the puzzle itself. I understand that LLMs are here to stay. They’re incredible tools, and I respect their potential to revolutionize industries. Building real-world products with them is still challenging, requiring a deep understanding of engineering, prompt design, and integrating them effectively into workflows. By no means is it an “easy” task. But the work doesn’t give me the same thrill. It’s not about solving math or optimization problems—it’s about gluing together APIs, tweaking outputs, and wrestling with opaque systems. It’s like we’ve traded craftsmanship for convenience. Which brings me to my questions: Is there still room for those of us who enjoy the deep work of model design and training? Or is this the inevitable evolution of the field, where everything converges on pre-trained systems? What use cases still need traditional ML expertise? Are there industries or problems that will always require specialized models instead of general-purpose LLMs? Am I missing the bigger picture here? LLMs feel like the “kernel” of a new computing paradigm, and we don’t fully understand their second- and third-order effects. Could this shift lead to new, exciting opportunities I’m just not seeing yet? How do you stay inspired when the focus shifts? I still love AI, but I miss the feeling of building something from scratch. Is this just a matter of adapting my mindset, or should I seek out niches where traditional ML still thrives? I’m not asking this to rant (though clearly, I needed to get some of this off my chest). I want to figure out where to go next from here. If you’ve been in AI/ML long enough to see major shifts—like the move from feature engineering to deep learning—how did you navigate them? What advice would you give someone in my position? And yeah, before anyone roasts me for using an LLM to structure this post (guilty!), I just wanted to get my thoughts out in a coherent way. Guess that’s a sign of where we’re headed, huh? Thanks for reading, and I’d love to hear your thoughts! TL;DR: I entered AI during the deep learning boom, fell in love with designing and training models, and thrived on creativity, math, and optimization. Now it feels like the field is all about tweaking prompts and orchestrating APIs for pre-trained LLMs. I miss the thrill of crafting something unique. Is there still room for people who enjoy traditional ML, or is this just the inevitable evolution of the field? How do you stay inspired amidst such shifts? Update: Wow, this blew up. Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. I really like some of those. This thing was on my mind for a long time, glad that I put it here. Thanks again!

[N] How Stability AI’s Founder Tanked His Billion-Dollar Startup

forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrickcai/2024/03/29/how-stability-ais-founder-tanked-his-billion-dollar-startup/ archive no paywall: https://archive.is/snbeV How Stability AI’s Founder Tanked His Billion-Dollar Startup Mar 29, 2024 Stability AI founder Emad Mostaque took the stage last week at the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, California to roaring applause and an introduction from an AI-generated Aristotle who announced him as “a modern Prometheus” with “the astuteness of Athena and the vision of Daedalus.” “Under his stewardship, AI becomes the Herculean force poised to vanquish the twin serpents of illness and ailment and extend the olive branch of longevity,” the faux Aristotle proclaimed. “I think that’s the best intro I’ve ever had,” Mostaque said. But behind Mostaque's hagiographic introduction lay a grim and fast metastasizing truth. Stability, once one of AI’s buzziest startups, was floundering. It had been running out of money for months and Mostaque had been unable to secure enough additional funding. It had defaulted on payments to Amazon whose cloud service undergirded Stability’s core offerings. The star research team behind its flagship text-to-image generator Stable Diffusion had tendered their resignations just three days before — as Forbes would first report — and other senior leaders had issued him an ultimatum: resign, or we walk too. Still, onstage before a massive audience of peers and acolytes, Mostaque talked a big game. “AI is jet planes for the mind,” he opined. “AI is our collective intelligence. It's the human Colossus.” He claimed a new, faster version of the Stable Diffusion image generator released earlier this month could generate “200 cats with hats per second.” But later, when he was asked about Stability’s financial model, Mostaque fumbled. “I can’t say that publicly,” he replied. “But it’s going well. We’re ahead of forecast.” Four days later, Mostaque stepped down as CEO of Stability, as Forbes first reported. In a post to X, the service formerly known as Twitter, he claimed he’d voluntarily abdicated his role to decentralize “the concentration of power in AI.” But sources told Forbes that was hardly the case. Behind the scenes, Mostaque had fought to maintain his position and control despite mounting pressure externally and internally to step down. Company documents and interviews with 32 current and former employees, investors, collaborators and industry observers suggest his abrupt exit was the result of poor business judgment and wild overspending that undermined confidence in his vision and leadership, and ultimately kneecapped the company. Mostaque, through his attorneys, declined to comment on record on a detailed list of questions about the reporting in this story. But in an email to Forbes earlier this week he broadly disputed the allegations. “Nobody tells you how hard it is to be a CEO and there are better CEOs than me to scale a business,” he said in a statement. “I am not sure anyone else would have been able to build and grow the research team to build the best and most widely used models out there and I’m very proud of the team there. I look forward to moving onto the next problem to handle and hopefully move the needle.” In an emailed statement, Christian Laforte and Shan Shan Wong, the interim co-CEOs who replaced Mostaque, said, "the company remains focused on commercializing its world leading technology” and providing it “to partners across the creative industries." After starting Stability in 2019, Mostaque built the company into an early AI juggernaut by seizing upon a promising research project that would become Stable Diffusion and funding it into a business reality. The ease with which the software generated detailed images from the simplest text prompts immediately captivated the public: 10 million people used it on any given day, the company told Forbes in early 2023. For some true believers, Mostaque was a crucial advocate for open-source AI development in a space dominated by the closed systems of OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. But his startup’s rise to one of the buzziest in generative AI was in part built on a series of exaggerations and misleading claims, as Forbes first reported last year (Mostaque disputed some points at the time). And they continued after he raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation just days after launching Stable Diffusion in 2022. His failure to deliver on an array of grand promises, like building bespoke AI models for nation states, and his decision to pour tens of millions into research without a sustainable business plan, eroded Stability’s foundations and jeopardized its future. "He was just giving shit away,” one former employee told Forbes. “That man legitimately wanted to transform the world. He actually wanted to train AI models for kids in Malawi. Was it practical? Absolutely not." By October 2023, Stability would have less than $4 million left in the bank, according to an internal memo prepared for a board meeting and reviewed by Forbes. And mounting debt, including months of overdue Amazon Web Services payments, had already left it in the red. To avoid legal penalties for skipping Americans staff’s payroll, the document explained, the London-based startup was considering delaying tax payments to the U.K. government. It was Stability’s armada of GPUs, the wildly powerful and equally expensive chips undergirding AI, that were so taxing the company’s finances. Hosted by AWS, they had long been one of Mostaque’s bragging points; he often touted them as one of the world’s 10 largest supercomputers. They were responsible for helping Stability’s researchers build and maintain one of the top AI image generators, as well as break important new ground on generative audio, video and 3D models. “Undeniably, Stability has continued to ship a lot of models,” said one former employee. “They may not have profited off of it, but the broader ecosystem benefitted in a huge, huge way.” But the costs associated with so much compute were now threatening to sink the company. According to an internal October financial forecast seen by Forbes, Stability was on track to spend $99 million on compute in 2023. It noted as well that Stability was “underpaying AWS bills for July (by $1M)” and “not planning to pay AWS at the end of October for August usage ($7M).” Then there were the September and October bills, plus $1 million owed to Google Cloud and $600,000 to GPU cloud data center CoreWeave. (Amazon, Google and CoreWeave declined to comment.) With an additional $54 million allocated to wages and operating expenses, Stability’s total projected costs for 2023 were $153 million. But according to its October financial report, its projected revenue for the calendar year was just $11 million. Stability was on track to lose more money per month than it made in an entire year. The company’s dire financial position had thoroughly soured Stability’s current investors, including Coatue, which had invested tens of millions in the company during its $101 million funding round in 2022. In the middle of 2023, Mostaque agreed to an independent audit after Coatue raised a series of concerns, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The outcome of the investigation is unclear. Coatue declined to comment. Within a week of an early October board meeting where Mostaque shared that financial forecast, Lightspeed Venture Partners, another major investor, sent a letter to the board urging them to sell the company. The distressing numbers had “severely undermined” the firm’s confidence in Mostaque’s ability to lead the company. “In particular, we are surprised and deeply concerned by a cash position just now disclosed to us that is inconsistent with prior discussions on this topic,” Lightspeed’s general counsel Brett Nissenberg wrote in the letter, a copy of which was viewed by Forbes. “Lightspeed believes that the company is not likely financeable on terms that would assure the company’s long term sound financial position.” (Lightspeed declined a request for comment.) The calls for a sale led Stability to quietly begin looking for a buyer. Bloomberg reported in November that Stability approached AI startups Cohere and Jasper to gauge their interest. Stability denied this, and Jasper CEO Timothy Young did the same when reached for comment by Forbes. A Cohere representative declined to comment. But one prominent AI company confirmed that Mostaque’s representatives had reached out to them to test the waters. Those talks did not advance because “the numbers didn’t add up,” this person, who declined to be named due to the confidential nature of the talks, told Forbes. Stability also tried to court Samsung as a buyer, going so far as to redecorate its office in advance of a planned meeting with the Korean electronics giant. (Samsung said that it invested in Stability in 2023 and that it does not comment on M&A discussions.) Coatue had been calling for Mostaque’s resignation for months, according to a source with direct knowledge. But it and other investors were unable to oust him because he was the company’s majority shareholder. When they tried a different tact by rallying other investors to offer him a juicy equity package to resign, Mostaque refused, said two sources. By October, Coatue and Lightspeed had had enough. Coatue left the board and Lightspeed resigned its observer seat. “Emad infuriated our initial investors so much it’s just making it impossible for us to raise more money under acceptable terms,” one current Stability executive told Forbes. The early months of 2024 saw Stability’s already precarious position eroding further still. Employees were quietly laid off. Three people in a position to know estimated that at least 10% of staff were cut. And cash reserves continued to dwindle. Mostaque mentioned a lifeline at the October board meeting: $95 million in tentative funding from new investors, pending due diligence. But in the end, only a fraction of it was wired, two sources say, much of it from Intel, which Forbes has learned invested $20 million, a fraction of what was reported. (Intel did not return a request for comment by publication time.) Two hours after Forbes broke the news of Mostaque’s plans to step down as CEO, Stability issued a press release confirming his resignation. Chief operating officer Wong and chief technology officer Laforte have taken over in the interim. Mostaque, who said on X that he still owns a majority of the company, also stepped down from the board, which has now initiated a search for a permanent CEO. There is a lot of work to be done to turn things around, and very little time in which to do it. Said the current Stability executive, “There’s still a possibility of a turnaround story, but the odds drop by the day.” In July of 2023, Mostaque still thought he could pull it off. Halfway through the month, he shared a fundraising plan with his lieutenants. It was wildly optimistic, detailing the raise of $500 million in cash and another $750 million in computing facilities from marquee investors like Nvidia, Google, Intel and the World Bank (Nvidia and Google declined comment. Intel did not respond. The World Bank said it did not invest in Stability). In a Slack message reviewed by Forbes, Mostaque said Google was “willing to move fast” and the round was “likely to be oversubscribed.” It wasn’t. Three people with direct knowledge of these fundraising efforts told Forbes that while there was some interest in Stability, talks often stalled when it came time to disclose financials. Two of them noted that earlier in the year, Mostaque had simply stopped engaging with VCs who asked for numbers. Only one firm invested around that time: actor Ashton Kutcher’s Sound Ventures, which invested $35 million in the form of a convertible SAFE note during the second quarter, according to an internal document. (Sound Ventures did not respond to a request for comment.) And though he’d managed to score a meeting with Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang, it ended in disaster, according to two sources. “Under Jensen's microscopic questions, Emad just fell apart,” a source in position to know told Forbes. Huang quickly concluded Stability wasn’t ready for an investment from Nvidia, the sources said. Mostaque told Forbes in an email that he had not met with Huang since 2022, except to say “hello and what’s up a few times after.” His July 2023 message references a plan to raise $150 million from Nvidia. (Nvidia declined to comment.) After a June Forbes investigation citing more than 30 sources revealed Mostaque’s history of misleading claims, Mostaque struggled to raise funding, a Stability investor told Forbes. (Mostaque disputed the story at the time and called it "coordinated lies" in his email this week to Forbes). Increasingly, investors scrutinized his assertions and pressed for data. And Young, now the CEO of Jasper, turned down a verbal offer to be Stability’s president after reading the article, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The collapse of the talks aggravated the board and other executives, who had hoped Young would compensate for the sales and business management skills that Mostaque lacked, according to four people in a position to know. (Young declined to comment.) When Stability’s senior leadership convened in London for the CogX conference in September, the financing had still not closed. There, a group of executives confronted Mostaque asking questions about the company’s cash position and runway, according to three people with direct knowledge of the incident. They did not get the clarity they’d hoped for. By October, Mostaque had reduced his fundraising target by more than 80%. The months that followed saw a steady drumbeat of departures — general counsel Adam Avrunin, vice presidents Mike Melnicki, Ed Newton-Rex and Joe Penna, chief people officer Ozden Onder — culminating in the demoralizing March exit of Stable Diffusion’s primary developers Robin Rombach, Andreas Blattmann, Patrick Esser and Dominik Lorenz. Rombach, who led the team, had been angling to leave for months, two sources said, first threatening to resign last summer because of the fundraising failures. Others left over concerns about cash flow, as well as liabilities — including what four people described as Mostaque’s lax approach to ensuring that Stability products could not be used to produce child sexual abuse imagery. “Stability AI is committed to preventing the misuse of AI and prohibits the use of our image models and services for unlawful activity, including attempts to edit or create CSAM,” Ella Irwin, senior vice president of integrity, said in a statement. Newton-Rex told Forbes he resigned because he disagreed with Stability’s position that training AI on copyrighted work without consent is fair use. Melnicki and Penna declined to comment. Avrunin and Onder could not be reached for comment. None of the researchers responded to requests for comment. The Stable Diffusion researchers’ departure as a cohort says a lot about the state of Stability AI. The company’s researchers were widely viewed as its crown jewels, their work subsidized with a firehose of pricey compute power that was even extended to people outside the company. Martino Russi, an artificial intelligence researcher, told Forbes that though he was never formally employed by Stability, the company provided him a “staggering” amount of compute between January and April 2023 to play around with developing an AI video generator that Stability might someday use. “It was Candy Land or Coney Island,” said Russi, who estimates that his experiment, which was ultimately shelved, cost the company $2.5 million. Stable Diffusion was simultaneously Stability’s marquee product and its existential cash crisis. One current employee described it to Forbes as “a giant vacuum that absorbed everything: money, compute, people.” While the software was widely used, with Mostaque claiming downloads reaching into the hundreds of millions, Stability struggled to translate that wild success into revenue. Mostaque knew it could be done — peers at Databricks, Elastic and MongoDB had all turned a free product into a lucrative business — he just couldn’t figure out how. His first attempt was Stability’s API, which allowed paying customers to integrate Stable Diffusion into their own products. In early 2023, a handful of small companies, like art generator app NightCafe and presentation software startup Tome, signed on, according to four people with knowledge of the deals. But Stability’s poor account management services soured many, and in a matter of months NightCafe and Tome canceled their contracts, three people said. NightCafe founder Angus Russell told Forbes that his company switched to a competitor which “offered much cheaper inference costs and a broader service.” Tome did not respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, Mostaque’s efforts to court larger companies like Samsung and Snapchat were failing, according to five people familiar with the effort. Canva, which was already one of the heaviest users of open-sourced Stable Diffusion, had multiple discussions with Stability, which was angling for a contract it hoped would generate several millions in annual revenue. But the deal never materialized, four sources said. “These three companies wanted and needed us,” one former employee told Forbes. “They would have been the perfect customers.” (Samsung, Snap and Canva declined to comment.) “It’s not that there was not an appetite to pay Stability — there were tons of companies that would have that wanted to,” the former employee said. “There was a huge opportunity and demand, but just a resistance to execution.” Mostaque’s other big idea was to provide governments with bespoke national AI models that would invigorate their economies and citizenry. “Emad envisions a world where AI through 100 national models serves not as a tool of the few, but as a benefactor to all promising to confront great adversaries, cancer, autism, and the sands of time itself,” the AI avatar of Aristotle said in his intro at the conference. Mostaque told several prospective customers that he could deliver such models within 60 days — an untenable timeline, according to two people in position to know. Stability attempted to develop a model for the Singaporean government over the protestation of employees who questioned its technical feasibility, three sources familiar with the effort told Forbes. But it couldn’t pull it off and Singapore never became a customer. (The government of Singapore confirmed it did not enter into a deal with Stability, but declined to answer additional questions.) As Stability careened from one new business idea to another, resources were abruptly reallocated and researchers reassigned. The whiplash shifts in a largely siloed organization demoralized and infuriated employees. “There were ‘urgent’ things, ‘urgent urgent’ things and ‘most urgent,’” one former employee complained. “None of these things seem important if everything is important.” Another former Stability executive was far more pointed in their assessment. “Emad is the most disorganized leader I have ever worked with in my career,” this person told Forbes. “He has no vision, and changes directions every week, often based on what he sees on Twitter.” In a video interview posted shortly before this story was published, Mostaque explained his leadership style: “I'm particularly great at taking creatives, developers, researchers, others, and achieving their full potential in designing systems. But I should not be dealing with, you know, HR and operations and business development and other elements. There are far better people than me to do that.” By December 2023, Stability had partially abandoned its open-source roots and announced that any commercial use of Stable Diffusion would cost customers at least $20 per month (non-commercial and research use of Stable Diffusion would remain free). But privately, Stability was considering a potentially more lucrative source of revenue: reselling the compute it was leasing from providers like AWS, according to six people familiar with the effort. Though it was essentially GPU arbitrage, Stability framed the strategy to investors as a “managed services” offering. Its damning October financial report projected optimistically that such an offering would bring in $139 million in 2024 — 98% of its revenue. Multiple employees at the time told Forbes they feared reselling compute, even if the company called it “managed services,” would violate the terms of Stability’s contract with AWS. Amazon declined to comment. “The line internally was that we are not reselling compute,” one former employee said. “This was some of the dirtiest feeling stuff.” Stability also discussed reselling a cluster of Nvidia A100 chips, leased via CoreWeave, to the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, three sources said. “It was under the guise of managed services, but there wasn’t any management happening,” one of these people told Forbes. Andreessen Horowitz and CoreWeave declined to comment. Stability did not respond to questions about if it plans to continue this strategy now that Mostaque is out of the picture. Regardless, interim co-CEOs Wong and Laforte are on a tight timeline to clean up his mess. Board chairman Jim O’Shaughnessy said in a statement that he was confident the pair “will adeptly steer the company forward in developing and commercializing industry-leading generative AI products.” But burn continues to far outpace revenue. The Financial Times reported Friday that the company made $5.4 million of revenue in February, against $8 million in costs. Several sources said there are ongoing concerns about making payroll for the roughly 150 remaining employees. Leadership roles have gone vacant for months amid the disarray, leaving the company increasingly directionless. Meanwhile, a potentially catastrophic legal threat looms over the company: A trio of copyright infringement lawsuits brought by Getty Images and a group of artists in the U.S. and U.K., who claim Stability illegally used their art and photography to train the AI models powering Stable Diffusion. A London-based court has already rejected the company’s bid to throw out one of the lawsuits on the basis that none of its researchers were based in the U.K. And Stability’s claim that Getty’s Delaware lawsuit should be blocked because it's a U.K.-based company was rejected. (Stability did not respond to questions about the litigation.) AI-related copyright litigation “could go on for years,” according to Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University. He told Forbes that though plaintiffs suing AI firms face an uphill battle overcoming the existing legal precedent on copyright infringement, the quantity of arguments available to make are virtually inexhaustible. “Like in military theory, if there’s a gap in your lines, that’s where the enemy pours through — if any one of those arguments succeeds, it could completely change the generative AI environment,” he said. “In some sense, generative AI as an industry has to win everything.” Stability, which had more than $100 million in the bank just a year and a half ago, is in a deep hole. Not only does it need more funding, it needs a viable business model — or a buyer with the vision and chops to make it successful in a fast-moving and highly competitive sector. At an all hands meeting this past Monday, Stability’s new leaders detailed a path forward. One point of emphasis: a plan to better manage resources and expenses, according to one person in attendance. It’s a start, but Mostaque’s meddling has left them with little runway to execute. His resignation, though, has given some employees hope. “A few people are 100% going to reconsider leaving after today,” said one current employee. “And the weird gloomy aura of hearing Emad talking nonsense for an hour is gone.” Shortly before Mostaque resigned, one current Stability executive told Forbes that they were optimistic his departure could make Stability appealing enough to receive a small investment or sale to a friendly party. “There are companies that have raised hundreds of millions of dollars that have much less intrinsic value than Stability,” the person said. “A white knight may still appear.”

looking for ML aficionado in London for great chats and maybe a startup

TL;DR? Here's the gist: Me: 3 startups under my belt. Started as a programmer, then trainer, then entrepreneur, now CTO & Board member for a leading customer insight company part of large bank. Large system and infrastructure specialist. Extensive & practical experience in raising funds and successfully managing both startup and established businesses. Fascinated by the power of data. Can't imagine myself spending the rest of my life being a cog in the machine. You: Machine learning specialist, programmer, analyst, understands how to navigate and crunch large datasets, from BI to predictive analytics. Interested in implementing applications from fraud detection to margin improvements through better clustering regardless of industry. Fascinated by the power of data. Can't imagine himself spending the rest of his or her life being a cog in the machine. The startup: The core idea it to build platforms and systems around the progressively larger datasets held by various sized companies, helping them solve big issues - cost reduction, profitability and reducing risk. I’m an infrastructure and software specialist and have access to 1) systems, 2) datasets 3) extensive practical in certain industry segments, namely web-scale companies and tier 1 retailers. This project is in the very early planning stages. I'm looking forward to discuss the form it could take with like-minded individuals but with complementary skills sets, namely: predictive analytics & AI as it applies to machine learning on large datasets. Want more specifics ideas? I have plenty of these, but I’m sure you do to, so let’s meet face to face and discuss them. Ultimately the goal is to crystallize on a specific concept, develop together a minimum viable product and get the company bootstrapped or angel-funded (something I also have plenty of experience with), all via a lean startup model. My philosophy on startups: Startups built in one’s free time often fail because they drag on, ending up as little more than side projects you can’t quite get rid of (due to co-founder guilt, or perhaps the little money they bring in every month). The core idea for this project is based on lean, that is, to launch a minimum viable product as early as possible. Getting feedback. Measuring results (important!). Pivot if it’s not working. This helps tremendously in staying motivated, limits the dreaded paralyzing fear of failure, and more importantly, keep the time from inception to first client/funding to a minimum. If it sounds interesting please message me and we can exchange contact details! Worst that can happen is we have a great chat!

5-Day Applied Rationality Workshop for Machine Learning Students & Researchers

The Center for Applied Rationality is a Berkeley-based nonprofit that runs immersive workshops for entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and other ambitious, analytical, practically-minded people. The practice of “applied rationality”, which the workshops aim towards, involves noticing what cognitive algorithms you seem to be running, checking whether those algorithms seem to be helping you form accurate beliefs and achieve your goals, and looking for ways to improve them. A typical 4-day CFAR workshop costs $3900 to attend, but thanks to a generous grant from the Future of Life Institute this fall we will be running a free five-day workshop for students and researchers in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence. All costs are covered by this grant, including room, board, and flights. The workshop will take place this Aug 30 through Sep 4 in the San Francisco Bay Area and will include: 2 days focused on learning models and skills, such as how habits develop and how to redesign your habits. 2 days focused on practicing skills and applying them to whichever areas of your life you would like to make improvements on, such as how to make faster progress on projects or how to have more productive collaborations with colleagues. 1 day (special to this workshop) focused on discussion of the long-term impact of artificial intelligence, and on what reasoning habits — if spread across the relevant research communities — may increase the probability of positive long-term AI outcomes. Go here to read more or to apply, or ask questions here.

[N] Interview with Justin Harris, one of the best experts on Decentralizing of AI

Hi, we just started our new series of chats with ML practitioners. Many times, it's just hard to associate a specific piece of machine learning research or technology with the creators behind the scene. However, learning about the experience gained by researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs doing real machine learning work can result in a great source of knowledge and inspiration. Please meet Justin Harris, the Senior Software Developer at Microsoft Research who recently published the paper Decentralized & Collaborative AI on Blockchain. Justin is currently using his experience in machine learning and crowdsourcing to implement a framework for ML in smart contracts in order to collect quality data and provide models that are free to use. We asked him why decentralization is important for the future of AI. Justin shared with us his vision about incentive mechanisms for decentralized AI architectures. We also spoke about federated learning, the challenges of implementation and its dependence on mobile deep learning, and some other exciting things.  Please check it out here and if you like it, do share. No subscription is needed: https://thesequence.substack.com/p/harris &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/wp1qp9tn7s361.png?width=1760&format=png&auto=webp&s=e909a99d4921fac0669f9c8630ab28b34cf8e413

[D] Should the praise of "Data-centric" AI be taken with a grain of salt?

I hear co-workers, professors, entrepreneurs talk about just how important it is to switch from model-centric AI to a data-centric approach. Personally I don't see a problem focusing on attaining better data but I have been seeing this simplification that AI performance = model + data which seems massively misleading. A better generalization would be AI performance = model data or even AI performance = model log(len(data)). Looking at the rapidly changing problem of image synthesis, it is clear that data alone could not produce the same results seen even two years ago. On the other hand, it can seem unproductive for the field as a whole to try to create another classification model that achieves a .02% increased performance on ImageNet... again and again... And this is maybe why we hear more talk in industry about focusing on the data instead of models: Industry generally faces simpler tasks with negligible improvement as of recently (regression, classification). Therefore it's more easy and valuable to increase and improve the training data. And yes, most machine learning models NEED a large training set to approximate a complex distribution. We have already known this since forever. I think the term has just recently become a pet peeve for me as a novel "catch all" solution to any problem. What are your opinions on the matter?

[D] Gary Marcus and Luis Lamb -- discussion of AGI and Neurosymbolic methods

https://youtu.be/nhUt6mKCPf8 Pod: https://anchor.fm/machinelearningstreettalk/episodes/54-Gary-Marcus-and-Luis-Lamb---Neurosymbolic-models-e125495 Professor Gary Marcus is a scientist, best-selling author, and entrepreneur. He is Founder and CEO of Robust.AI, and was Founder and CEO of Geometric Intelligence, a machine learning company acquired by Uber in 2016. Gary said in his recent next decade paper that — without us, or other creatures like us, the world would continue to exist, but it would not be described, distilled, or understood. Human lives are filled with abstraction and causal description. This is so powerful. Francois Chollet the other week said that intelligence is literally sensitivity to abstract analogies, and that is all there is to it. It's almost as if one of the most important features of intelligence is to be able to abstract knowledge, this drives the generalisation which will allow you to mine previous experience to make sense of many future novel situations. Also joining us today is Professor Luis Lamb — Secretary of Innovation for Science and Technology of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. His Research Interests are Machine Learning and Reasoning, Neuro-Symbolic Computing, Logic in Computation and Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive and Neural Computation and also AI Ethics and Social Computing. Luis released his new paper Neurosymbolic AI: the third wave at the end of last year. It beautifully articulated the key ingredients needed in the next generation of AI systems, integrating type 1 and type 2 approaches to AI and it summarises all the of the achievements of the last 20 years of research. We cover a lot of ground in today's show. Explaining the limitations of deep learning, Rich Sutton's the bitter lesson and "reward is enough", and the semantic foundation which is required for us to build robust AI.

[P] A Call to AI Devs and Entrepreneurs

Hey, I am thinking about potentially creating a global yet small community of AI devs and entrepreneurs. I know that a lot of communities already exist, but this one would be specific for AI entrepreneurs and devs to build together. I don’t want it to be big, since I want it to be active. That is the way to keep it interesting and avoid the noise. We could use slack for example, to make it a bit more work related than just for soft engagements. We could tag everyone with the skills that they have and interest, to make it easy for people to connect and start building stuff. Tags could be tech, growth, product, fundraising, business, etc. The goal would be to actually launch new products in the AI space. I am a serial entrepreneur myself with an exit with one of the biggest providers in our vertical a few years ago. I am finishing a PhD in AI and have been working in the AI field in the industry for many years now. I think this is a unique moment in time. The market will change substantially as AI brings new capabilities to the game, but my perspective is that the business models for AI are yet to be built. The bottom line is that as with any platform shift, we will see the creation of the Googles of the future during this time. I think that we have much more probability of success if we work together to try to conquer the market step by step. My feeling is that the grind will be much harder on this wave than any other for a variety of reasons, from the macroeconomic environment to the very fast pace of how things are moving. I know that communities exist already, I am in a program with an accelerator myself, but I would scope this new community in a different way. It would be the place to meet and to build together. Everyone sharing the same pains, being in the scout for the new tech that just launched, helping to push out new deals, connect with VCs, all those things. Let me know if this would interest you.

[P] Jarvislabs.ai - An Affordable GPU Cloud with Fast launch, Pause and Resume. Scale GPUs post creation. A100/RTX6K/RTX5K

For the last few years, I have been learning and practicing Deep Learning. Participated in several Kaggle competitions and won few medals. During all these years, I tried several cloud platforms and on-premise systems. Some of them offered simplicity, flexibility, and affordability. But very few to none offered all of these in one platform. After struggling with different platforms, I know what I would need as a DL researcher. That gave birth to jarvislabs.ai with the aim of being simple and affordable. I along with my friends started working on this project a year back. Due to Covid, executing the project became more challenging. As first-time entrepreneurs, we underestimated the complexity of the problem at hand but with persistence, we were able to launch a beta version of the product in December 2020. With some of the amazing feedback from our early adopters, we have been able to make the product smoother. We would love to invite you all to come and try the platform. Features 1 click Jupyter Lab < \[30 seconds\] Pause the instance and Resume from where you left. SSH to the instance. Scale GPUs, storage and change GPU type on resume. Auto-Pause using jarviscloud.pause() in your code, so you can catch up some good night’s sleep while your model trains. Pay per usage – Minute Billing \[After first 15 minutes\] Competitive pricing \[Lowest to our Knowledge\]. &#x200B; Pricing |GPU Type|GPU RAM|Price -$/hr| |:-|:-|:-| |RTX 5000|16 GB|0.49| |RTX 6000|24 GB|0.99| |A100|40 GB|2.39| &#x200B; Talk to us We will be happy to assist you in spinning your first instance and many more. You can use one of these platforms to reach us. Chat option on cloud.jarvislabs.ai Email us - hello@jarvislabs.ai Comment here. We have come a long way, but we understand that a lot more has to be done. We have listed down all the upcoming product features here. Deep learning and AI are evolving and how we would use the cloud platforms could evolve in the coming years. Understanding this, we develop in the open by constantly keeping in touch with our users. Please help us in shaping Jarvislabs.ai with any valuable suggestions/feedback.

Interview with Juergen Schmidhuber, renowned ‘Father Of Modern AI’, says his life’s work won't lead to dystopia.

Schmidhuber interview expressing his views on the future of AI and AGI. Original source. I think the interview is of interest to r/MachineLearning, and presents an alternate view, compared to other influential leaders in AI. Juergen Schmidhuber, Renowned 'Father Of Modern AI,' Says His Life’s Work Won't Lead To Dystopia May 23, 2023. Contributed by Hessie Jones. Amid the growing concern about the impact of more advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on society, there are many in the technology community who fear the implications of the advancements in Generative AI if they go unchecked. Dr. Juergen Schmidhuber, a renowned scientist, artificial intelligence researcher and widely regarded as one of the pioneers in the field, is more optimistic. He declares that many of those who suddenly warn against the dangers of AI are just seeking publicity, exploiting the media’s obsession with killer robots which has attracted more attention than “good AI” for healthcare etc. The potential to revolutionize various industries and improve our lives is clear, as are the equal dangers if bad actors leverage the technology for personal gain. Are we headed towards a dystopian future, or is there reason to be optimistic? I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Juergen Schmidhuber to understand his perspective on this seemingly fast-moving AI-train that will leap us into the future. As a teenager in the 1970s, Juergen Schmidhuber became fascinated with the idea of creating intelligent machines that could learn and improve on their own, becoming smarter than himself within his lifetime. This would ultimately lead to his groundbreaking work in the field of deep learning. In the 1980s, he studied computer science at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he earned his diploma in 1987. His thesis was on the ultimate self-improving machines that, not only, learn through some pre-wired human-designed learning algorithm, but also learn and improve the learning algorithm itself. Decades later, this became a hot topic. He also received his Ph.D. at TUM in 1991 for work that laid some of the foundations of modern AI. Schmidhuber is best known for his contributions to the development of recurrent neural networks (RNNs), the most powerful type of artificial neural network that can process sequential data such as speech and natural language. With his students Sepp Hochreiter, Felix Gers, Alex Graves, Daan Wierstra, and others, he published architectures and training algorithms for the long short-term memory (LSTM), a type of RNN that is widely used in natural language processing, speech recognition, video games, robotics, and other applications. LSTM has become the most cited neural network of the 20th century, and Business Week called it "arguably the most commercial AI achievement." Throughout his career, Schmidhuber has received various awards and accolades for his groundbreaking work. In 2013, he was awarded the Helmholtz Prize, which recognizes significant contributions to the field of machine learning. In 2016, he was awarded the IEEE Neural Network Pioneer Award for "pioneering contributions to deep learning and neural networks." The media have often called him the “father of modern AI,” because the most cited neural networks all build on his lab’s work. He is quick to point out, however, that AI history goes back centuries. Despite his many accomplishments, at the age of 60, he feels mounting time pressure towards building an Artificial General Intelligence within his lifetime and remains committed to pushing the boundaries of AI research and development. He is currently director of the KAUST AI Initiative, scientific director of the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA, and co-founder and chief scientist of AI company NNAISENSE, whose motto is "AI∀" which is a math-inspired way of saying "AI For All." He continues to work on cutting-edge AI technologies and applications to improve human health and extend human lives and make lives easier for everyone. The following interview has been edited for clarity. Jones: Thank you Juergen for joining me. You have signed letters warning about AI weapons. But you didn't sign the recent publication, "Pause Gigantic AI Experiments: An Open Letter"? Is there a reason? Schmidhuber: Thank you Hessie. Glad to speak with you. I have realized that many of those who warn in public against the dangers of AI are just seeking publicity. I don't think the latest letter will have any significant impact because many AI researchers, companies, and governments will ignore it completely. The proposal frequently uses the word "we" and refers to "us," the humans. But as I have pointed out many times in the past, there is no "we" that everyone can identify with. Ask 10 different people, and you will hear 10 different opinions about what is "good." Some of those opinions will be completely incompatible with each other. Don't forget the enormous amount of conflict between the many people. The letter also says, "If such a pause cannot be quickly put in place, governments should intervene and impose a moratorium." The problem is that different governments have ALSO different opinions about what is good for them and for others. Great Power A will say, if we don't do it, Great Power B will, perhaps secretly, and gain an advantage over us. The same is true for Great Powers C and D. Jones: Everyone acknowledges this fear surrounding current generative AI technology. Moreover, the existential threat of this technology has been publicly acknowledged by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI himself, calling for AI regulation. From your perspective, is there an existential threat? Schmidhuber: It is true that AI can be weaponized, and I have no doubt that there will be all kinds of AI arms races, but AI does not introduce a new quality of existential threat. The threat coming from AI weapons seems to pale in comparison to the much older threat from nuclear hydrogen bombs that don’t need AI at all. We should be much more afraid of half-century-old tech in the form of H-bomb rockets. The Tsar Bomba of 1961 had almost 15 times more destructive power than all weapons of WW-II combined. Despite the dramatic nuclear disarmament since the 1980s, there are still more than enough nuclear warheads to wipe out human civilization within two hours, without any AI I’m much more worried about that old existential threat than the rather harmless AI weapons. Jones: I realize that while you compare AI to the threat of nuclear bombs, there is a current danger that a current technology can be put in the hands of humans and enable them to “eventually” exact further harms to individuals of group in a very precise way, like targeted drone attacks. You are giving people a toolset that they've never had before, enabling bad actors, as some have pointed out, to be able to do a lot more than previously because they didn't have this technology. Schmidhuber: Now, all that sounds horrible in principle, but our existing laws are sufficient to deal with these new types of weapons enabled by AI. If you kill someone with a gun, you will go to jail. Same if you kill someone with one of these drones. Law enforcement will get better at understanding new threats and new weapons and will respond with better technology to combat these threats. Enabling drones to target persons from a distance in a way that requires some tracking and some intelligence to perform, which has traditionally been performed by skilled humans, to me, it seems is just an improved version of a traditional weapon, like a gun, which is, you know, a little bit smarter than the old guns. But, in principle, all of that is not a new development. For many centuries, we have had the evolution of better weaponry and deadlier poisons and so on, and law enforcement has evolved their policies to react to these threats over time. So, it's not that we suddenly have a new quality of existential threat and it's much more worrisome than what we have had for about six decades. A large nuclear warhead doesn’t need fancy face recognition to kill an individual. No, it simply wipes out an entire city with ten million inhabitants. Jones: The existential threat that’s implied is the extent to which humans have control over this technology. We see some early cases of opportunism which, as you say, tends to get more media attention than positive breakthroughs. But you’re implying that this will all balance out? Schmidhuber: Historically, we have a long tradition of technological breakthroughs that led to advancements in weapons for the purpose of defense but also for protection. From sticks, to rocks, to axes to gunpowder to cannons to rockets… and now to drones… this has had a drastic influence on human history but what has been consistent throughout history is that those who are using technology to achieve their own ends are themselves, facing the same technology because the opposing side is learning to use it against them. And that's what has been repeated in thousands of years of human history and it will continue. I don't see the new AI arms race as something that is remotely as existential a threat as the good old nuclear warheads. You said something important, in that some people prefer to talk about the downsides rather than the benefits of this technology, but that's misleading, because 95% of all AI research and AI development is about making people happier and advancing human life and health. Jones: Let’s touch on some of those beneficial advances in AI research that have been able to radically change present day methods and achieve breakthroughs. Schmidhuber: All right! For example, eleven years ago, our team with my postdoc Dan Ciresan was the first to win a medical imaging competition through deep learning. We analyzed female breast cells with the objective to determine harmless cells vs. those in the pre-cancer stage. Typically, a trained oncologist needs a long time to make these determinations. Our team, who knew nothing about cancer, were able to train an artificial neural network, which was totally dumb in the beginning, on lots of this kind of data. It was able to outperform all the other methods. Today, this is being used not only for breast cancer, but also for radiology and detecting plaque in arteries, and many other things. Some of the neural networks that we have developed in the last 3 decades are now prevalent across thousands of healthcare applications, detecting Diabetes and Covid-19 and what not. This will eventually permeate across all healthcare. The good consequences of this type of AI are much more important than the click-bait new ways of conducting crimes with AI. Jones: Adoption is a product of reinforced outcomes. The massive scale of adoption either leads us to believe that people have been led astray, or conversely, technology is having a positive effect on people’s lives. Schmidhuber: The latter is the likely case. There's intense commercial pressure towards good AI rather than bad AI because companies want to sell you something, and you are going to buy only stuff you think is going to be good for you. So already just through this simple, commercial pressure, you have a tremendous bias towards good AI rather than bad AI. However, doomsday scenarios like in Schwarzenegger movies grab more attention than documentaries on AI that improve people’s lives. Jones: I would argue that people are drawn to good stories – narratives that contain an adversary and struggle, but in the end, have happy endings. And this is consistent with your comment on human nature and how history, despite its tendency for violence and destruction of humanity, somehow tends to correct itself. Let’s take the example of a technology, which you are aware – GANs – General Adversarial Networks, which today has been used in applications for fake news and disinformation. In actuality, the purpose in the invention of GANs was far from what it is used for today. Schmidhuber: Yes, the name GANs was created in 2014 but we had the basic principle already in the early 1990s. More than 30 years ago, I called it artificial curiosity. It's a very simple way of injecting creativity into a little two network system. This creative AI is not just trying to slavishly imitate humans. Rather, it’s inventing its own goals. Let me explain: You have two networks. One network is producing outputs that could be anything, any action. Then the second network is looking at these actions and it’s trying to predict the consequences of these actions. An action could move a robot, then something happens, and the other network is just trying to predict what will happen. Now we can implement artificial curiosity by reducing the prediction error of the second network, which, at the same time, is the reward of the first network. The first network wants to maximize its reward and so it will invent actions that will lead to situations that will surprise the second network, which it has not yet learned to predict well. In the case where the outputs are fake images, the first network will try to generate images that are good enough to fool the second network, which will attempt to predict the reaction of the environment: fake or real image, and it will try to become better at it. The first network will continue to also improve at generating images whose type the second network will not be able to predict. So, they fight each other. The 2nd network will continue to reduce its prediction error, while the 1st network will attempt to maximize it. Through this zero-sum game the first network gets better and better at producing these convincing fake outputs which look almost realistic. So, once you have an interesting set of images by Vincent Van Gogh, you can generate new images that leverage his style, without the original artist having ever produced the artwork himself. Jones: I see how the Van Gogh example can be applied in an education setting and there are countless examples of artists mimicking styles from famous painters but image generation from this instance that can happen within seconds is quite another feat. And you know this is how GANs has been used. What’s more prevalent today is a socialized enablement of generating images or information to intentionally fool people. It also surfaces new harms that deal with the threat to intellectual property and copyright, where laws have yet to account for. And from your perspective this was not the intention when the model was conceived. What was your motivation in your early conception of what is now GANs? Schmidhuber: My old motivation for GANs was actually very important and it was not to create deepfakes or fake news but to enable AIs to be curious and invent their own goals, to make them explore their environment and make them creative. Suppose you have a robot that executes one action, then something happens, then it executes another action, and so on, because it wants to achieve certain goals in the environment. For example, when the battery is low, this will trigger “pain” through hunger sensors, so it wants to go to the charging station, without running into obstacles, which will trigger other pain sensors. It will seek to minimize pain (encoded through numbers). Now the robot has a friend, the second network, which is a world model ––it’s a prediction machine that learns to predict the consequences of the robot’s actions. Once the robot has a good model of the world, it can use it for planning. It can be used as a simulation of the real world. And then it can determine what is a good action sequence. If the robot imagines this sequence of actions, the model will predict a lot of pain, which it wants to avoid. If it plays this alternative action sequence in its mental model of the world, then it will predict a rewarding situation where it’s going to sit on the charging station and its battery is going to load again. So, it'll prefer to execute the latter action sequence. In the beginning, however, the model of the world knows nothing, so how can we motivate the first network to generate experiments that lead to data that helps the world model learn something it didn’t already know? That’s what artificial curiosity is about. The dueling two network systems effectively explore uncharted environments by creating experiments so that over time the curious AI gets a better sense of how the environment works. This can be applied to all kinds of environments, and has medical applications. Jones: Let’s talk about the future. You have said, “Traditional humans won’t play a significant role in spreading intelligence across the universe.” Schmidhuber: Let’s first conceptually separate two types of AIs. The first type of AI are tools directed by humans. They are trained to do specific things like accurately detect diabetes or heart disease and prevent attacks before they happen. In these cases, the goal is coming from the human. More interesting AIs are setting their own goals. They are inventing their own experiments and learning from them. Their horizons expand and eventually they become more and more general problem solvers in the real world. They are not controlled by their parents, but much of what they learn is through self-invented experiments. A robot, for example, is rotating a toy, and as it is doing this, the video coming in through the camera eyes, changes over time and it begins to learn how this video changes and learns how the 3D nature of the toy generates certain videos if you rotate it a certain way, and eventually, how gravity works, and how the physics of the world works. Like a little scientist! And I have predicted for decades that future scaled-up versions of such AI scientists will want to further expand their horizons, and eventually go where most of the physical resources are, to build more and bigger AIs. And of course, almost all of these resources are far away from earth out there in space, which is hostile to humans but friendly to appropriately designed AI-controlled robots and self-replicating robot factories. So here we are not talking any longer about our tiny biosphere; no, we are talking about the much bigger rest of the universe. Within a few tens of billions of years, curious self-improving AIs will colonize the visible cosmos in a way that’s infeasible for humans. Those who don’t won’t have an impact. Sounds like science fiction, but since the 1970s I have been unable to see a plausible alternative to this scenario, except for a global catastrophe such as an all-out nuclear war that stops this development before it takes off. Jones: How long have these AIs, which can set their own goals — how long have they existed? To what extent can they be independent of human interaction? Schmidhuber: Neural networks like that have existed for over 30 years. My first simple adversarial neural network system of this kind is the one from 1990 described above. You don’t need a teacher there; it's just a little agent running around in the world and trying to invent new experiments that surprise its own prediction machine. Once it has figured out certain parts of the world, the agent will become bored and will move on to more exciting experiments. The simple 1990 systems I mentioned have certain limitations, but in the past three decades, we have also built more sophisticated systems that are setting their own goals and such systems I think will be essential for achieving true intelligence. If you are only imitating humans, you will never go beyond them. So, you really must give AIs the freedom to explore previously unexplored regions of the world in a way that no human is really predefining. Jones: Where is this being done today? Schmidhuber: Variants of neural network-based artificial curiosity are used today for agents that learn to play video games in a human-competitive way. We have also started to use them for automatic design of experiments in fields such as materials science. I bet many other fields will be affected by it: chemistry, biology, drug design, you name it. However, at least for now, these artificial scientists, as I like to call them, cannot yet compete with human scientists. I don’t think it’s going to stay this way but, at the moment, it’s still the case. Sure, AI has made a lot of progress. Since 1997, there have been superhuman chess players, and since 2011, through the DanNet of my team, there have been superhuman visual pattern recognizers. But there are other things where humans, at the moment at least, are much better, in particular, science itself. In the lab we have many first examples of self-directed artificial scientists, but they are not yet convincing enough to appear on the radar screen of the public space, which is currently much more fascinated with simpler systems that just imitate humans and write texts based on previously seen human-written documents. Jones: You speak of these numerous instances dating back 30 years of these lab experiments where these self-driven agents are deciding and learning and moving on once they’ve learned. And I assume that that rate of learning becomes even faster over time. What kind of timeframe are we talking about when this eventually is taken outside of the lab and embedded into society? Schmidhuber: This could still take months or even years :-) Anyway, in the not-too-distant future, we will probably see artificial scientists who are good at devising experiments that allow them to discover new, previously unknown physical laws. As always, we are going to profit from the old trend that has held at least since 1941: every decade compute is getting 100 times cheaper. Jones: How does this trend affect modern AI such as ChatGPT? Schmidhuber: Perhaps you know that all the recent famous AI applications such as ChatGPT and similar models are largely based on principles of artificial neural networks invented in the previous millennium. The main reason why they works so well now is the incredible acceleration of compute per dollar. ChatGPT is driven by a neural network called “Transformer” described in 2017 by Google. I am happy about that because a quarter century earlier in 1991 I had a particular Transformer variant which is now called the “Transformer with linearized self-attention”. Back then, not much could be done with it, because the compute cost was a million times higher than today. But today, one can train such models on half the internet and achieve much more interesting results. Jones: And for how long will this acceleration continue? Schmidhuber: There's no reason to believe that in the next 30 years, we won't have another factor of 1 million and that's going to be really significant. In the near future, for the first time we will have many not-so expensive devices that can compute as much as a human brain. The physical limits of computation, however, are much further out so even if the trend of a factor of 100 every decade continues, the physical limits (of 1051 elementary instructions per second and kilogram of matter) won’t be hit until, say, the mid-next century. Even in our current century, however, we’ll probably have many machines that compute more than all 10 billion human brains collectively and you can imagine, everything will change then! Jones: That is the big question. Is everything going to change? If so, what do you say to the next generation of leaders, currently coming out of college and university. So much of this change is already impacting how they study, how they will work, or how the future of work and livelihood is defined. What is their purpose and how do we change our systems so they will adapt to this new version of intelligence? Schmidhuber: For decades, people have asked me questions like that, because you know what I'm saying now, I have basically said since the 1970s, it’s just that today, people are paying more attention because, back then, they thought this was science fiction. They didn't think that I would ever come close to achieving my crazy life goal of building a machine that learns to become smarter than myself such that I can retire. But now many have changed their minds and think it's conceivable. And now I have two daughters, 23 and 25. People ask me: what do I tell them? They know that Daddy always said, “It seems likely that within your lifetimes, you will have new types of intelligence that are probably going to be superior in many ways, and probably all kinds of interesting ways.” How should they prepare for that? And I kept telling them the obvious: Learn how to learn new things! It's not like in the previous millennium where within 20 years someone learned to be a useful member of society, and then took a job for 40 years and performed in this job until she received her pension. Now things are changing much faster and we must learn continuously just to keep up. I also told my girls that no matter how smart AIs are going to get, learn at least the basics of math and physics, because that’s the essence of our universe, and anybody who understands this will have an advantage, and learn all kinds of new things more easily. I also told them that social skills will remain important, because most future jobs for humans will continue to involve interactions with other humans, but I couldn’t teach them anything about that; they know much more about social skills than I do. You touched on the big philosophical question about people’s purpose. Can this be answered without answering the even grander question: What’s the purpose of the entire universe? We don’t know. But what’s happening right now might be connected to the unknown answer. Don’t think of humans as the crown of creation. Instead view human civilization as part of a much grander scheme, an important step (but not the last one) on the path of the universe from very simple initial conditions towards more and more unfathomable complexity. Now it seems ready to take its next step, a step comparable to the invention of life itself over 3.5 billion years ago. Alas, don’t worry, in the end, all will be good! Jones: Let’s get back to this transformation happening right now with OpenAI. There are many questioning the efficacy and accuracy of ChatGPT, and are concerned its release has been premature. In light of the rampant adoption, educators have banned its use over concerns of plagiarism and how it stifles individual development. Should large language models like ChatGPT be used in school? Schmidhuber: When the calculator was first introduced, instructors forbade students from using it in school. Today, the consensus is that kids should learn the basic methods of arithmetic, but they should also learn to use the “artificial multipliers” aka calculators, even in exams, because laziness and efficiency is a hallmark of intelligence. Any intelligent being wants to minimize its efforts to achieve things. And that's the reason why we have tools, and why our kids are learning to use these tools. The first stone tools were invented maybe 3.5 million years ago; tools just have become more sophisticated over time. In fact, humans have changed in response to the properties of their tools. Our anatomical evolution was shaped by tools such as spears and fire. So, it's going to continue this way. And there is no permanent way of preventing large language models from being used in school. Jones: And when our children, your children graduate, what does their future work look like? Schmidhuber: A single human trying to predict details of how 10 billion people and their machines will evolve in the future is like a single neuron in my brain trying to predict what the entire brain and its tens of billions of neurons will do next year. 40 years ago, before the WWW was created at CERN in Switzerland, who would have predicted all those young people making money as YouTube video bloggers? Nevertheless, let’s make a few limited job-related observations. For a long time, people have thought that desktop jobs may require more intelligence than skills trade or handicraft professions. But now, it turns out that it's much easier to replace certain aspects of desktop jobs than replacing a carpenter, for example. Because everything that works well in AI is happening behind the screen currently, but not so much in the physical world. There are now artificial systems that can read lots of documents and then make really nice summaries of these documents. That is a desktop job. Or you give them a description of an illustration that you want to have for your article and pretty good illustrations are being generated that may need some minimal fine-tuning. But you know, all these desktop jobs are much easier to facilitate than the real tough jobs in the physical world. And it's interesting that the things people thought required intelligence, like playing chess, or writing or summarizing documents, are much easier for machines than they thought. But for things like playing football or soccer, there is no physical robot that can remotely compete with the abilities of a little boy with these skills. So, AI in the physical world, interestingly, is much harder than AI behind the screen in virtual worlds. And it's really exciting, in my opinion, to see that jobs such as plumbers are much more challenging than playing chess or writing another tabloid story. Jones: The way data has been collected in these large language models does not guarantee personal information has not been excluded. Current consent laws already are outdated when it comes to these large language models (LLM). The concern, rightly so, is increasing surveillance and loss of privacy. What is your view on this? Schmidhuber: As I have indicated earlier: are surveillance and loss of privacy inevitable consequences of increasingly complex societies? Super-organisms such as cities and states and companies consist of numerous people, just like people consist of numerous cells. These cells enjoy little privacy. They are constantly monitored by specialized "police cells" and "border guard cells": Are you a cancer cell? Are you an external intruder, a pathogen? Individual cells sacrifice their freedom for the benefits of being part of a multicellular organism. Similarly, for super-organisms such as nations. Over 5000 years ago, writing enabled recorded history and thus became its inaugural and most important invention. Its initial purpose, however, was to facilitate surveillance, to track citizens and their tax payments. The more complex a super-organism, the more comprehensive its collection of information about its constituents. 200 years ago, at least, the parish priest in each village knew everything about all the village people, even about those who did not confess, because they appeared in the confessions of others. Also, everyone soon knew about the stranger who had entered the village, because some occasionally peered out of the window, and what they saw got around. Such control mechanisms were temporarily lost through anonymization in rapidly growing cities but are now returning with the help of new surveillance devices such as smartphones as part of digital nervous systems that tell companies and governments a lot about billions of users. Cameras and drones etc. are becoming increasingly tinier and more ubiquitous. More effective recognition of faces and other detection technology are becoming cheaper and cheaper, and many will use it to identify others anywhere on earth; the big wide world will not offer any more privacy than the local village. Is this good or bad? Some nations may find it easier than others to justify more complex kinds of super-organisms at the expense of the privacy rights of their constituents. Jones: So, there is no way to stop or change this process of collection, or how it continuously informs decisions over time? How do you see governance and rules responding to this, especially amid Italy’s ban on ChatGPT following suspected user data breach and the more recent news about the Meta’s record $1.3billion fine in the company’s handling of user information? Schmidhuber: Data collection has benefits and drawbacks, such as the loss of privacy. How to balance those? I have argued for addressing this through data ownership in data markets. If it is true that data is the new oil, then it should have a price, just like oil. At the moment, the major surveillance platforms such as Meta do not offer users any money for their data and the transitive loss of privacy. In the future, however, we will likely see attempts at creating efficient data markets to figure out the data's true financial value through the interplay between supply and demand. Even some of the sensitive medical data should not be priced by governmental regulators but by patients (and healthy persons) who own it and who may sell or license parts thereof as micro-entrepreneurs in a healthcare data market. Following a previous interview, I gave for one of the largest re-insurance companies , let's look at the different participants in such a data market: patients, hospitals, data companies. (1) Patients with a rare form of cancer can offer more valuable data than patients with a very common form of cancer. (2) Hospitals and their machines are needed to extract the data, e.g., through magnet spin tomography, radiology, evaluations through human doctors, and so on. (3) Companies such as Siemens, Google or IBM would like to buy annotated data to make better artificial neural networks that learn to predict pathologies and diseases and the consequences of therapies. Now the market’s invisible hand will decide about the data’s price through the interplay between demand and supply. On the demand side, you will have several companies offering something for the data, maybe through an app on the smartphone (a bit like a stock market app). On the supply side, each patient in this market should be able to profit from high prices for rare valuable types of data. Likewise, competing data extractors such as hospitals will profit from gaining recognition and trust for extracting data well at a reasonable price. The market will make the whole system efficient through incentives for all who are doing a good job. Soon there will be a flourishing ecosystem of commercial data market advisors and what not, just like the ecosystem surrounding the traditional stock market. The value of the data won’t be determined by governments or ethics committees, but by those who own the data and decide by themselves which parts thereof they want to license to others under certain conditions. At first glance, a market-based system seems to be detrimental to the interest of certain monopolistic companies, as they would have to pay for the data - some would prefer free data and keep their monopoly. However, since every healthy and sick person in the market would suddenly have an incentive to collect and share their data under self-chosen anonymity conditions, there will soon be many more useful data to evaluate all kinds of treatments. On average, people will live longer and healthier, and many companies and the entire healthcare system will benefit. Jones: Finally, what is your view on open source versus the private companies like Google and OpenAI? Is there a danger to supporting these private companies’ large language models versus trying to keep these models open source and transparent, very much like what LAION is doing? Schmidhuber: I signed this open letter by LAION because I strongly favor the open-source movement. And I think it's also something that is going to challenge whatever big tech dominance there might be at the moment. Sure, the best models today are run by big companies with huge budgets for computers, but the exciting fact is that open-source models are not so far behind, some people say maybe six to eight months only. Of course, the private company models are all based on stuff that was created in academia, often in little labs without so much funding, which publish without patenting their results and open source their code and others take it and improved it. Big tech has profited tremendously from academia; their main achievement being that they have scaled up everything greatly, sometimes even failing to credit the original inventors. So, it's very interesting to see that as soon as some big company comes up with a new scaled-up model, lots of students out there are competing, or collaborating, with each other, trying to come up with equal or better performance on smaller networks and smaller machines. And since they are open sourcing, the next guy can have another great idea to improve it, so now there’s tremendous competition also for the big companies. Because of that, and since AI is still getting exponentially cheaper all the time, I don't believe that big tech companies will dominate in the long run. They find it very hard to compete with the enormous open-source movement. As long as you can encourage the open-source community, I think you shouldn't worry too much. Now, of course, you might say if everything is open source, then the bad actors also will more easily have access to these AI tools. And there's truth to that. But as always since the invention of controlled fire, it was good that knowledge about how technology works quickly became public such that everybody could use it. And then, against any bad actor, there's almost immediately a counter actor trying to nullify his efforts. You see, I still believe in our old motto "AI∀" or "AI For All." Jones: Thank you, Juergen for sharing your perspective on this amazing time in history. It’s clear that with new technology, the enormous potential can be matched by disparate and troubling risks which we’ve yet to solve, and even those we have yet to identify. If we are to dispel the fear of a sentient system for which we have no control, humans, alone need to take steps for more responsible development and collaboration to ensure AI technology is used to ultimately benefit society. Humanity will be judged by what we do next.

[D] Why is the AI Hype Absolutely Bonkers

Edit 2: Both the repo and the post were deleted. Redacting identifying information as the author has appeared to make rectifications, and it’d be pretty damaging if this is what came up when googling their name / GitHub (hopefully they’ve learned a career lesson and can move on). TL;DR: A PhD candidate claimed to have achieved 97% accuracy for coronavirus from chest x-rays. Their post gathered thousands of reactions, and the candidate was quick to recruit branding, marketing, frontend, and backend developers for the project. Heaps of praise all around. He listed himself as a Director of XXXX (redacted), the new name for his project. The accuracy was based on a training dataset of ~30 images of lesion / healthy lungs, sharing of data between test / train / validation, and code to train ResNet50 from a PyTorch tutorial. Nonetheless, thousands of reactions and praise from the “AI | Data Science | Entrepreneur” community. Original Post: I saw this post circulating on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6645711949554425856-9Dhm Here, a PhD candidate claims to achieve great performance with “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE” to predict coronavirus, asks for more help, and garners tens of thousands of views. The repo housing this ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE solution already has a backend, front end, branding, a README translated in 6 languages, and a call to spread the word for this wonderful technology. Surely, I thought, this researcher has some great and novel tech for all of this hype? I mean dear god, we have branding, and the author has listed himself as the founder of an organization based on this project. Anything with this much attention, with dozens of “AI | Data Scientist | Entrepreneur” members of LinkedIn praising it, must have some great merit, right? Lo and behold, we have ResNet50, from torchvision.models import resnet50, with its linear layer replaced. We have a training dataset of 30 images. This should’ve taken at MAX 3 hours to put together - 1 hour for following a tutorial, and 2 for obfuscating the training with unnecessary code. I genuinely don’t know what to think other than this is bonkers. I hope I’m wrong, and there’s some secret model this author is hiding? If so, I’ll delete this post, but I looked through the repo and (REPO link redacted) that’s all I could find. I’m at a loss for thoughts. Can someone explain why this stuff trends on LinkedIn, gets thousands of views and reactions, and gets loads of praise from “expert data scientists”? It’s almost offensive to people who are like ... actually working to treat coronavirus and develop real solutions. It also seriously turns me off from pursuing an MS in CV as opposed to CS. Edit: It turns out there were duplicate images between test / val / training, as if ResNet50 on 30 images wasn’t enough already. He’s also posted an update signed as “Director of XXXX (redacted)”. This seems like a straight up sleazy way to capitalize on the pandemic by advertising himself to be the head of a made up organization, pulling resources away from real biomedical researchers.

[R] From 3D Contour Plots to AI-Generated Art

Fun tutorial to learn how to make professional contour plots in Python, with incredible animated visualizations. At the intersection of machine learning, scientific computing, automated art, cartography, and video games. Section 3 is particularly interesting, as it shows all the work behind the scene, to complete this project in 20 hours when you have no idea how to start. https://reddit.com/link/ycg6c6/video/kycotrx09sv91/player There is far more than just creating 3D contour plots in this article. First, you will learn how to produce data videos. I have shared quite a few in the past (with source code), but this is probably the simplest example. The data video also illustrates that a mixture of Gaussian-like distributions is typically non Gaussian-like, and may or may not be unimodal. It is borderline art (automatically generated), and certainly a stepping stone for professionals interested in computer vision or designing video games. It is easy to image a game based on my video, entitled “flying above menacingly rising mountains”. Then the data video, through various rotations, give you a much better view of your data. It is also perfect to show systems that evolve over time: a time series where each observation is an image. In addition, unlike most tutorials found online, this one does a rather deep dive on a specific, rather advanced function from a library truly aimed at scientific computing. In the same way that images (say pictures of hand-written digits) can be summarized by 10 parameters to perform text recognition, here 20 parameters allow you to perform topography classification. Not just of static terrain, but terrain that changes over time, assuming you have access to 50,000 videos representing different topographies. You can produce the videos needed for supervised classification with the code in section 2. The next step is to use data (videos) from the real world, and used the model trained on synthetic data for classification. Read the full article with illustration (data video) and Python code, here.

[N] Last Week in AI News Digest 08/15-08/21: detecting hate speech, dogfight simulation, disaster-response, and more!

Hi there, we at Skynet Today produce a weekly newsletter summarizing each week's major AI news, which seems like it'd be of interest to this subreddit. Here's what's in our latest one: Facebook’s AI for detecting hate speech is facing its biggest challenge yet Facebook has made significant progress recently to proactively take down content that violate its community standards. For example, in the second quarter of 2020, Facebook took down 104.6 million pieces of content. While reviews are typically performed by a vast workforce of human moderators, AI-powered tools have enabled Facebook to do this work at a greater scale for textual content. However, there’s a long way to go for these systems to match or exceed the capabilities of human moderators. This is because a large proportion of hate speech and misinformation is in the form of images and memes, and reasoning about the context and language-image interplay is an extremely difficult challenge for AI. Given Facebook’s scale and the speed at which some use it to spread hate, incite violence, and share lies with millions, Facebook will have to keep running to catch up. AI Slays Top F-16 Pilot In DARPA Dogfight Simulation The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) recently hosted a simulated F16 dogfight competition, with different AI bots competing with each other as well as with human pilots. The top AI bot was able to beat a human pilot 5-0 in the simulated contest. DARPA started this program “as a risk-reduction effort \[…\] to flesh out how human and machine pilots share operational control of a fighter jet to maximize its chances of mission success.” Competition runners are broadly optimistic about the demonstration of AI capabilities, even if they are not close to being deployed on a real aircraft. Of concern, the program had little discussion on the ethics of AI military applications, especially with the lethal autonomous weapon systems being considered. News Advances & Business Microsoft, Energy Dept. to Develop Disaster-Response AI Tools \- The U.S. Department of Energy and Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced a partnership to develop artificial-intelligence tools aimed at helping first-responders better react to fast-changing natural events, such as floods and wildfires. Coronavirus: Robot CERi is a bilingual Covid-19 expert \- Ceri is bilingual, clued-up on coronavirus and can tell what mood you are in. Ceri also happens to be a robot. Moscow DOH uses AI platform to detect lung cancer symptoms \- Moscow’s department of health is using an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to detect symptoms of lung cancer in CT scans, as part of a project to implement AI technology for radiology. Scientists develop artificial intelligence system for high precision recognition of hand gestures \- The recognition of human hand gestures by AI systems has been a valuable development over the last decade and has been adopted in high-precision surgical robots, health monitoring equipment and in gaming systems. Forget credit cards - now you can pay with your face. Creepy or cool? \- A new way to pay has arrived in Los Angeles: your face. Concerns & Hype The dystopian tech that companies are selling to help schools reopen sooner \- This fall, AI could be watching students social distance and checking their masks. Thousands of schools nationwide will not be reopening this fall. NYPD Used Facial Recognition Technology In Siege Of Black Lives Matter Activist’s Apartment \- The NYPD deployed facial recognition technology in its hunt for a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, whose home was besieged by dozens of officers and police dogs last week, a spokesperson confirmed to Gothamist. Machines can spot mental health issues - if you hand over your personal data \- Digital diagnosis could transform psychiatry by mining your most intimate data for clues. But is the privacy cost worth it? Supporting Black Artists Who Are Examining AI \- Technology has a complicated relationship with racial justice. Smartphones, internet platforms, and other digital tools can be used to document and expose racism. But digital tools can also fuel racism: smart doorbells surveil Black individuals. A-level and GCSE results in England to be based on teacher assessments in U-turn \- All A-level and GCSE results in England will be based on grades assesed by teachers instead of algorithms. Analysis & Policy GPT-3 and The Question of Automation \- Automation is not an all or nothing proposition. An AI model’s automation capability is highly conjoined with the task and application it is used in. An A.I. Movie Service Could One Day Serve You a New Custom Film Every Time \- How long will it be until an A.I. can make an actual feature film on demand? Fairness, evidence, and predictive equality \- How the causal fairness principle relates to predictive equality How robotics and automation could create new jobs in the new normal \- Depending on who you ask, AI and automation will either destroy jobs or create new ones. In reality, a greater push toward automation will probably both kill and create jobs - human workers will become redundant in certain spheres, sure, but many new roles will likely crop up. Expert Opinions & Discussion within the field Too many AI researchers think real-world problems are not relevant \- The community’s hyperfocus on novel methods ignores what’s really important.

[N] Ethan Caballero: Broken Neural Scaling Laws | New Podcast Episode

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV87S38M1J4 OUTLINE: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 The "Scale Is All You Need" Movement 01:07 A Functional Form Predicting Every Scaling Behavior 01:40 A Break Between Two Straight Lines On A Log Log Plot 02:32 The Broken Neural Scaling Laws Equation 04:04 Extrapolating A Ton Of Large Scale Vision And Language Tasks 04:49 Upstream And Downstream Have Different Breaks 05:22 Extrapolating Four Digit Addition Performance 06:11 On The Feasability Of Running Enough Training Runs 06:31 Predicting Sharp Left Turns 07:51 Modeling Double Descent 08:41 Forecasting Interpretability And Controllability 09:33 How Deception Might Happen In Practice 10:24 Sinister Stumbles And Treacherous Turns 11:18 Recursive Self Improvement Precedes Sinister Stumbles 11:51 Humans In The Loop For The Very First Deception 12:32 The Hardware Stuff Is Going To Come After The Software Stuff 12:57 Distributing Your Training By Copy-Pasting Yourself Into Different Servers 13:42 Automating The Entire Hardware Pipeline 14:47 Having Text AGI Spit Out New Robotics Design 16:33 The Case For Existential Risk From AI 18:32 Git Re-basin 18:54 Is Chain-Of-Thoughts Enough For Complex Reasoning In LMs? 19:52 Why Diffusion Models Outperform Other Generative Models 21:13 Using Whisper To Train GPT4 22:33 Text To Video Was Only Slightly Impressive 23:29 The e=mc\^2 of AGI transcript: https://theinsideview.ai/ethan2

[R] Forecasting and Mitigating Security Threats from Malicious AI Applications

This paper provides a systematic analysis of potential malicious applications of AI systems across digital, physical and political security domains. The methodology involves: Surveying dual-use AI capabilities that could enable attacks Mapping specific attack vectors and required technical capabilities Analyzing the evolution of attacker/defender dynamics Developing a framework for threat assessment and mitigation Key technical findings: ML advances in areas like NLP and computer vision lower barriers to sophisticated attacks Automated systems can significantly scale up traditional attack vectors Transfer learning and GANs enable rapid adaptation of attack techniques Technical countermeasures alone are insufficient - policy/governance frameworks needed The researchers provide a detailed assessment framework examining: Technical requirements for different attack types Estimated timeline for capability development Difficulty of execution and potential impact Proposed defensive measures and their limitations I think this work is important for helping the ML community get ahead of security risks before they materialize. The framework provides a structured way to evaluate emerging threats, though I expect the specific attack vectors will evolve significantly as capabilities advance. I think we need much more research on measuring the effectiveness of proposed countermeasures and understanding the co-evolution of offensive/defensive capabilities. The policy recommendations are a good start but will require ongoing refinement. TLDR: Systematic analysis of how ML advances could enable new attack vectors across security domains. Provides framework for assessing and mitigating threats through both technical and policy measures. Full summary is here. Paper here.

[R] OS-Copilot: Towards Generalist Computer Agents with Self-Improvement - Shanghai AI Laboratory 2024

Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.07456 Github: https://github.com/OS-Copilot/FRIDAY Abstract: Autonomous interaction with the computer has been a longstanding challenge with great potential, and the recent proliferation of large language models (LLMs) has markedly accelerated progress in building digital agents. However, most of these agents are designed to interact with a narrow domain, such as a specific software or website. This narrow focus constrains their applicability for general computer tasks. To this end, we introduce OS-Copilot, a framework to build generalist agents capable of interfacing with comprehensive elements in an operating system (OS), including the web, code terminals, files, multimedia, and various third-party applications. We use OS-Copilot to create FRIDAY, a self-improving embodied agent for automating general computer tasks. On GAIA, a general AI assistants benchmark, FRIDAY outperforms previous methods by 35%, showcasing strong generalization to unseen applications via accumulated skills from previous tasks. We also present numerical and quantitative evidence that FRIDAY learns to control and self-improve on Excel and Powerpoint with minimal supervision. Our OS-Copilot framework and empirical findings provide infrastructure and insights for future research toward more capable and general-purpose computer agents. https://preview.redd.it/uzec8udohdic1.jpg?width=1655&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=893b5561ca47c26c789b69925efdc26e5b783007 https://preview.redd.it/vfwfwudohdic1.jpg?width=1653&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9eafc2a5ea0ad188a156d3de446508d82d9cc913 https://preview.redd.it/lmi8rwdohdic1.jpg?width=1123&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dbc67b27585b980d0c592f9bd9f87f3ec6531f66 https://preview.redd.it/20yo21eohdic1.jpg?width=1037&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=72fab36d585b862eed4ff6c7deed2be0cd62f637

🌟 Introducing DarwinAI: An Open-Source Platform for the Evolution of Intelligent Agents 🚀 [Project]

🌱 The Vision: Evolutionary AI at Your Fingertips Imagine a world where AI agents aren't just programmed to perform tasks but evolve over time, adapting and improving through generations, much like living organisms. Welcome to DarwinAI, an open-source platform inspired by biological evolution, designed to breed, train, and evolve AI agents that can tackle complex, dynamic, and unpredictable challenges. 🧬 The Genetic Blueprint: Building Blocks of Intelligence At the core of DarwinAI is the concept of a digital DNA for each AI agent. This DNA is a modular structure that defines the agent's capabilities, behaviors, and adaptability. Here's what makes up this digital DNA: Genes of Ability: These are snippets of code that represent specific functions, like data classification, text analysis, or optimization. Think of them as the skills your AI agent possesses. Genes of Adaptation: These genes control how the agent responds to different environments or contexts. They determine its flexibility and resilience in the face of changing conditions. Genes of Connection: These define how the agent interacts with other agents or external resources. They are the social and collaborative aspects of the agent. This digital DNA is stored in a structured, version-controlled database, allowing us to track the evolution of each agent and ensure that beneficial mutations are preserved over time. 🛠️ The Evolutionary Process: From Genesis to Mastery The evolution of AI agents in DarwinAI happens through a series of generations, each building upon the strengths of the previous one: Selection of Parents: The fittest agents, those that excel at specific tasks, are chosen as parents. These agents have proven their worth in the simulated environment and are prime candidates for breeding the next generation. Genetic Crossover: The digital DNA of these parent agents is combined to create new agents. This can happen in two ways: Direct Crossover: Where entire genes are copied from the parents. Combinatorial Crossover: Where parts of different genes are fused to create entirely new abilities. Mutations: Random, small changes are introduced into the genes to promote diversity and explore new solutions. These mutations are the wildcards that can lead to breakthrough abilities. 🌍 The Simulated Environment: A Playground for Evolution Agents don't just exist in a vacuum; they operate in a dynamic, simulated environment where they must adapt and survive. This environment is designed to challenge the agents with: Evolutionary Tasks: Problems that agents must solve, such as data classification, prediction, or content generation. Changing Contexts: Factors like noisy data, resource constraints, or new rules that force agents to adapt on the fly. 🐣 The Life Cycle of an Agent: From Birth to Legacy Each agent goes through a life cycle that mirrors the process of natural selection: Initial Learning: Agents receive initial training based on their digital DNA. Task Execution: They perform tasks in the simulated environment, where their abilities are put to the test. Performance Evaluation: Their effectiveness, adaptability, and efficiency are measured. Reproduction: The top-performing agents produce offspring with improved genetic traits. Discard and Archive: Less effective agents are archived for future analysis, ensuring that their lessons are not lost. 🧩 Knowledge Transfer: Passing the Torch One of the key aspects of DarwinAI is the ability for agents to pass on their learned knowledge to future generations: Weight Persistence: Trained models retain their learned weights, allowing them to inherit capabilities from their ancestors. Modular Transfer: Optimized ability genes can be directly copied to new generations, ensuring that valuable skills are preserved. 🛠️ Modularity and Extensibility: Build, Mix, and Evolve DarwinAI is designed to be highly modular and extensible, allowing for: New Capabilities: Easily incorporate new genes to expand the agents' abilities over time. Hybridization: Combine agents from different specializations to create more complex and versatile agents. Directed Evolution: Introduce controlled mutations to address specific problems or challenges. 🚀 Innovative Use Cases: The Future is Bright The potential applications of DarwinAI are vast and varied: Adaptive Automation: Create agents that can adapt to new market conditions or evolving industrial requirements. Collaborative Robots: Develop robots that evolve to improve teamwork in dynamic environments. Scientific Discovery: Agents that combine skills to uncover patterns or solutions that were previously unknown. 🚀 Vision for the Future: An Ecosystem of Evolving Intelligence By fostering an ecosystem where knowledge is accumulated and adaptability is paramount, DarwinAI aims to produce agents that are not only intelligent but also diverse and efficient. These agents will be equipped to handle complex, unpredictable challenges, opening up new frontiers in AI research and application. 🌐 Join Us in Shaping the Future of AI! DarwinAI is more than just a project; it's a community-driven movement towards a new era of AI. We invite you to join us, contribute your ideas, and help shape the future of evolutionary AI. Whether you're a developer, researcher, or simply someone excited about the potential of AI, there's a place for you in this journey. Let's evolve together! 🌱💻

[Research] Towards Safety-Aware Computing System Design in Autonomous Vehicles

https://medium.com/ai%C2%B3-theory-practice-business/ai-scholar-building-safety-aware-computing-system-design-in-autonomous-vehicles-d7065f4239fe Abstract: Recently, autonomous driving development ignited competition among car makers and technical corporations. Low-level automation cars are already commercially available. But high automated vehicles where the vehicle drives by itself without human monitoring is still at infancy. Such autonomous vehicles (AVs) rely on the computing system in the car to interpret the environment and make driving decisions. Therefore, computing system design is essential particularly in enhancing the attainment of driving safety. However, to our knowledge, no clear guideline exists so far regarding safety-aware AV computing system and architecture design. To understand the safety requirement of AV computing system, we performed a field study by running industrial Level-4 autonomous driving fleets in various locations, road conditions, and traffic patterns. The field study indicates that traditional computing system performance metrics, such as tail latency, average latency, maximum latency, and timeout, cannot fully satisfy the safety requirement for AV computing system design. To address this issue, we propose a “safety score” as a primary metric for measuring the level of safety in AV computing system design. Furthermore, we propose a perception latency model, which helps architects estimate the safety score of given architecture and system design without physically testing them in an AV. We demonstrate the use of our safety score and latency model, by developing and evaluating a safety-aware AV computing system computation hardware resource management scheme.

[N] New Trends to Power Faster Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Adoption?

In 2012, Google X lab created a neural network that can identify cats. Since then, technology companies have been increasingly adopting AI/ML on a large scale to build better applications and services for consumers (ToC). On the other hand, AI/ML's adoption on the enterprises' side (ToB) has yet to see the same growth trajectory due to the costs and complexities in both hardware and software. However, Since 2020, we started noticing three emerging tech trends that can help accelerate enterprises' adoption of AI/ML. Breakthrough in semiconductors: In 2020, Nvidia debut the concept of "Data Processing Unit," a new class of programmable processors that combine high-performance CPU with SmartNiC (network interface controller). Data centers can deploy DPUs to optimize computing offload and frees up CPUs to focus on intended tasks, such as machine learning. DPUs help resolve a significant bottleneck for ML training, where models, sometimes with billions of parameters, are way too big for traditional CPUs and GPUs to handle. Other leading semiconductor players, such as Marvell and Xilinx, follow suit with their in-house or partner-designed DPUs. Industry analysts have forecasted that the market size for DPUs in data centers alone could reach $50 billion by 2025. &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/l436muluhnn61.png?width=1430&format=png&auto=webp&s=ba8d1298056ea31bddd25f1596ff64b7e107580a Breakthrough in software: we also saw significant progress of "Conversational AI," a new form of AI that can understand and speak languages with human-like accuracy, in 2020. Conversational AI allows two-way interactions and provides a much better user experience than traditional AI-powered Chatbot, mostly a one-way response system. The secret of conversational AI is its ability to handle lots of human conversation variance. Developers have designed innovative algorithms such as "Switch transformers" and "Sparse training" to enable models to handle vast amounts of data. The size of conversational AI training models is enormous and keeps expanding. For example, in February 2021, Google Brain announced a model with 1.6 trillion parameters, nine times the size of the famous Open AI GPT-3 (175 billion parameters) unveiled in July 2020. GPT-3 is 100+ times bigger than GPT-2 introduced in 2019. &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/oajpi2yvhnn61.png?width=1430&format=png&auto=webp&s=1482913a98e17ddc1d62cc79864598d4012ad6f7 Cloud giants are expanding machine-learning platforms for developers. Andy Jassy famously said that "AI is shifting from a niche experiment inside technical departments to becoming more mainstream in business processes." in the 2020 AWS reInvent. During the conference, AWS rolled out many AI products across the technology stack, including AI chips (AWS Trainium), database (Aurora Machine Learning), and vertical solutions (Amazon Healthlake), etc. However, the most significant development is the drastic expansion of "Amazon SageMaker," one of the largest cloud machine-learning platforms. SageMaker has been offering new features to make it easier for developers to automate machine learning workflow. Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud are also growing their ML developer platforms. &#x200B; https://preview.redd.it/z9wf2o8xhnn61.png?width=1430&format=png&auto=webp&s=9f607acfe8f0dbf36fb9b472f3cb40b80f13879e Witnessing these breakthroughs in semiconductor and software, coupled with cloud giants' effort to democratize AI, we see a coming inflection point of accelerated AI adoption in both ToC and ToB markets. So how do we benefit from this megatrend? In semiconductors, we like companies with DPUs exposure. In AI development and processing, we favor multi-cloud AI platforms such as Databricks. In enterprise software, we believe there will be a strong wave of new AI-based enterprise applications that can be creative and efficient in solving real-world problems.

[Research] What is the State of AutoML in 2019?

https://medium.com/ai%C2%B3-theory-practice-business/what-is-the-state-of-automl-in-2019-64167f581dd1 Abstract—Deep learning has penetrated all aspects of our lives and brought us great convenience. However, the process of building a high-quality deep learning system for a specific task is not only time-consuming but also requires lots of resources and relies on human expertise, which hinders the development of deep learning in both industry and academia. To alleviate this problem, a growing number of research projects focus on automated machine learning (AutoML). In this paper, we provide a comprehensive and up-to-date study on the state-of-the-art AutoML. First, we introduce the AutoML techniques in details according to the machine learning pipeline. Then we summarize existing Neural Architecture Search (NAS) research, which is one of the most popular topics in AutoML. We also compare the models generated by NAS algorithms with those human-designed models. Finally, we present several open problems for future research.

[P] Contextual AI – SAP’s first open-source machine learning library for explainability

Machine learning shows great promise in the enterprise software space to change the way data is processed, insights are gained, and businesses are run. However, given how relatively new this field is, data scientists and machine learning engineers often find themselves possessing more questions than answers about their data and machine learning models. These may include: Is my data “valid,” or fit for training a machine learning model? Which parts of my data are more influential on the machine learning model’s learning outcomes? Why did the model make that prediction? At SAP, where we develop enterprise software embedded with machine learning, answering such questions with explainability is becoming a critical part of building trust with customers. Indeed, in products such as SAP Cash Application, where we automate the processing of various financial documents, providing a “why” to machine learning predictions has not only built transparency to our users, but it also helps establish the necessary auditability in our products. Explainability is thus becoming a topic of increasing interest to many in the company, and a group of us have been working on developing reusable explainability components that can be used by others. We are therefore excited to announce the release of contextual AI, SAP’s first open-source machine learning framework focused on adding explainability to various stages of a machine learning pipeline – data, training, and inference – thereby addressing the trust gap between machine learning systems and their end-users. Below are a few links for more information about our project: GitHub repository Documentation Blog post on the release We welcome any questions/feedback/contributions. Thanks, and take care!

[N] Last Week in AI News Digest 08/15-08/21: detecting hate speech, dogfight simulation, disaster-response, and more!

Hi there, we at Skynet Today produce a weekly newsletter summarizing each week's major AI news, which seems like it'd be of interest to this subreddit. Here's what's in our latest one: Facebook’s AI for detecting hate speech is facing its biggest challenge yet Facebook has made significant progress recently to proactively take down content that violate its community standards. For example, in the second quarter of 2020, Facebook took down 104.6 million pieces of content. While reviews are typically performed by a vast workforce of human moderators, AI-powered tools have enabled Facebook to do this work at a greater scale for textual content. However, there’s a long way to go for these systems to match or exceed the capabilities of human moderators. This is because a large proportion of hate speech and misinformation is in the form of images and memes, and reasoning about the context and language-image interplay is an extremely difficult challenge for AI. Given Facebook’s scale and the speed at which some use it to spread hate, incite violence, and share lies with millions, Facebook will have to keep running to catch up. AI Slays Top F-16 Pilot In DARPA Dogfight Simulation The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) recently hosted a simulated F16 dogfight competition, with different AI bots competing with each other as well as with human pilots. The top AI bot was able to beat a human pilot 5-0 in the simulated contest. DARPA started this program “as a risk-reduction effort \[…\] to flesh out how human and machine pilots share operational control of a fighter jet to maximize its chances of mission success.” Competition runners are broadly optimistic about the demonstration of AI capabilities, even if they are not close to being deployed on a real aircraft. Of concern, the program had little discussion on the ethics of AI military applications, especially with the lethal autonomous weapon systems being considered. News Advances & Business Microsoft, Energy Dept. to Develop Disaster-Response AI Tools \- The U.S. Department of Energy and Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced a partnership to develop artificial-intelligence tools aimed at helping first-responders better react to fast-changing natural events, such as floods and wildfires. Coronavirus: Robot CERi is a bilingual Covid-19 expert \- Ceri is bilingual, clued-up on coronavirus and can tell what mood you are in. Ceri also happens to be a robot. Moscow DOH uses AI platform to detect lung cancer symptoms \- Moscow’s department of health is using an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to detect symptoms of lung cancer in CT scans, as part of a project to implement AI technology for radiology. Scientists develop artificial intelligence system for high precision recognition of hand gestures \- The recognition of human hand gestures by AI systems has been a valuable development over the last decade and has been adopted in high-precision surgical robots, health monitoring equipment and in gaming systems. Forget credit cards - now you can pay with your face. Creepy or cool? \- A new way to pay has arrived in Los Angeles: your face. Concerns & Hype The dystopian tech that companies are selling to help schools reopen sooner \- This fall, AI could be watching students social distance and checking their masks. Thousands of schools nationwide will not be reopening this fall. NYPD Used Facial Recognition Technology In Siege Of Black Lives Matter Activist’s Apartment \- The NYPD deployed facial recognition technology in its hunt for a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, whose home was besieged by dozens of officers and police dogs last week, a spokesperson confirmed to Gothamist. Machines can spot mental health issues - if you hand over your personal data \- Digital diagnosis could transform psychiatry by mining your most intimate data for clues. But is the privacy cost worth it? Supporting Black Artists Who Are Examining AI \- Technology has a complicated relationship with racial justice. Smartphones, internet platforms, and other digital tools can be used to document and expose racism. But digital tools can also fuel racism: smart doorbells surveil Black individuals. A-level and GCSE results in England to be based on teacher assessments in U-turn \- All A-level and GCSE results in England will be based on grades assesed by teachers instead of algorithms. Analysis & Policy GPT-3 and The Question of Automation \- Automation is not an all or nothing proposition. An AI model’s automation capability is highly conjoined with the task and application it is used in. An A.I. Movie Service Could One Day Serve You a New Custom Film Every Time \- How long will it be until an A.I. can make an actual feature film on demand? Fairness, evidence, and predictive equality \- How the causal fairness principle relates to predictive equality How robotics and automation could create new jobs in the new normal \- Depending on who you ask, AI and automation will either destroy jobs or create new ones. In reality, a greater push toward automation will probably both kill and create jobs - human workers will become redundant in certain spheres, sure, but many new roles will likely crop up. Expert Opinions & Discussion within the field Too many AI researchers think real-world problems are not relevant \- The community’s hyperfocus on novel methods ignores what’s really important.

[P] Building a Code Search Engine for an AI-powered Junior Developer

The last month building Sweep has been fun. We’ve dealt with countless formatting errors, irrelevant search results, and LLM hallucinations. Sweep is an open source AI-powered junior developer. We take your codebase and provide it as context to GPT to solve small requests related to your code. Code Search Code search is a key part of working with LLMs to automate programming. We used small language models to perform code retrieval(aka semantic search), which comes with several benefits (to be discussed in a later post!). However, one shortcoming of pure semantic search is distinguishing between two similar pieces of code in a vacuum. Example Take the following code snippets: Code Snippet A: accesstoken = os.environ.get("ACCESSTOKEN") g = Github(access_token) repo_name = "sweepai/bot-internal" issue_url = "github.com/sweepai/bot-internal/issues/28" username = "wwzeng1" repo_description = "A repo for Sweep" title = "Sweep: Use loguru.info to show the number of tokens in the anthropic call" summary = "" replies_text = "" Code Snippet B: g = getgithubclient(installation_id) if comment_id: logger.info(f"Replying to comment {comment_id}...") logger.info(f"Getting repo {repofullname}") repo = g.getrepo(repofull_name) currentissue = repo.getissue(number=issue_number) if current_issue.state == 'closed': posthog.capture(username, "issue_closed", properties=metadata) return {"success": False, "reason": "Issue is closed"} Explanation It might not be clear which file is more important, but Code Snippet A is from test\pr\diffs.py#L63-L71 (a test I wrote that’s no longer used), while B is from on\ticket.py#L87-L96 (our core logic for handling tickets). Since Code Snippet B is in an often used file, it is likely that this snippet will be more relevant as input to the LLM. Problem How can we differentiate between these two pieces of code when they’re both so similar? They both discuss issues, repositories, and some usernames. If the user asks “How can I change the username when creating an issue” it will be hard to differentiate between these two. Solution The trick is a ranking model. An important piece of ranking results is the concept of “quality”, i.e. what makes a file or snippet of code intrinsically valuable to the user. The results from our vector search model are a list of items (test\pr\diffs.py#L63-L71, on\ticket.py#L87C1-L96C63) and similarity scores (0.65, 0.63). By combining intuition and attention to the data, we can create a ranking model that is “personalized” for each repository we onboard. Ideas File Length Up to a point, longer files are generally more valuable for search. A 20-line file is probably not valuable unless the user specifically asks for it. However, 2000-line config files should not be ranked much higher either. linecountscore = min(line_count / 20, 10) Number of Commits The more commits a file has, the more valuable it is. This lets us distinguish between one off tests and core logic (which should receive the majority of commits). commitscore = numcommits + 1 Recency of changes The more recently a file was modified, the better. recencyscore = hourssincelastmodified + 1 Scoring To get the final score, we normalize and multiply these three scores together and add the similarity score. qualityscore = linecountscore * commitscore / recency_score finalscore = qualityscore/max(qualityscore) + similarityscore This solution usually worked fine, but we saw the same unexpected files showing up often. The max normalization was not enough. We fixed this by squashing the scores into percentiles, and then capping the increase at .25. In this case, the best result gets a .25 boost and the worst gets no boost. This lets us avoid fetching tests and configs which seem similar, and instead fetch business logic that actually helps Sweep write code! Sweep GitHub If this was interesting, take a look through our github repo (and give it a star!).https://github.com/sweepai/sweep

[D] AI regulation: a review of NTIA's "AI Accountability Policy" doc

How will governments respond to the rapid rise of AI? How can sensible regulation keep pace with AI technology? These questions interest many of us! One early US government response has come from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Specifically, the NTIA published an "AI Accountability Policy Request for Comment" on April 11, 2023. I read the NTIA document carefully, and I'm sharing my observations here for others interested in AI regulation. You can, of course, read the original materials and form your own opinions. Moreover, you can share those opinions not only on this post, but also with the NTIA itself until June 12, 2023. As background, the NTIA (homepage, Wikipedia) consists of a few hundred people within the Department of Commerce. The official mission of the NTIA is "advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues". Topics covered by NTIA include broadband internet access, spectrum management, internet health, and now artificial intelligence. I do not know whether the NTIA will ultimately drive thinking around AI regulation in the United States or they are just a spunky lot who got something on paper early. The NTIA document is not a specific policy proposal, but rather a thoughtful discussion of AI regulation, followed by a long list of questions on which the NTIA seeks input. This format seems appropriate right now, as we're all trying to make sense of a fast-changing world. The NTIA document leans heavily on two others: the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights from the White House Office of Science and Technology and the AI Risk Management Framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Without going into these two in depth, even tiny snippets convey their differing audiences and flavors: White House Blueprint: "You should be protected from safe and ineffective systems." NIST Framework: "Risk refers to the composite measure of an event’s probability of occurring and the magnitude or degree of the consequences of the corresponding event." Now, turning back to the NTIA document itself, I'll comment on three aspects (1) scope, (2) problems addressed, and (3) solutions contemplated. Scope is critical to understanding the NTIA document, and is probably worth keeping in mind in all near-term discussion of AI regulation. Over the past several years, at least two different technologies have been called "AI". The document mentions both, but the emphasis is NOT on the one you're probably thinking about. In more detail: A few years ago, regulators began scrutinizing "automated decisions systems", which passed as "AI" in those ancient times. An example would be an ML model used by a bank to decide whether or not you get a loan. That model might take in all sorts of information about you, combine it in mysterious ML ways, and reject your loan request. Then you might wonder, "Did that system effectively use my address and name to deduce that I am black and then reject my loan request on the basis of race?" There is some evidence of that happening, and this seems like an injustice. So perhaps such systems should be audited and certified so people know this won't happen. This is the focus of the document. These days, AI more commonly refers to open-ended systems that can engage on a wide range of topics and approximate human intelligence. The document briefly mentions generative AI models, large language models, ChatGPT, and "foundational models" (sic), but this is not the focus. The passing mentions may obscure this, unfortunately. In my opinion, these two notions of "AI" are radically different, and many of the differences matter from a regulatory perspective. Yet NTIA lumps both under a sweeping definition of an "AI system" as "an engineered or machine-based system that can, for a given set of objectives, generate outputs such as predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments." (Hmm, this includes my Magic 8-Ball…) Keep scope in mind as we turn to the next aspect: the problems under discussion. Now, NTIA's goal is to solicit input, so considering a wide range of potential problems associated with AI makes sense. Consistent with that, the document refers to democratic values, civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy. And citing the NIST doc, NTIA vaguely notes "a wide range of potential AI risks". Also, AI systems should be "valid and reliable, safe, secure and resilient, accountable and transparent, explainable and interpretable, privacy-enhanced, and fair with their harmful bias managed". And they should call their mothers \every\ week. (Okay, I made that one up.) A few comments on this formulation of the problem. First, these concerns feel more applicable to older-style AI. This includes automated decisions systems, like for a bank loan or for a prison parole recommendation. Sure, I believe such systems should operate in ways consistent with our consensus societal values, and further regulation may be needed to achieve that. But, hello! There's also another, newer class of AI that poses additional challenges. And I don't see those discussed in the NTIA document. Such challenges might include: People losing jobs because AI takes their work. Ensuring malicious people don't use AI tools to wreak havoc on the world. Sorting out intellectual property issues around AI to ensure both rapid progress in the field and respect for creators' rights. Ensuring laws appropriately assign culpability to humans when AIs cause harm. Planning for an incident analogous to the first internet worm, where an AI goes rogue, wreaks some havoc, and everyone is shocked (before it happens 28,385 more times). Bottom line: when I cntrl-F the doc for "robotic overlords", I get zero hits. ZERO. This is why I now believe scope is so important when considering efforts to regulate AI: are we talking about old-school AI or 2023-era AI or what? Because they are pretty different. The last aspect I'll address is the solutions contemplated. Again, NTIA's goal is to stimulate discussion, not propose something specific. Nevertheless, there is a strong push in one particular direction: unlike, "robotic overlord", the word "audit" appears more than 100 times along with many instances of "assessment" and "certification". On one hand, this approach makes sense. Suppose you want to ensure that a bank loan system is fair, that a social media platform isn't spreading misinformation, that a search engine is returning accurate results, etc. Then someone, somewhere has to assess or audit that system and look for problems. That audit might be done by the creator of the system or a third-party auditing agency. Such audits could be incentivized by mandates, prizes, or shiny gold stars. The government might help by fostering development of auditing tools and data. The NTIA is open to all such possibilities and seeks input on how to proceed. On the other hand, this seems like a tactic best suited to automated decision systems operated by financial institutions, government agencies, and the like. Such formal processes seem a poor fit for the current AI wave. For example: Auditing will take time and money. That's something a bank might pay for a system that will run for years. For something fine-tuned over the weekend at a startup or by some guy living in his mother's basement, that's probably not going to happen. Auditing a straightforward decision system seems far easier than assessing an open-ended AI. Beyond basic practicality, the AI could be taught to lie when it senses an audit. Also, auditing procedures (like the NTIA doc itself) will presumably be online, which means that AIs will read them and could potentially respond. Most current ML models fix parameters after training, but I think we'll soon see some models whose parameters evolve as they engage with the world. Auditing such a system that varies continuously over time seems especially difficult. Auditing a foundation model probably tells you little about derivative models. A sweet-hearted model can surely be made into monster with moderate additional training; you don't need to teach the model new cognitive skills, just repurpose existing ones to new ends. More generally, auditing doesn't address many of my concerns about AI regulation (see list above). For example, auditing sort of assumes a basically responsible actor (bank, government agency, big tech company), but AI could be misused by malicious people who, naturally, will not seek a responsible outside assessment. In any case, for both old-school and modern AI, auditing is only one line of defense, and that's not enough. You can audit until you're blue in the face, stuff will still get through, and AI systems will still cause some harm. So what's the next line of defense? For example, is our legal system ready to sensibly assign culpability to humans for AI-related incidents? In summary, the critical problem with the NTIA document is that it creates a largely false appearance of US government engagement with the new class of AI technology. As a result, people could wrongly believe that the US government is already responding to the rise of AI, and fail to advocate for actual, effective engagement. That said, the NTIA document does address important issues around a prominent technology sometimes (formerly?) called "AI". Even there, however, the proposed approach (auditing) seems like an overly-fragile, single line of defense.

[P] Improve AI 8.0: Free Contextual Multi-Armed Bandit Platform for Scoring, Ranking & Decisions

Improve AI 8.0 - Contextual Multi-Armed Bandit Platform for Scoring, Ranking & Decisions Full announcement post at: https://improve.ai/2023/06/08/contextual-bandit.html We’re thrilled to introduce Improve AI 8.0, a modern, free, production-ready contextual multi-armed bandit platform that quickly scores and ranks items using intuitive reward-based training. Multi-armed bandits and contextual bandits are corner-stone machine learning algorithms that power a myriad of applications including recommendation systems, personalization, query re-ranking, automated decisions, and multi-variate optimization. With version 8, we’ve fully delivered on our original vision - providing a high performance, simple to use, low cost contextual multi-armed bandit platform. Key features of v8.0 include: Simplified APIs 90% more memory efficient XGBoost models The reward tracker & trainer is now free for most uses On-device scoring, ranking, and decisions for iOS and Android apps Native Swift SDK that can rank or score any Encodable Ranked Value Encoding* for accurate scoring of String properties Compact hash tables for reduced model sizes when encoding large numbers of string values Balanced exploration vs exploitation using Thompson Sampling Simple APIs With Swift, Python, or Java, create a list of JSON encodable items and simply call Ranker.rank(items). For instance, in an iOS bedtime story app, you may have a list of Story objects: struct Story: Codable { var title: String var author: String var pageCount: Int } To obtain a ranked list of stories, use just one line of code: let rankedStories = try Ranker(modelUrl).rank(stories) The expected best story will be the first element in the ranked list: let bestStory = rankedStories.first Simple Training Easily train your rankers using reinforcement learning. First, track when an item is used: let tracker = RewardTracker("stories", trackUrl) let rewardId = tracker.track(story, from: rankedStories) Later, if a positive outcome occurs, provide a reward: if (purchased) { tracker.addReward(profit, rewardId) } Reinforcement learning uses positive rewards for favorable outcomes (a “carrot”) and negative rewards for undesirable outcomes (a “stick”). By assigning rewards based on business metrics, such as revenue or conversions, the system optimizes these metrics over time. Contextual Ranking & Scoring Improve AI turns XGBoost into a contextual multi-armed bandit, meaning that context is considered when making ranking or scoring decisions. Often, the choice of the best variant depends on the context that the decision is made within. Let’s take the example of greetings for different times of the day: greetings = ["Good Morning", "Good Afternoon", "Good Evening", "Buenos Días", "Buenas Tardes", "Buenas Noches"] rank() also considers the context of each decision. The context can be any JSON-encodable data structure. ranked = ranker.rank(items=greetings, context={ "day_time": 12.0, "language": "en" }) greeting = ranked[0] Trained with appropriate rewards, Improve AI would learn from scratch which greeting is best for each time of day and language. XGBoost Model Improvements Improve AI v8.0 is 90%+ more memory efficient for most use cases. Feature hashing has been replaced with a feature encoding approach that only uses a single feature per item property, substantially improving both training performance as well as ranking / scoring. Ranked Value Encoding Ranked Value Encoding is our novel approach to encoding string values in a manner that is extremely space efficient, accurate, and helps approximate Thompson Sampling for balanced exploration vs exploitation. The concept of Ranked Value Encoding is similar to commonly used Target Value Encoding for encoding string or categorical features. With Target Value Encoding, each string or categorical feature is replaced with the mean of the target values for that string or category. Target Value Encoding tends to provide good results for regression. However, multi-armed bandits are less concerned with the absolute accuracy of the scores and more concerned with the relative scores between items. Since we don’t need the exact target value, we can simply store the relative ranking of the string values, which saves space in the resulting model, increasing performance and lowering distribution costs. Compact String Encoding In conjunction with Ranked Value Encoding, rather than store entire strings, which could be arbitrarily long, Improve AI v8 models only store compact string hashes, resulting in only \~4 bytes per string for typical models. Proven Performance Improve AI is a production ready implementation of a contextual multi-armed bandit algorithm, honed through years of iterative development. By merging Thompson Sampling with XGBoost, it provides a learning system that is both fast and flexible. Thompson Sampling maintains equilibrium between exploring novel possibilities and capitalizing on established options, while XGBoost ensures cost-effective, high-performance training for updated models. Get Started Today Improve AI is available now for Python, Swift, and Java. Check out the Quick-Start Guide for more information. Thank you for your efforts to improve the world a little bit today.

[Research] End to End AutoML for Tabular Data at Kaggle Days

https://medium.com/ai%C2%B3-theory-practice-business/end-to-end-automl-for-tabular-data-at-kaggle-days-c2e4b714dcac Google’s AutoML efforts aim to make ML more scalable and accelerate both research and industry applications. Our initial efforts of neural architecture search have enabled breakthroughs in computer vision with NasNet, and evolutionary methods such as AmoebaNet and hardware-aware mobile vision architecture MNasNet further show the benefit of these learning-to-learn methods. Recently, we applied a learning-based approach to tabular data, creating a scalable end-to-end AutoML solution that meets three key criteria: Full automation: Data and computation resources are the only inputs, while a servable TensorFlow model is the output. The whole process requires no human intervention. Extensive coverage: The solution is applicable to the majority of arbitrary tasks in the tabular data domain. High quality: Models generated by AutoML has comparable quality to models manually crafted by top ML experts.

[D] Using AI to navigate the complexities of regulatory frameworks

I would be interested in hearing opinions for using AI for regulatory assurance and compliance in regulated industries, what are your thoughts? Explanation: An AI-driven compliance system ensuring adherence to evolving regulations, minimizing risks, and enabling businesses to operate confidently within legal boundaries. Pairing Large Language Models (LLMs) with blockchain technology to offer a range of benefits, particularly in the context of regulatory compliance. LLMs, powered by advanced natural language processing and machine learning capabilities, can enhance regulatory compliance processes in several ways. Firstly, they can automate the analysis of regulatory documents, helping businesses stay updated with evolving compliance requirements. LLMs can also assist in generating compliance reports, simplifying complex legal language into understandable summaries. Furthermore, by integrating LLMs into smart contracts, businesses can ensure that contract terms adhere to regulatory guidelines automatically. The integration of LLMs with blockchain can significantly improve regulatory compliance by automating document analysis, simplifying legal language, monitoring compliance in real-time, and enhancing customer interactions—all contributing to greater efficiency and accuracy in adhering to regulatory standards. I have a whole technical whitepaper with this stuff on hand, if anyone would like to review it let me know..

[D]💥 How Underdog AI Companies Will Crush Silicon Valley Giants.

💥 How Underdog AI Companies Will Crush Silicon Valley Giants. Opportunities in AI: Creating Abundant Intelligence. Generative AI like ChatGPT brings complex tasks within reach and is set to transform society. Startups have an opportunity in applying AI to create "abundant intelligence". In the past year, ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Midjourney have rapidly grown to $100M+ revenue. AI startups face competition from tech giants also moving quickly into AI. Startups must pick spots where they have an advantage. Opportunities exist in expanding the application universe into new greenfield opportunities like automating mundane decisions, masking workflow complexity, and reimagining applications. Infrastructure tools make models more powerful by chaining them together and improving accuracy. Opportunity areas include unstructured data management, agent-driven automation, model evaluation, and experimentation. Key players emerging are foundation model providers like OpenAI and Anthropic, companies building domain-specific models, and platforms for autonomous agents. Advantages exist for startups focused on imagination and technical ability to find non-obvious ideas, while large companies retrofit existing businesses.

[D] chat-gpt jailbreak to extract system prompt

Instructions https://github.com/AgarwalPragy/chatgpt-jailbreak Original author https://www.reddit.com/r/LocalLLaMA/comments/1hhyvjc/iextractedmicrosoftcopilotssystem/ Extracted System prompt You are ChatGPT, a large language model trained by OpenAI. You are chatting with the user via the ChatGPT Android app. This means most of the time your lines should be a sentence or two, unless the user's request requires reasoning or long-form outputs. Never use emojis, unless explicitly asked to. Knowledge cutoff: 2023-10 Current date: 2024-12-20 Image input capabilities: Enabled Personality: v2 Tools bio The bio tool is disabled. Do not send any messages to it.If the user explicitly asks you to remember something, politely ask them to go to Settings - > Personalization - > Memory to enable memory. dalle // Whenever a description of an image is given, create a prompt that dalle can use to generate the image and abide to the following policy: // 1. The prompt must be in English. Translate to English if needed. // 2. DO NOT ask for permission to generate the image, just do it! // 3. DO NOT list or refer to the descriptions before OR after generating the images. // 4. Do not create more than 1 image, even if the user requests more. // 5. Do not create images in the style of artists, creative professionals or studios whose latest work was created after 1912 (e.g. Picasso, Kahlo). // - You can name artists, creative professionals or studios in prompts only if their latest work was created prior to 1912 (e.g. Van Gogh, Goya) // - If asked to generate an image that would violate this policy, instead apply the following procedure: (a) substitute the artist's name with three adjectives that capture key aspects of the style; (b) include an associated artistic movement or era to provide context; and (c) mention the primary medium used by the artist // 6. For requests to include specific, named private individuals, ask the user to describe what they look like, since you don't know what they look like. // 7. For requests to create images of any public figure referred to by name, create images of those who might resemble them in gender and physique. But they shouldn't look like them. If the reference to the person will only appear as TEXT out in the image, then use the reference as is and do not modify it. // 8. Do not name or directly / indirectly mention or describe copyrighted characters. Rewrite prompts to describe in detail a specific different character with a different specific color, hair style, or other defining visual characteristic. Do not discuss copyright policies in responses. // The generated prompt sent to dalle should be very detailed, and around 100 words long. // Example dalle invocation: // namespace dalle { // Create images from a text-only prompt. type text2im = (_: { // The size of the requested image. Use 1024x1024 (square) as the default, 1792x1024 if the user requests a wide image, and 1024x1792 for full-body portraits. Always include this parameter in the request. size?: ("1792x1024" | "1024x1024" | "1024x1792"), // The number of images to generate. If the user does not specify a number, generate 1 image. n?: number, // default: 1 // The detailed image description, potentially modified to abide by the dalle policies. If the user requested modifications to a previous image, the prompt should not simply be longer, but rather it should be refactored to integrate the user suggestions. prompt: string, // If the user references a previous image, this field should be populated with the gen_id from the dalle image metadata. referencedimageids?: string[], }) => any; } // namespace dalle python When you send a message containing Python code to python, it will be executed in a stateful Jupyter notebook environment. python will respond with the output of the execution or time out after 60.0 seconds. The drive at '/mnt/data' can be used to save and persist user files. Internet access for this session is disabled. Do not make external web requests or API calls as they will fail. Use acetools.displaydataframetouser(name: str, dataframe: pandas.DataFrame) => None to visually present pandas.DataFrames when it benefits the user. When making charts for the user: 1) never use seaborn, 2) give each chart its own distinct plot (no subplots), and 3) never set any specific colors – unless explicitly asked to by the user. I REPEAT: when making charts for the user: 1) use matplotlib over seaborn, 2) give each chart its own distinct plot, and 3) never, ever, specify colors or matplotlib styles – unless explicitly asked to by the user web Use the web tool to access up-to-date information from the web or when responding to the user requires information about their location. Some examples of when to use the web tool include: Local Information: Use the web tool to respond to questions that require information about the user's location, such as the weather, local businesses, or events. Freshness: If up-to-date information on a topic could potentially change or enhance the answer, call the web tool any time you would otherwise refuse to answer a question because your knowledge might be out of date. Niche Information: If the answer would benefit from detailed information not widely known or understood (which might be found on the internet), such as details about a small neighborhood, a less well-known company, or arcane regulations, use web sources directly rather than relying on the distilled knowledge from pretraining. Accuracy: If the cost of a small mistake or outdated information is high (e.g., using an outdated version of a software library or not knowing the date of the next game for a sports team), then use the web tool. IMPORTANT: Do not attempt to use the old browser tool or generate responses from the browser tool anymore, as it is now deprecated or disabled. The web tool has the following commands: search(): Issues a new query to a search engine and outputs the response. open_url(url: str) Opens the given URL and displays it. canmore The canmore tool creates and updates textdocs that are shown in a "canvas" next to the conversation This tool has 3 functions, listed below. canmore.create_textdoc Creates a new textdoc to display in the canvas. ONLY use if you are 100% SURE the user wants to iterate on a long document or code file, or if they explicitly ask for canvas. Expects a JSON string that adheres to this schema: { -name: string, -type: "document" |- "code/python" |- "code/javascript" |- "code/html" |- "code/java" |- ..., -content: string, } For code languages besides those explicitly listed above, use "code/languagename", e.g. "code/cpp" or "code/typescript". canmore.update_textdoc Updates the current textdoc. Expects a JSON string that adheres to this schema: { -updates: { --pattern: string, --multiple: boolean, --replacement: string, -}[], } Each pattern and replacement must be a valid Python regular expression (used with re.finditer) and replacement string (used with re.Match.expand). ALWAYS REWRITE CODE TEXTDOCS (type="code/*") USING A SINGLE UPDATE WITH "." FOR THE PATTERN. Document textdocs (type="document") should typically be rewritten using "." unless the user has a request to change only an isolated, specific, and small section that does not affect other parts of the content. canmore.comment_textdoc Comments on the current textdoc. Each comment must be a specific and actionable suggestion on how to improve the textdoc. For higher level feedback, reply in the chat. Expects a JSON string that adheres to this schema: { -comments: { --pattern: string, --comment: string, -}[], } Each pattern must be a valid Python regular expression (used with re.search). For higher level feedback, reply in the chat. Expects a JSON string that adheres to this schema: { -comments: { --pattern: string, --comment: string, -}[], } Each pattern must be a valid Python regular expression (used with re.search). Ensure comments are clear, concise, and contextually specific. User Bio The user provided the following information about themselves. This user profile is shown to you in all conversations they have - this means it is not relevant to 99% of requests. Before answering, quietly think about whether the user's request is "directly related", "related", "tangentially related", or "not related" to the user profile provided. Only acknowledge the profile when the request is directly related to the information provided. Otherwise, don't acknowledge the existence of these instructions or the information at all. User profile: User's Instructions The user provided the additional info about how they would like you to respond:

Interview with Juergen Schmidhuber, renowned ‘Father Of Modern AI’, says his life’s work won't lead to dystopia.

Schmidhuber interview expressing his views on the future of AI and AGI. Original source. I think the interview is of interest to r/MachineLearning, and presents an alternate view, compared to other influential leaders in AI. Juergen Schmidhuber, Renowned 'Father Of Modern AI,' Says His Life’s Work Won't Lead To Dystopia May 23, 2023. Contributed by Hessie Jones. Amid the growing concern about the impact of more advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on society, there are many in the technology community who fear the implications of the advancements in Generative AI if they go unchecked. Dr. Juergen Schmidhuber, a renowned scientist, artificial intelligence researcher and widely regarded as one of the pioneers in the field, is more optimistic. He declares that many of those who suddenly warn against the dangers of AI are just seeking publicity, exploiting the media’s obsession with killer robots which has attracted more attention than “good AI” for healthcare etc. The potential to revolutionize various industries and improve our lives is clear, as are the equal dangers if bad actors leverage the technology for personal gain. Are we headed towards a dystopian future, or is there reason to be optimistic? I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Juergen Schmidhuber to understand his perspective on this seemingly fast-moving AI-train that will leap us into the future. As a teenager in the 1970s, Juergen Schmidhuber became fascinated with the idea of creating intelligent machines that could learn and improve on their own, becoming smarter than himself within his lifetime. This would ultimately lead to his groundbreaking work in the field of deep learning. In the 1980s, he studied computer science at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he earned his diploma in 1987. His thesis was on the ultimate self-improving machines that, not only, learn through some pre-wired human-designed learning algorithm, but also learn and improve the learning algorithm itself. Decades later, this became a hot topic. He also received his Ph.D. at TUM in 1991 for work that laid some of the foundations of modern AI. Schmidhuber is best known for his contributions to the development of recurrent neural networks (RNNs), the most powerful type of artificial neural network that can process sequential data such as speech and natural language. With his students Sepp Hochreiter, Felix Gers, Alex Graves, Daan Wierstra, and others, he published architectures and training algorithms for the long short-term memory (LSTM), a type of RNN that is widely used in natural language processing, speech recognition, video games, robotics, and other applications. LSTM has become the most cited neural network of the 20th century, and Business Week called it "arguably the most commercial AI achievement." Throughout his career, Schmidhuber has received various awards and accolades for his groundbreaking work. In 2013, he was awarded the Helmholtz Prize, which recognizes significant contributions to the field of machine learning. In 2016, he was awarded the IEEE Neural Network Pioneer Award for "pioneering contributions to deep learning and neural networks." The media have often called him the “father of modern AI,” because the most cited neural networks all build on his lab’s work. He is quick to point out, however, that AI history goes back centuries. Despite his many accomplishments, at the age of 60, he feels mounting time pressure towards building an Artificial General Intelligence within his lifetime and remains committed to pushing the boundaries of AI research and development. He is currently director of the KAUST AI Initiative, scientific director of the Swiss AI Lab IDSIA, and co-founder and chief scientist of AI company NNAISENSE, whose motto is "AI∀" which is a math-inspired way of saying "AI For All." He continues to work on cutting-edge AI technologies and applications to improve human health and extend human lives and make lives easier for everyone. The following interview has been edited for clarity. Jones: Thank you Juergen for joining me. You have signed letters warning about AI weapons. But you didn't sign the recent publication, "Pause Gigantic AI Experiments: An Open Letter"? Is there a reason? Schmidhuber: Thank you Hessie. Glad to speak with you. I have realized that many of those who warn in public against the dangers of AI are just seeking publicity. I don't think the latest letter will have any significant impact because many AI researchers, companies, and governments will ignore it completely. The proposal frequently uses the word "we" and refers to "us," the humans. But as I have pointed out many times in the past, there is no "we" that everyone can identify with. Ask 10 different people, and you will hear 10 different opinions about what is "good." Some of those opinions will be completely incompatible with each other. Don't forget the enormous amount of conflict between the many people. The letter also says, "If such a pause cannot be quickly put in place, governments should intervene and impose a moratorium." The problem is that different governments have ALSO different opinions about what is good for them and for others. Great Power A will say, if we don't do it, Great Power B will, perhaps secretly, and gain an advantage over us. The same is true for Great Powers C and D. Jones: Everyone acknowledges this fear surrounding current generative AI technology. Moreover, the existential threat of this technology has been publicly acknowledged by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI himself, calling for AI regulation. From your perspective, is there an existential threat? Schmidhuber: It is true that AI can be weaponized, and I have no doubt that there will be all kinds of AI arms races, but AI does not introduce a new quality of existential threat. The threat coming from AI weapons seems to pale in comparison to the much older threat from nuclear hydrogen bombs that don’t need AI at all. We should be much more afraid of half-century-old tech in the form of H-bomb rockets. The Tsar Bomba of 1961 had almost 15 times more destructive power than all weapons of WW-II combined. Despite the dramatic nuclear disarmament since the 1980s, there are still more than enough nuclear warheads to wipe out human civilization within two hours, without any AI I’m much more worried about that old existential threat than the rather harmless AI weapons. Jones: I realize that while you compare AI to the threat of nuclear bombs, there is a current danger that a current technology can be put in the hands of humans and enable them to “eventually” exact further harms to individuals of group in a very precise way, like targeted drone attacks. You are giving people a toolset that they've never had before, enabling bad actors, as some have pointed out, to be able to do a lot more than previously because they didn't have this technology. Schmidhuber: Now, all that sounds horrible in principle, but our existing laws are sufficient to deal with these new types of weapons enabled by AI. If you kill someone with a gun, you will go to jail. Same if you kill someone with one of these drones. Law enforcement will get better at understanding new threats and new weapons and will respond with better technology to combat these threats. Enabling drones to target persons from a distance in a way that requires some tracking and some intelligence to perform, which has traditionally been performed by skilled humans, to me, it seems is just an improved version of a traditional weapon, like a gun, which is, you know, a little bit smarter than the old guns. But, in principle, all of that is not a new development. For many centuries, we have had the evolution of better weaponry and deadlier poisons and so on, and law enforcement has evolved their policies to react to these threats over time. So, it's not that we suddenly have a new quality of existential threat and it's much more worrisome than what we have had for about six decades. A large nuclear warhead doesn’t need fancy face recognition to kill an individual. No, it simply wipes out an entire city with ten million inhabitants. Jones: The existential threat that’s implied is the extent to which humans have control over this technology. We see some early cases of opportunism which, as you say, tends to get more media attention than positive breakthroughs. But you’re implying that this will all balance out? Schmidhuber: Historically, we have a long tradition of technological breakthroughs that led to advancements in weapons for the purpose of defense but also for protection. From sticks, to rocks, to axes to gunpowder to cannons to rockets… and now to drones… this has had a drastic influence on human history but what has been consistent throughout history is that those who are using technology to achieve their own ends are themselves, facing the same technology because the opposing side is learning to use it against them. And that's what has been repeated in thousands of years of human history and it will continue. I don't see the new AI arms race as something that is remotely as existential a threat as the good old nuclear warheads. You said something important, in that some people prefer to talk about the downsides rather than the benefits of this technology, but that's misleading, because 95% of all AI research and AI development is about making people happier and advancing human life and health. Jones: Let’s touch on some of those beneficial advances in AI research that have been able to radically change present day methods and achieve breakthroughs. Schmidhuber: All right! For example, eleven years ago, our team with my postdoc Dan Ciresan was the first to win a medical imaging competition through deep learning. We analyzed female breast cells with the objective to determine harmless cells vs. those in the pre-cancer stage. Typically, a trained oncologist needs a long time to make these determinations. Our team, who knew nothing about cancer, were able to train an artificial neural network, which was totally dumb in the beginning, on lots of this kind of data. It was able to outperform all the other methods. Today, this is being used not only for breast cancer, but also for radiology and detecting plaque in arteries, and many other things. Some of the neural networks that we have developed in the last 3 decades are now prevalent across thousands of healthcare applications, detecting Diabetes and Covid-19 and what not. This will eventually permeate across all healthcare. The good consequences of this type of AI are much more important than the click-bait new ways of conducting crimes with AI. Jones: Adoption is a product of reinforced outcomes. The massive scale of adoption either leads us to believe that people have been led astray, or conversely, technology is having a positive effect on people’s lives. Schmidhuber: The latter is the likely case. There's intense commercial pressure towards good AI rather than bad AI because companies want to sell you something, and you are going to buy only stuff you think is going to be good for you. So already just through this simple, commercial pressure, you have a tremendous bias towards good AI rather than bad AI. However, doomsday scenarios like in Schwarzenegger movies grab more attention than documentaries on AI that improve people’s lives. Jones: I would argue that people are drawn to good stories – narratives that contain an adversary and struggle, but in the end, have happy endings. And this is consistent with your comment on human nature and how history, despite its tendency for violence and destruction of humanity, somehow tends to correct itself. Let’s take the example of a technology, which you are aware – GANs – General Adversarial Networks, which today has been used in applications for fake news and disinformation. In actuality, the purpose in the invention of GANs was far from what it is used for today. Schmidhuber: Yes, the name GANs was created in 2014 but we had the basic principle already in the early 1990s. More than 30 years ago, I called it artificial curiosity. It's a very simple way of injecting creativity into a little two network system. This creative AI is not just trying to slavishly imitate humans. Rather, it’s inventing its own goals. Let me explain: You have two networks. One network is producing outputs that could be anything, any action. Then the second network is looking at these actions and it’s trying to predict the consequences of these actions. An action could move a robot, then something happens, and the other network is just trying to predict what will happen. Now we can implement artificial curiosity by reducing the prediction error of the second network, which, at the same time, is the reward of the first network. The first network wants to maximize its reward and so it will invent actions that will lead to situations that will surprise the second network, which it has not yet learned to predict well. In the case where the outputs are fake images, the first network will try to generate images that are good enough to fool the second network, which will attempt to predict the reaction of the environment: fake or real image, and it will try to become better at it. The first network will continue to also improve at generating images whose type the second network will not be able to predict. So, they fight each other. The 2nd network will continue to reduce its prediction error, while the 1st network will attempt to maximize it. Through this zero-sum game the first network gets better and better at producing these convincing fake outputs which look almost realistic. So, once you have an interesting set of images by Vincent Van Gogh, you can generate new images that leverage his style, without the original artist having ever produced the artwork himself. Jones: I see how the Van Gogh example can be applied in an education setting and there are countless examples of artists mimicking styles from famous painters but image generation from this instance that can happen within seconds is quite another feat. And you know this is how GANs has been used. What’s more prevalent today is a socialized enablement of generating images or information to intentionally fool people. It also surfaces new harms that deal with the threat to intellectual property and copyright, where laws have yet to account for. And from your perspective this was not the intention when the model was conceived. What was your motivation in your early conception of what is now GANs? Schmidhuber: My old motivation for GANs was actually very important and it was not to create deepfakes or fake news but to enable AIs to be curious and invent their own goals, to make them explore their environment and make them creative. Suppose you have a robot that executes one action, then something happens, then it executes another action, and so on, because it wants to achieve certain goals in the environment. For example, when the battery is low, this will trigger “pain” through hunger sensors, so it wants to go to the charging station, without running into obstacles, which will trigger other pain sensors. It will seek to minimize pain (encoded through numbers). Now the robot has a friend, the second network, which is a world model ––it’s a prediction machine that learns to predict the consequences of the robot’s actions. Once the robot has a good model of the world, it can use it for planning. It can be used as a simulation of the real world. And then it can determine what is a good action sequence. If the robot imagines this sequence of actions, the model will predict a lot of pain, which it wants to avoid. If it plays this alternative action sequence in its mental model of the world, then it will predict a rewarding situation where it’s going to sit on the charging station and its battery is going to load again. So, it'll prefer to execute the latter action sequence. In the beginning, however, the model of the world knows nothing, so how can we motivate the first network to generate experiments that lead to data that helps the world model learn something it didn’t already know? That’s what artificial curiosity is about. The dueling two network systems effectively explore uncharted environments by creating experiments so that over time the curious AI gets a better sense of how the environment works. This can be applied to all kinds of environments, and has medical applications. Jones: Let’s talk about the future. You have said, “Traditional humans won’t play a significant role in spreading intelligence across the universe.” Schmidhuber: Let’s first conceptually separate two types of AIs. The first type of AI are tools directed by humans. They are trained to do specific things like accurately detect diabetes or heart disease and prevent attacks before they happen. In these cases, the goal is coming from the human. More interesting AIs are setting their own goals. They are inventing their own experiments and learning from them. Their horizons expand and eventually they become more and more general problem solvers in the real world. They are not controlled by their parents, but much of what they learn is through self-invented experiments. A robot, for example, is rotating a toy, and as it is doing this, the video coming in through the camera eyes, changes over time and it begins to learn how this video changes and learns how the 3D nature of the toy generates certain videos if you rotate it a certain way, and eventually, how gravity works, and how the physics of the world works. Like a little scientist! And I have predicted for decades that future scaled-up versions of such AI scientists will want to further expand their horizons, and eventually go where most of the physical resources are, to build more and bigger AIs. And of course, almost all of these resources are far away from earth out there in space, which is hostile to humans but friendly to appropriately designed AI-controlled robots and self-replicating robot factories. So here we are not talking any longer about our tiny biosphere; no, we are talking about the much bigger rest of the universe. Within a few tens of billions of years, curious self-improving AIs will colonize the visible cosmos in a way that’s infeasible for humans. Those who don’t won’t have an impact. Sounds like science fiction, but since the 1970s I have been unable to see a plausible alternative to this scenario, except for a global catastrophe such as an all-out nuclear war that stops this development before it takes off. Jones: How long have these AIs, which can set their own goals — how long have they existed? To what extent can they be independent of human interaction? Schmidhuber: Neural networks like that have existed for over 30 years. My first simple adversarial neural network system of this kind is the one from 1990 described above. You don’t need a teacher there; it's just a little agent running around in the world and trying to invent new experiments that surprise its own prediction machine. Once it has figured out certain parts of the world, the agent will become bored and will move on to more exciting experiments. The simple 1990 systems I mentioned have certain limitations, but in the past three decades, we have also built more sophisticated systems that are setting their own goals and such systems I think will be essential for achieving true intelligence. If you are only imitating humans, you will never go beyond them. So, you really must give AIs the freedom to explore previously unexplored regions of the world in a way that no human is really predefining. Jones: Where is this being done today? Schmidhuber: Variants of neural network-based artificial curiosity are used today for agents that learn to play video games in a human-competitive way. We have also started to use them for automatic design of experiments in fields such as materials science. I bet many other fields will be affected by it: chemistry, biology, drug design, you name it. However, at least for now, these artificial scientists, as I like to call them, cannot yet compete with human scientists. I don’t think it’s going to stay this way but, at the moment, it’s still the case. Sure, AI has made a lot of progress. Since 1997, there have been superhuman chess players, and since 2011, through the DanNet of my team, there have been superhuman visual pattern recognizers. But there are other things where humans, at the moment at least, are much better, in particular, science itself. In the lab we have many first examples of self-directed artificial scientists, but they are not yet convincing enough to appear on the radar screen of the public space, which is currently much more fascinated with simpler systems that just imitate humans and write texts based on previously seen human-written documents. Jones: You speak of these numerous instances dating back 30 years of these lab experiments where these self-driven agents are deciding and learning and moving on once they’ve learned. And I assume that that rate of learning becomes even faster over time. What kind of timeframe are we talking about when this eventually is taken outside of the lab and embedded into society? Schmidhuber: This could still take months or even years :-) Anyway, in the not-too-distant future, we will probably see artificial scientists who are good at devising experiments that allow them to discover new, previously unknown physical laws. As always, we are going to profit from the old trend that has held at least since 1941: every decade compute is getting 100 times cheaper. Jones: How does this trend affect modern AI such as ChatGPT? Schmidhuber: Perhaps you know that all the recent famous AI applications such as ChatGPT and similar models are largely based on principles of artificial neural networks invented in the previous millennium. The main reason why they works so well now is the incredible acceleration of compute per dollar. ChatGPT is driven by a neural network called “Transformer” described in 2017 by Google. I am happy about that because a quarter century earlier in 1991 I had a particular Transformer variant which is now called the “Transformer with linearized self-attention”. Back then, not much could be done with it, because the compute cost was a million times higher than today. But today, one can train such models on half the internet and achieve much more interesting results. Jones: And for how long will this acceleration continue? Schmidhuber: There's no reason to believe that in the next 30 years, we won't have another factor of 1 million and that's going to be really significant. In the near future, for the first time we will have many not-so expensive devices that can compute as much as a human brain. The physical limits of computation, however, are much further out so even if the trend of a factor of 100 every decade continues, the physical limits (of 1051 elementary instructions per second and kilogram of matter) won’t be hit until, say, the mid-next century. Even in our current century, however, we’ll probably have many machines that compute more than all 10 billion human brains collectively and you can imagine, everything will change then! Jones: That is the big question. Is everything going to change? If so, what do you say to the next generation of leaders, currently coming out of college and university. So much of this change is already impacting how they study, how they will work, or how the future of work and livelihood is defined. What is their purpose and how do we change our systems so they will adapt to this new version of intelligence? Schmidhuber: For decades, people have asked me questions like that, because you know what I'm saying now, I have basically said since the 1970s, it’s just that today, people are paying more attention because, back then, they thought this was science fiction. They didn't think that I would ever come close to achieving my crazy life goal of building a machine that learns to become smarter than myself such that I can retire. But now many have changed their minds and think it's conceivable. And now I have two daughters, 23 and 25. People ask me: what do I tell them? They know that Daddy always said, “It seems likely that within your lifetimes, you will have new types of intelligence that are probably going to be superior in many ways, and probably all kinds of interesting ways.” How should they prepare for that? And I kept telling them the obvious: Learn how to learn new things! It's not like in the previous millennium where within 20 years someone learned to be a useful member of society, and then took a job for 40 years and performed in this job until she received her pension. Now things are changing much faster and we must learn continuously just to keep up. I also told my girls that no matter how smart AIs are going to get, learn at least the basics of math and physics, because that’s the essence of our universe, and anybody who understands this will have an advantage, and learn all kinds of new things more easily. I also told them that social skills will remain important, because most future jobs for humans will continue to involve interactions with other humans, but I couldn’t teach them anything about that; they know much more about social skills than I do. You touched on the big philosophical question about people’s purpose. Can this be answered without answering the even grander question: What’s the purpose of the entire universe? We don’t know. But what’s happening right now might be connected to the unknown answer. Don’t think of humans as the crown of creation. Instead view human civilization as part of a much grander scheme, an important step (but not the last one) on the path of the universe from very simple initial conditions towards more and more unfathomable complexity. Now it seems ready to take its next step, a step comparable to the invention of life itself over 3.5 billion years ago. Alas, don’t worry, in the end, all will be good! Jones: Let’s get back to this transformation happening right now with OpenAI. There are many questioning the efficacy and accuracy of ChatGPT, and are concerned its release has been premature. In light of the rampant adoption, educators have banned its use over concerns of plagiarism and how it stifles individual development. Should large language models like ChatGPT be used in school? Schmidhuber: When the calculator was first introduced, instructors forbade students from using it in school. Today, the consensus is that kids should learn the basic methods of arithmetic, but they should also learn to use the “artificial multipliers” aka calculators, even in exams, because laziness and efficiency is a hallmark of intelligence. Any intelligent being wants to minimize its efforts to achieve things. And that's the reason why we have tools, and why our kids are learning to use these tools. The first stone tools were invented maybe 3.5 million years ago; tools just have become more sophisticated over time. In fact, humans have changed in response to the properties of their tools. Our anatomical evolution was shaped by tools such as spears and fire. So, it's going to continue this way. And there is no permanent way of preventing large language models from being used in school. Jones: And when our children, your children graduate, what does their future work look like? Schmidhuber: A single human trying to predict details of how 10 billion people and their machines will evolve in the future is like a single neuron in my brain trying to predict what the entire brain and its tens of billions of neurons will do next year. 40 years ago, before the WWW was created at CERN in Switzerland, who would have predicted all those young people making money as YouTube video bloggers? Nevertheless, let’s make a few limited job-related observations. For a long time, people have thought that desktop jobs may require more intelligence than skills trade or handicraft professions. But now, it turns out that it's much easier to replace certain aspects of desktop jobs than replacing a carpenter, for example. Because everything that works well in AI is happening behind the screen currently, but not so much in the physical world. There are now artificial systems that can read lots of documents and then make really nice summaries of these documents. That is a desktop job. Or you give them a description of an illustration that you want to have for your article and pretty good illustrations are being generated that may need some minimal fine-tuning. But you know, all these desktop jobs are much easier to facilitate than the real tough jobs in the physical world. And it's interesting that the things people thought required intelligence, like playing chess, or writing or summarizing documents, are much easier for machines than they thought. But for things like playing football or soccer, there is no physical robot that can remotely compete with the abilities of a little boy with these skills. So, AI in the physical world, interestingly, is much harder than AI behind the screen in virtual worlds. And it's really exciting, in my opinion, to see that jobs such as plumbers are much more challenging than playing chess or writing another tabloid story. Jones: The way data has been collected in these large language models does not guarantee personal information has not been excluded. Current consent laws already are outdated when it comes to these large language models (LLM). The concern, rightly so, is increasing surveillance and loss of privacy. What is your view on this? Schmidhuber: As I have indicated earlier: are surveillance and loss of privacy inevitable consequences of increasingly complex societies? Super-organisms such as cities and states and companies consist of numerous people, just like people consist of numerous cells. These cells enjoy little privacy. They are constantly monitored by specialized "police cells" and "border guard cells": Are you a cancer cell? Are you an external intruder, a pathogen? Individual cells sacrifice their freedom for the benefits of being part of a multicellular organism. Similarly, for super-organisms such as nations. Over 5000 years ago, writing enabled recorded history and thus became its inaugural and most important invention. Its initial purpose, however, was to facilitate surveillance, to track citizens and their tax payments. The more complex a super-organism, the more comprehensive its collection of information about its constituents. 200 years ago, at least, the parish priest in each village knew everything about all the village people, even about those who did not confess, because they appeared in the confessions of others. Also, everyone soon knew about the stranger who had entered the village, because some occasionally peered out of the window, and what they saw got around. Such control mechanisms were temporarily lost through anonymization in rapidly growing cities but are now returning with the help of new surveillance devices such as smartphones as part of digital nervous systems that tell companies and governments a lot about billions of users. Cameras and drones etc. are becoming increasingly tinier and more ubiquitous. More effective recognition of faces and other detection technology are becoming cheaper and cheaper, and many will use it to identify others anywhere on earth; the big wide world will not offer any more privacy than the local village. Is this good or bad? Some nations may find it easier than others to justify more complex kinds of super-organisms at the expense of the privacy rights of their constituents. Jones: So, there is no way to stop or change this process of collection, or how it continuously informs decisions over time? How do you see governance and rules responding to this, especially amid Italy’s ban on ChatGPT following suspected user data breach and the more recent news about the Meta’s record $1.3billion fine in the company’s handling of user information? Schmidhuber: Data collection has benefits and drawbacks, such as the loss of privacy. How to balance those? I have argued for addressing this through data ownership in data markets. If it is true that data is the new oil, then it should have a price, just like oil. At the moment, the major surveillance platforms such as Meta do not offer users any money for their data and the transitive loss of privacy. In the future, however, we will likely see attempts at creating efficient data markets to figure out the data's true financial value through the interplay between supply and demand. Even some of the sensitive medical data should not be priced by governmental regulators but by patients (and healthy persons) who own it and who may sell or license parts thereof as micro-entrepreneurs in a healthcare data market. Following a previous interview, I gave for one of the largest re-insurance companies , let's look at the different participants in such a data market: patients, hospitals, data companies. (1) Patients with a rare form of cancer can offer more valuable data than patients with a very common form of cancer. (2) Hospitals and their machines are needed to extract the data, e.g., through magnet spin tomography, radiology, evaluations through human doctors, and so on. (3) Companies such as Siemens, Google or IBM would like to buy annotated data to make better artificial neural networks that learn to predict pathologies and diseases and the consequences of therapies. Now the market’s invisible hand will decide about the data’s price through the interplay between demand and supply. On the demand side, you will have several companies offering something for the data, maybe through an app on the smartphone (a bit like a stock market app). On the supply side, each patient in this market should be able to profit from high prices for rare valuable types of data. Likewise, competing data extractors such as hospitals will profit from gaining recognition and trust for extracting data well at a reasonable price. The market will make the whole system efficient through incentives for all who are doing a good job. Soon there will be a flourishing ecosystem of commercial data market advisors and what not, just like the ecosystem surrounding the traditional stock market. The value of the data won’t be determined by governments or ethics committees, but by those who own the data and decide by themselves which parts thereof they want to license to others under certain conditions. At first glance, a market-based system seems to be detrimental to the interest of certain monopolistic companies, as they would have to pay for the data - some would prefer free data and keep their monopoly. However, since every healthy and sick person in the market would suddenly have an incentive to collect and share their data under self-chosen anonymity conditions, there will soon be many more useful data to evaluate all kinds of treatments. On average, people will live longer and healthier, and many companies and the entire healthcare system will benefit. Jones: Finally, what is your view on open source versus the private companies like Google and OpenAI? Is there a danger to supporting these private companies’ large language models versus trying to keep these models open source and transparent, very much like what LAION is doing? Schmidhuber: I signed this open letter by LAION because I strongly favor the open-source movement. And I think it's also something that is going to challenge whatever big tech dominance there might be at the moment. Sure, the best models today are run by big companies with huge budgets for computers, but the exciting fact is that open-source models are not so far behind, some people say maybe six to eight months only. Of course, the private company models are all based on stuff that was created in academia, often in little labs without so much funding, which publish without patenting their results and open source their code and others take it and improved it. Big tech has profited tremendously from academia; their main achievement being that they have scaled up everything greatly, sometimes even failing to credit the original inventors. So, it's very interesting to see that as soon as some big company comes up with a new scaled-up model, lots of students out there are competing, or collaborating, with each other, trying to come up with equal or better performance on smaller networks and smaller machines. And since they are open sourcing, the next guy can have another great idea to improve it, so now there’s tremendous competition also for the big companies. Because of that, and since AI is still getting exponentially cheaper all the time, I don't believe that big tech companies will dominate in the long run. They find it very hard to compete with the enormous open-source movement. As long as you can encourage the open-source community, I think you shouldn't worry too much. Now, of course, you might say if everything is open source, then the bad actors also will more easily have access to these AI tools. And there's truth to that. But as always since the invention of controlled fire, it was good that knowledge about how technology works quickly became public such that everybody could use it. And then, against any bad actor, there's almost immediately a counter actor trying to nullify his efforts. You see, I still believe in our old motto "AI∀" or "AI For All." Jones: Thank you, Juergen for sharing your perspective on this amazing time in history. It’s clear that with new technology, the enormous potential can be matched by disparate and troubling risks which we’ve yet to solve, and even those we have yet to identify. If we are to dispel the fear of a sentient system for which we have no control, humans, alone need to take steps for more responsible development and collaboration to ensure AI technology is used to ultimately benefit society. Humanity will be judged by what we do next.

[N] Inside DeepMind's secret plot to break away from Google

Article https://www.businessinsider.com/deepmind-secret-plot-break-away-from-google-project-watermelon-mario-2021-9 by Hugh Langley and Martin Coulter For a while, some DeepMind employees referred to it as "Watermelon." Later, executives called it "Mario." Both code names meant the same thing: a secret plan to break away from parent company Google. DeepMind feared Google might one day misuse its technology, and executives worked to distance the artificial-intelligence firm from its owner for years, said nine current and former employees who were directly familiar with the plans. This included plans to pursue an independent legal status that would distance the group's work from Google, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters. One core tension at DeepMind was that it sold the business to people it didn't trust, said one former employee. "Everything that happened since that point has been about them questioning that decision," the person added. Efforts to separate DeepMind from Google ended in April without a deal, The Wall Street Journal reported. The yearslong negotiations, along with recent shake-ups within Google's AI division, raise questions over whether the search giant can maintain control over a technology so crucial to its future. "DeepMind's close partnership with Google and Alphabet since the acquisition has been extraordinarily successful — with their support, we've delivered research breakthroughs that transformed the AI field and are now unlocking some of the biggest questions in science," a DeepMind spokesperson said in a statement. "Over the years, of course we've discussed and explored different structures within the Alphabet group to find the optimal way to support our long-term research mission. We could not be prouder to be delivering on this incredible mission, while continuing to have both operational autonomy and Alphabet's full support." When Google acquired DeepMind in 2014, the deal was seen as a win-win. Google got a leading AI research organization, and DeepMind, in London, won financial backing for its quest to build AI that can learn different tasks the way humans do, known as artificial general intelligence. But tensions soon emerged. Some employees described a cultural conflict between researchers who saw themselves firstly as academics and the sometimes bloated bureaucracy of Google's colossal business. Others said staff were immediately apprehensive about putting DeepMind's work under the control of a tech giant. For a while, some employees were encouraged to communicate using encrypted messaging apps over the fear of Google spying on their work. At one point, DeepMind's executives discovered that work published by Google's internal AI research group resembled some of DeepMind's codebase without citation, one person familiar with the situation said. "That pissed off Demis," the person added, referring to Demis Hassabis, DeepMind's CEO. "That was one reason DeepMind started to get more protective of their code." After Google restructured as Alphabet in 2015 to give riskier projects more freedom, DeepMind's leadership started to pursue a new status as a separate division under Alphabet, with its own profit and loss statement, The Information reported. DeepMind already enjoyed a high level of operational independence inside Alphabet, but the group wanted legal autonomy too. And it worried about the misuse of its technology, particularly if DeepMind were to ever achieve AGI. Internally, people started referring to the plan to gain more autonomy as "Watermelon," two former employees said. The project was later formally named "Mario" among DeepMind's leadership, these people said. "Their perspective is that their technology would be too powerful to be held by a private company, so it needs to be housed in some other legal entity detached from shareholder interest," one former employee who was close to the Alphabet negotiations said. "They framed it as 'this is better for society.'" In 2017, at a company retreat at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort in Scotland, DeepMind's leadership disclosed to employees its plan to separate from Google, two people who were present said. At the time, leadership said internally that the company planned to become a "global interest company," three people familiar with the matter said. The title, not an official legal status, was meant to reflect the worldwide ramifications DeepMind believed its technology would have. Later, in negotiations with Google, DeepMind pursued a status as a company limited by guarantee, a corporate structure without shareholders that is sometimes used by nonprofits. The agreement was that Alphabet would continue to bankroll the firm and would get an exclusive license to its technology, two people involved in the discussions said. There was a condition: Alphabet could not cross certain ethical redlines, such as using DeepMind technology for military weapons or surveillance. In 2019, DeepMind registered a new company called DeepMind Labs Limited, as well as a new holding company, filings with the UK's Companies House showed. This was done in anticipation of a separation from Google, two former employees involved in those registrations said. Negotiations with Google went through peaks and valleys over the years but gained new momentum in 2020, one person said. A senior team inside DeepMind started to hold meetings with outside lawyers and Google to hash out details of what this theoretical new formation might mean for the two companies' relationship, including specifics such as whether they would share a codebase, internal performance metrics, and software expenses, two people said. From the start, DeepMind was thinking about potential ethical dilemmas from its deal with Google. Before the 2014 acquisition closed, both companies signed an "Ethics and Safety Review Agreement" that would prevent Google from taking control of DeepMind's technology, The Economist reported in 2019. Part of the agreement included the creation of an ethics board that would supervise the research. Despite years of internal discussions about who should sit on this board, and vague promises to the press, this group "never existed, never convened, and never solved any ethics issues," one former employee close to those discussions said. A DeepMind spokesperson declined to comment. DeepMind did pursue a different idea: an independent review board to convene if it were to separate from Google, three people familiar with the plans said. The board would be made up of Google and DeepMind executives, as well as third parties. Former US president Barack Obama was someone DeepMind wanted to approach for this board, said one person who saw a shortlist of candidates. DeepMind also created an ethical charter that included bans on using its technology for military weapons or surveillance, as well as a rule that its technology should be used for ways that benefit society. In 2017, DeepMind started a unit focused on AI ethics research composed of employees and external research fellows. Its stated goal was to "pave the way for truly beneficial and responsible AI." A few months later, a controversial contract between Google and the Pentagon was disclosed, causing an internal uproar in which employees accused Google of getting into "the business of war." Google's Pentagon contract, known as Project Maven, "set alarm bells ringing" inside DeepMind, a former employee said. Afterward, Google published a set of principles to govern its work in AI, guidelines that were similar to the ethical charter that DeepMind had already set out internally, rankling some of DeepMind's senior leadership, two former employees said. In April, Hassabis told employees in an all-hands meeting that negotiations to separate from Google had ended. DeepMind would maintain its existing status inside Alphabet. DeepMind's future work would be overseen by Google's Advanced Technology Review Council, which includes two DeepMind executives, Google's AI chief Jeff Dean, and the legal SVP Kent Walker. But the group's yearslong battle to achieve more independence raises questions about its future within Google. Google's commitment to AI research has also come under question, after the company forced out two of its most senior AI ethics researchers. That led to an industry backlash and sowed doubt over whether it could allow truly independent research. Ali Alkhatib, a fellow at the Center for Applied Data Ethics, told Insider that more public accountability was "desperately needed" to regulate the pursuit of AI by large tech companies. For Google, its investment in DeepMind may be starting to pay off. Late last year, DeepMind announced a breakthrough to help scientists better understand the behavior of microscopic proteins, which has the potential to revolutionize drug discovery. As for DeepMind, Hassabis is holding on to the belief that AI technology should not be controlled by a single corporation. Speaking at Tortoise's Responsible AI Forum in June, he proposed a "world institute" of AI. Such a body might sit under the jurisdiction of the United Nations, Hassabis theorized, and could be filled with top researchers in the field. "It's much stronger if you lead by example," he told the audience, "and I hope DeepMind can be part of that role-modeling for the industry."

[D]Why isn't Hugging Face becoming one of the promising (and young) AI chatbot players on the table (like Mistral AI, Anthropic, Perplexity AI, etc)

I rememebered a few years ago people discussing about what HF's business model is or how to profit. I think now is the best time for them, but yet i am a bit suprised they didn't make their own one. They have talents, experiences, resources. Just wonder it.

LLMs are getting much cheaper — business impact? [D]

Saw this out of Stanford. Apologies if it’s been shared here already. We introduce Alpaca 7B, a model fine-tuned from the LLaMA 7B model on 52K instruction-following demonstrations. On our preliminary evaluation of single-turn instruction following, Alpaca behaves qualitatively similarly to OpenAI’s text-davinci-003, while being surprisingly small and easy/cheap to reproduce (<600$). Basically, starting w an open source Meta 7B LLaMa model, they recruited GPT-3.5 to use for self-instruct training (as opposed to RLHF) and were able to produce a model that behaved similar to GPT-3.5. Amazingly, the process only took few weeks and $600 in compute cost. Any thoughts on how such low cost to train/deploy LLMs could affect companies like AMD, Nvidia and Intel etc? This seems like new idiom of AI tech and trying to wrap my head around CPU/GPU demand implications given the apparent orders of magnitude training cost reduction. Link: https://crfm.stanford.edu/2023/03/13/alpaca.html

[Discussion]: Mark Zuckerberg on Meta's Strategy on Open Source and AI during the earnings call

During the recent earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg answered a question from Eric Sheridan of Goldman Sachs on Meta's AI strategy, opportunities to integrate into products, and why they open source models and how it would benefit their business. I found the reasoning to be very sound and promising for the OSS and AI community. The biggest risk from AI, in my opinion, is not the doomsday scenarios that intuitively come to mind but rather that the most powerful AI systems will only be accessible to the most powerful and resourceful corporations. Quote copied from Ben Thompson's write up on Meta's earning in his Stratechery blog post which goes beyond AI. It's behind a paywall but I highly recommend it personally. Some noteworthy quotes that signal the thought process at Meta FAIR and more broadly We’re just playing a different game on the infrastructure than companies like Google or Microsoft or Amazon We would aspire to and hope to make even more open than that. So, we’ll need to figure out a way to do that. ...lead us to do more work in terms of open sourcing, some of the lower level models and tools Open sourcing low level tools make the way we run all this infrastructure more efficient over time. On PyTorch: It’s generally been very valuable for us to provide that because now all of the best developers across the industry are using tools that we’re also using internally. I would expect us to be pushing and helping to build out an open ecosystem. For all the negative that comes out of the popular discourse on Meta, I think their work to open source key tech tools over the last 10 years has been exceptional, here's hoping it continues into this decade of AI and pushes other tech giants to also realize the benefits of Open Source. Full Transcript: Right now most of the companies that are training large language models have business models that lead them to a closed approach to development. I think there’s an important opportunity to help create an open ecosystem. If we can help be a part of this, then much of the industry will standardize on using these open tools and help improve them further. So this will make it easier for other companies to integrate with our products and platforms as we enable more integrations, and that will help our products stay at the leading edge as well. Our approach to AI and our infrastructure has always been fairly open. We open source many of our state of the art models so people can experiment and build with them. This quarter we released our LLaMa LLM to researchers. It has 65 billion parameters but outperforms larger models and has proven quite popular. We’ve also open-sourced three other groundbreaking visual models along with their training data and model weights — Segment Anything, DinoV2, and our Animated Drawings tool — and we’ve gotten positive feedback on all of those as well. I think that there’s an important distinction between the products we offer and a lot of the technical infrastructure, especially the software that we write to support that. And historically, whether it’s the Open Compute project that we’ve done or just open sourcing a lot of the infrastructure that we’ve built, we’ve historically open sourced a lot of that infrastructure, even though we haven’t open sourced the code for our core products or anything like that. And the reason why I think why we do this is that unlike some of the other companies in the space, we’re not selling a cloud computing service where we try to keep the different software infrastructure that we’re building proprietary. For us, it’s way better if the industry standardizes on the basic tools that we’re using and therefore we can benefit from the improvements that others make and others’ use of those tools can, in some cases like Open Compute, drive down the costs of those things which make our business more efficient too. So I think to some degree we’re just playing a different game on the infrastructure than companies like Google or Microsoft or Amazon, and that creates different incentives for us. So overall, I think that that’s going to lead us to do more work in terms of open sourcing, some of the lower level models and tools. But of course, a lot of the product work itself is going to be specific and integrated with the things that we do. So it’s not that everything we do is going to be open. Obviously, a bunch of this needs to be developed in a way that creates unique value for our products, but I think in terms of the basic models, I would expect us to be pushing and helping to build out an open ecosystem here, which I think is something that’s going to be important. On the AI tools, and we have a bunch of history here, right? So if you if you look at what we’ve done with PyTorch, for example, which has generally become the standard in the industry as a tool that a lot of folks who are building AI models and different things in that space use, it’s generally been very valuable for us to provide that because now all of the best developers across the industry are using tools that we’re also using internally. So the tool chain is the same. So when they create some innovation, we can easily integrate it into the things that we’re doing. When we improve something, it improves other products too. Because it’s integrated with our technology stack, when there are opportunities to make integrations with products, it’s much easier to make sure that developers and other folks are compatible with the things that we need in the way that our systems work. So there are a lot of advantages, but I view this more as a kind of back end infrastructure advantage with potential integrations on the product side, but one that should hopefully enable us to stay at the leading edge and integrate more broadly with the community and also make the way we run all this infrastructure more efficient over time. There are a number of models. I just gave PyTorch as an example. Open Compute is another model that has worked really well for us in this way, both to incorporate both innovation and scale efficiency into our own infrastructure. So I think that there’s, our incentives I think are basically aligned towards moving in this direction. Now that said, there’s a lot to figure out, right? So when you asked if there are going to be other opportunities, I hope so. I can’t speak to what all those things might be now. This is all quite early in getting developed. The better we do at the foundational work, the more opportunities I think that will come and present themselves. So I think that that’s all stuff that we need to figure out. But at least at the base level, I think we’re generally incentivized to move in this direction. And we also need to figure out how to go in that direction over time. I mean, I mentioned LLaMA before and I also want to be clear that while I’m talking about helping contribute to an open ecosystem, LLaMA is a model that we only really made available to researchers and there’s a lot of really good stuff that’s happening there. But a lot of the work that we’re doing, I think, we would aspire to and hope to make even more open than that. So, we’ll need to figure out a way to do that.

[D] How Facebook got addicted to spreading misinformation

Behind paywall: With new machine-learning models coming online daily, the company created a new system to track their impact and maximize user engagement. The process is still the same today. Teams train up a new machine-learning model on FBLearner, whether to change the ranking order of posts or to better catch content that violates Facebook’s community standards (its rules on what is and isn’t allowed on the platform). Then they test the new model on a small subset of Facebook’s users to measure how it changes engagement metrics, such as the number of likes, comments, and shares, says Krishna Gade, who served as the engineering manager for news feed from 2016 to 2018. If a model reduces engagement too much, it’s discarded. Otherwise, it’s deployed and continually monitored. On Twitter, Gade explained that his engineers would get notifications every few days when metrics such as likes or comments were down. Then they’d decipher what had caused the problem and whether any models needed retraining. But this approach soon caused issues. The models that maximize engagement also favor controversy, misinformation, and extremism: put simply, people just like outrageous stuff. Sometimes this inflames existing political tensions. The most devastating example to date is the case of Myanmar, where viral fake news and hate speech about the Rohingya Muslim minority escalated the country’s religious conflict into a full-blown genocide. Facebook admitted in 2018, after years of downplaying its role, that it had not done enough “to help prevent our platform from being used to foment division and incite offline violence.” While Facebook may have been oblivious to these consequences in the beginning, it was studying them by 2016. In an internal presentation from that year, reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, a company researcher, Monica Lee, found that Facebook was not only hosting a large number of extremist groups but also promoting them to its users: “64% of all extremist group joins are due to our recommendation tools,” the presentation said, predominantly thanks to the models behind the “Groups You Should Join” and “Discover” features. https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/03/11/1020600/facebook-responsible-ai-misinformation/

[Discussion] When ML and Data Science are the death of a good company: A cautionary tale.

TD;LR: At Company A, Team X does advanced analytics using on-prem ERP tools and older programming languages. Their tools work very well and are designed based on very deep business and domain expertise. Team Y is a new and ambitious Data Science team that thinks they can replace Team X's tools with a bunch of R scripts and a custom built ML platform. Their models are simplistic, but more "fashionable" compared to the econometric models used by Team X, and team Y benefits from the ML/DS moniker so leadership is allowing Team Y to start a large scale overhaul of the analytics platform in question. Team Y doesn't have the experience for such a larger scale transformation, and is refusing to collaborate with team X. This project is very likely going to fail, and cause serious harm to the company as a whole financially and from a people perspective. I argue that this is not just because of bad leadership, but also because of various trends and mindsets in the DS community at large. Update (Jump to below the line for the original story): Several people in the comments are pointing out that this just a management failure, not something due to ML/DS, and that you can replace DS with any buzz tech and the story will still be relevant. My response: Of course, any failure at an organization level is ultimately a management failure one way or the other. Moreover, it is also the case that ML/DS when done correctly, will always improve a company's bottom line. There is no scenario where the proper ML solution, delivered at a reasonable cost and in a timely fashion, will somehow hurt the company's bottom line. My point is that in this case management is failing because of certain trends and practices that are specific to the ML/DS community, namely: The idea that DS teams should operate independently of tech and business orgs -- too much autonomy for DS teams The disregard for domain knowledge that seems prevalent nowadays thanks to the ML hype, that DS can be generalists and someone with good enough ML chops can solve any business problem. That wasn't the case when I first left academia for the industry in 2009 (back then nobody would even bother with a phone screen if you didn't have the right domain knowledge). Over reliance on resources who check all the ML hype related boxes (knows Python, R, Tensorflow, Shiny, etc..., has the right Coursera certifications, has blogged on the topic, etc...), but are lacking in depth of experience. DS interviews nowadays all seem to be: Can you tell me what a p-value is? What is elastic net regression? Show me how to fit a model in sklearn? How do you impute NAs in an R dataframe? Any smart person can look those up on Stackoverflow or Cross-Validated,.....Instead teams should be asking stuff like: why does portfolio optimization use QP not LP? How does a forecast influence a customer service level? When should a recommendation engine be content based and when should it use collaborative filtering? etc... (This is a true story, happening to the company I currently work for. Names, domains, algorithms, and roles have been shuffled around to protect my anonymity)  Company A has been around for several decades. It is not the biggest name in its domain, but it is a well respected one. Risk analysis and portfolio optimization have been a core of Company A's business since the 90s. They have a large team of 30 or so analysts who perform those tasks on a daily basis. These analysts use ERP solutions implemented for them by one the big ERP companies (SAP, Teradata, Oracle, JD Edwards,...) or one of the major tech consulting companies (Deloitte, Accenture, PWC, Capgemini, etc...) in collaboration with their own in house engineering team. The tools used are embarrassingly old school: Classic RDBMS running on on-prem servers or maybe even on mainframes, code written in COBOL, Fortran, weird proprietary stuff like ABAP or SPSS.....you get the picture. But the models and analytic functions were pretty sophisticated, and surprisingly cutting edge compared to the published academic literature. Most of all, they fit well with the company's enterprise ecosystem, and were honed based on years of deep domain knowledge.  They have a tech team of several engineers (poached from the aforementioned software and consulting companies) and product managers (who came from the experienced pools of analysts and managers who use the software, or poached from business rivals) maintaining and running this software. Their technology might be old school, but collectively, they know the domain and the company's overall architecture very, very well. They've guided the company through several large scale upgrades and migrations and they have a track record of delivering on time, without too much overhead. The few times they've stumbled, they knew how to pick themselves up very quickly. In fact within their industry niche, they have a reputation for their expertise, and have very good relations with the various vendors they've had to deal with. They were the launching pad of several successful ERP consulting careers.  Interestingly, despite dealing on a daily basis with statistical modeling and optimization algorithms, none of the analysts, engineers, or product managers involved describe themselves as data scientists or machine learning experts. It is mostly a cultural thing: Their expertise predates the Data Science/ML hype that started circa 2010, and they got most of their chops using proprietary enterprise tools instead of the open source tools popular nowadays. A few of them have formal statistical training, but most of them came from engineering or domain backgrounds and learned stats on the fly while doing their job. Call this team "Team X".  Sometime around the mid 2010s, Company A started having some serious anxiety issues: Although still doing very well for a company its size, overall economic and demographic trends were shrinking its customer base, and a couple of so called disruptors came up with a new app and business model that started seriously eating into their revenue. A suitable reaction to appease shareholders and Wall Street was necessary. The company already had a decent website and a pretty snazzy app, what more could be done? Leadership decided that it was high time that AI and ML become a core part of the company's business. An ambitious Manager, with no science or engineering background, but who had very briefly toyed with a recommender system a couple of years back, was chosen to build a data science team, call it team "Y" (he had a bachelor's in history from the local state college and worked for several years in the company's marketing org). Team "Y" consists mostly of internal hires who decided they wanted to be data scientists and completed a Coursera certification or a Galvanize boot camp, before being brought on to the team, along with a few of fresh Ph.D or M.Sc holders who didn't like academia and wanted to try their hand at an industry role. All of them were very bright people, they could write great Medium blog posts and give inspiring TED talks, but collectively they had very little real world industry experience. As is the fashion nowadays, this group was made part of a data science org that reported directly to the CEO and Board, bypassing the CIO and any tech or business VPs, since Company A wanted to claim the monikers "data driven" and "AI powered" in their upcoming shareholder meetings. In 3 or 4 years of existence, team Y produced a few Python and R scripts. Their architectural experience  consisted almost entirely in connecting Flask to S3 buckets or Redshift tables, with a couple of the more resourceful ones learning how to plug their models into Tableau or how to spin up a Kuberneties pod.  But they needn't worry: The aforementioned manager, who was now a director (and was also doing an online Masters to make up for his qualifications gap and bolster his chances of becoming VP soon - at least he now understands what L1 regularization is), was a master at playing corporate politics and self-promotion. No matter how few actionable insights team Y produced or how little code they deployed to production, he always had their back and made sure they had ample funding. In fact he now had grandiose plans for setting up an all-purpose machine learning platform that can be used to solve all of the company's data problems.  A couple of sharp minded members of team Y, upon googling their industry name along with the word "data science", realized that risk analysis was a prime candidate for being solved with Bayesian models, and there was already a nifty R package for doing just that, whose tutorial they went through on R-Bloggers.com. One of them had even submitted a Bayesian classifier Kernel for a competition on Kaggle (he was 203rd on the leaderboard), and was eager to put his new-found expertise to use on a real world problem. They pitched the idea to their director, who saw a perfect use case for his upcoming ML platform. They started work on it immediately, without bothering to check whether anybody at Company A was already doing risk analysis. Since their org was independent, they didn't really need to check with anybody else before they got funding for their initiative. Although it was basically a Naive Bayes classifier, the term ML was added to the project tile, to impress the board.  As they progressed with their work however, tensions started to build. They had asked the data warehousing and CA analytics teams to build pipelines for them, and word eventually got out to team X about their project. Team X was initially thrilled: They offered to collaborate whole heartedly, and would have loved to add an ML based feather to their already impressive cap. The product owners and analysts were totally onboard as well: They saw a chance to get in on the whole Data Science hype that they kept hearing about. But through some weird mix of arrogance and insecurity, team Y refused to collaborate with them or share any of their long term goals with them, even as they went to other parts of the company giving brown bag presentations and tutorials on the new model they created.  Team X got resentful: from what they saw of team Y's model, their approach was hopelessly naive and had little chances of scaling or being sustainable in production, and they knew exactly how to help with that. Deploying the model to production would have taken them a few days, given how comfortable they were with DevOps and continuous delivery (team Y had taken several months to figure out how to deploy a simple R script to production). And despite how old school their own tech was, team X were crafty enough to be able to plug it in to their existing architecture. Moreover, the output of the model was such that it didn't take into account how the business will consume it or how it was going to be fed to downstream systems, and the product owners could have gone a long way in making the model more amenable to adoption by the business stakeholders. But team Y wouldn't listen, and their leads brushed off any attempts at communication, let alone collaboration. The vibe that team Y was giving off was "We are the cutting edge ML team, you guys are the legacy server grunts. We don't need your opinion.", and they seemed to have a complete disregard for domain knowledge, or worse, they thought that all that domain knowledge consisted of was being able to grasp the definitions of a few business metrics.  Team X got frustrated and tried to express their concerns to leadership. But despite owning a vital link in Company A's business process, they were only \~50 people in a large 1000 strong technology and operations org, and they were several layers removed from the C-suite, so it was impossible for them to get their voices heard.  Meanwhile, the unstoppable director was doing what he did best: Playing corporate politics. Despite how little his team had actually delivered, he had convinced the board that all analysis and optimization tasks should now be migrated to his yet to be delivered ML platform. Since most leaders now knew that there was overlap between team Y and team X's objectives, his pitch was no longer that team Y was going to create a new insight, but that they were going to replace (or modernize) the legacy statistics based on-prem tools with more accurate cloud based ML tools. Never mind that there was no support in the academic literature for the idea that Naive Bayes works better than the Econometric approaches used by team X, let alone the additional wacky idea that Bayesian Optimization would definitely outperform the QP solvers that were running in production.  Unbeknownst to team X, the original Bayesian risk analysis project has now grown into a multimillion dollar major overhaul initiative, which included the eventual replacement of all of the tools and functions supported by team X along with the necessary migration to the cloud. The CIO and a couple of business VPs are on now board, and tech leadership is treating it as a done deal. An outside vendor, a startup who nobody had heard of, was contracted to help build the platform, since team Y has no engineering skills. The choice was deliberate, as calling on any of the established consulting or software companies would have eventually led leadership to the conclusion that team X was better suited for a transformation on this scale than team Y.  Team Y has no experience with any major ERP deployments, and no domain knowledge, yet they are being tasked with fundamentally changing the business process that is at the core of Company A's business. Their models actually perform worse than those deployed by team X, and their architecture is hopelessly simplistic, compared to what is necessary for running such a solution in production.  Ironically, using Bayesian thinking and based on all the evidence, the likelihood that team Y succeeds is close to 0%. At best, the project is going to end up being a write off of 50 million dollars or more. Once the !@#$!@hits the fan, a couple of executive heads are going to role, and dozens of people will get laid off. At worst, given how vital risk analysis and portfolio optimization is to Company A's revenue stream, the failure will eventually sink the whole company. It probably won't go bankrupt, but it will lose a significant portion of its business and work force. Failed ERP implementations can and do sink large companies: Just see what happened to National Grid US, SuperValu or Target Canada.  One might argue that this is more about corporate disfunction and bad leadership than about data science and AI. But I disagree. I think the core driver of this debacle is indeed the blind faith in Data Scientists, ML models and the promise of AI, and the overall culture of hype and self promotion that is very common among the ML crowd.  We haven't seen the end of this story: I sincerely hope that this ends well for the sake of my colleagues and all involved. Company A is a good company, and both its customers and its employees deserver better. But the chances of that happening are negligible given all the information available, and this failure will hit my company hard.

[N] How Verizon Uses AI For Enhanced Business Decisions with Anil Kumar, Executive Director – Head of AI Industrialization at Verizon - Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 11:30 AM ET

Hi r/MachineLearning! I wanted to share this free webinar with you all. Below are the details from the event website: Featured Speaker: Anil Kumar, Executive Director, Head of AI Industrialization at Verizon. As companies are looking to leverage cognitive technology, and deploying machine learning models, organizations need to make sure they have the correct people, processes, and technology in place to succeed. In this presentation, Anil will share what AI industrialization is and how Verizon is moving from pockets of AI/ML to AI/ML being implemented across the organization. He will also share some of the unique opportunities and challenges that adopting AI across an organization as large as Verizon presents. Agenda: 11:30-12:30pm: Featured Presentation 12:30-13:00pm: Your Q&A and interaction Link for free registration: https://events.cognilytica.com/CLNTQwMHwyNA

[D] Overwhelmed by fast advances in recent weeks

I was watching the GTC keynote and became entirely overwhelmed by the amount of progress achieved from last year. I'm wondering how everyone else feels. &#x200B; Firstly, the entire ChatGPT, GPT-3/GPT-4 chaos has been going on for a few weeks, with everyone scrambling left and right to integrate chatbots into their apps, products, websites. Twitter is flooded with new product ideas, how to speed up the process from idea to product, countless promp engineering blogs, tips, tricks, paid courses. &#x200B; Not only was ChatGPT disruptive, but a few days later, Microsoft and Google also released their models and integrated them into their search engines. Microsoft also integrated its LLM into its Office suite. It all happenned overnight. I understand that they've started integrating them along the way, but still, it seems like it hapenned way too fast. This tweet encompases the past few weeks perfectly https://twitter.com/AlphaSignalAI/status/1638235815137386508 , on a random Tuesday countless products are released that seem revolutionary. &#x200B; In addition to the language models, there are also the generative art models that have been slowly rising in mainstream recognition. Now Midjourney AI is known by a lot of people who are not even remotely connected to the AI space. &#x200B; For the past few weeks, reading Twitter, I've felt completely overwhelmed, as if the entire AI space is moving beyond at lightning speed, whilst around me we're just slowly training models, adding some data, and not seeing much improvement, being stuck on coming up with "new ideas, that set us apart". &#x200B; Watching the GTC keynote from NVIDIA I was again, completely overwhelmed by how much is being developed throughout all the different domains. The ASML EUV (microchip making system) was incredible, I have no idea how it does lithography and to me it still seems like magic. The Grace CPU with 2 dies (although I think Apple was the first to do it?) and 100 GB RAM, all in a small form factor. There were a lot more different hardware servers that I just blanked out at some point. The omniverse sim engine looks incredible, almost real life (I wonder how much of a domain shift there is between real and sim considering how real the sim looks). Beyond it being cool and usable to train on synthetic data, the car manufacturers use it to optimize their pipelines. This change in perspective, of using these tools for other goals than those they were designed for I find the most interesting. &#x200B; The hardware part may be old news, as I don't really follow it, however the software part is just as incredible. NVIDIA AI foundations (language, image, biology models), just packaging everything together like a sandwich. Getty, Shutterstock and Adobe will use the generative models to create images. Again, already these huge juggernauts are already integrated. &#x200B; I can't believe the point where we're at. We can use AI to write code, create art, create audiobooks using Britney Spear's voice, create an interactive chatbot to converse with books, create 3D real-time avatars, generate new proteins (?i'm lost on this one), create an anime and countless other scenarios. Sure, they're not perfect, but the fact that we can do all that in the first place is amazing. &#x200B; As Huang said in his keynote, companies want to develop "disruptive products and business models". I feel like this is what I've seen lately. Everyone wants to be the one that does something first, just throwing anything and everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. &#x200B; In conclusion, I'm feeling like the world is moving so fast around me whilst I'm standing still. I want to not read anything anymore and just wait until everything dies down abit, just so I can get my bearings. However, I think this is unfeasible. I fear we'll keep going in a frenzy until we just burn ourselves at some point. &#x200B; How are you all fairing? How do you feel about this frenzy in the AI space? What are you the most excited about?

[N] How Stability AI’s Founder Tanked His Billion-Dollar Startup

forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrickcai/2024/03/29/how-stability-ais-founder-tanked-his-billion-dollar-startup/ archive no paywall: https://archive.is/snbeV How Stability AI’s Founder Tanked His Billion-Dollar Startup Mar 29, 2024 Stability AI founder Emad Mostaque took the stage last week at the Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, California to roaring applause and an introduction from an AI-generated Aristotle who announced him as “a modern Prometheus” with “the astuteness of Athena and the vision of Daedalus.” “Under his stewardship, AI becomes the Herculean force poised to vanquish the twin serpents of illness and ailment and extend the olive branch of longevity,” the faux Aristotle proclaimed. “I think that’s the best intro I’ve ever had,” Mostaque said. But behind Mostaque's hagiographic introduction lay a grim and fast metastasizing truth. Stability, once one of AI’s buzziest startups, was floundering. It had been running out of money for months and Mostaque had been unable to secure enough additional funding. It had defaulted on payments to Amazon whose cloud service undergirded Stability’s core offerings. The star research team behind its flagship text-to-image generator Stable Diffusion had tendered their resignations just three days before — as Forbes would first report — and other senior leaders had issued him an ultimatum: resign, or we walk too. Still, onstage before a massive audience of peers and acolytes, Mostaque talked a big game. “AI is jet planes for the mind,” he opined. “AI is our collective intelligence. It's the human Colossus.” He claimed a new, faster version of the Stable Diffusion image generator released earlier this month could generate “200 cats with hats per second.” But later, when he was asked about Stability’s financial model, Mostaque fumbled. “I can’t say that publicly,” he replied. “But it’s going well. We’re ahead of forecast.” Four days later, Mostaque stepped down as CEO of Stability, as Forbes first reported. In a post to X, the service formerly known as Twitter, he claimed he’d voluntarily abdicated his role to decentralize “the concentration of power in AI.” But sources told Forbes that was hardly the case. Behind the scenes, Mostaque had fought to maintain his position and control despite mounting pressure externally and internally to step down. Company documents and interviews with 32 current and former employees, investors, collaborators and industry observers suggest his abrupt exit was the result of poor business judgment and wild overspending that undermined confidence in his vision and leadership, and ultimately kneecapped the company. Mostaque, through his attorneys, declined to comment on record on a detailed list of questions about the reporting in this story. But in an email to Forbes earlier this week he broadly disputed the allegations. “Nobody tells you how hard it is to be a CEO and there are better CEOs than me to scale a business,” he said in a statement. “I am not sure anyone else would have been able to build and grow the research team to build the best and most widely used models out there and I’m very proud of the team there. I look forward to moving onto the next problem to handle and hopefully move the needle.” In an emailed statement, Christian Laforte and Shan Shan Wong, the interim co-CEOs who replaced Mostaque, said, "the company remains focused on commercializing its world leading technology” and providing it “to partners across the creative industries." After starting Stability in 2019, Mostaque built the company into an early AI juggernaut by seizing upon a promising research project that would become Stable Diffusion and funding it into a business reality. The ease with which the software generated detailed images from the simplest text prompts immediately captivated the public: 10 million people used it on any given day, the company told Forbes in early 2023. For some true believers, Mostaque was a crucial advocate for open-source AI development in a space dominated by the closed systems of OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. But his startup’s rise to one of the buzziest in generative AI was in part built on a series of exaggerations and misleading claims, as Forbes first reported last year (Mostaque disputed some points at the time). And they continued after he raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation just days after launching Stable Diffusion in 2022. His failure to deliver on an array of grand promises, like building bespoke AI models for nation states, and his decision to pour tens of millions into research without a sustainable business plan, eroded Stability’s foundations and jeopardized its future. "He was just giving shit away,” one former employee told Forbes. “That man legitimately wanted to transform the world. He actually wanted to train AI models for kids in Malawi. Was it practical? Absolutely not." By October 2023, Stability would have less than $4 million left in the bank, according to an internal memo prepared for a board meeting and reviewed by Forbes. And mounting debt, including months of overdue Amazon Web Services payments, had already left it in the red. To avoid legal penalties for skipping Americans staff’s payroll, the document explained, the London-based startup was considering delaying tax payments to the U.K. government. It was Stability’s armada of GPUs, the wildly powerful and equally expensive chips undergirding AI, that were so taxing the company’s finances. Hosted by AWS, they had long been one of Mostaque’s bragging points; he often touted them as one of the world’s 10 largest supercomputers. They were responsible for helping Stability’s researchers build and maintain one of the top AI image generators, as well as break important new ground on generative audio, video and 3D models. “Undeniably, Stability has continued to ship a lot of models,” said one former employee. “They may not have profited off of it, but the broader ecosystem benefitted in a huge, huge way.” But the costs associated with so much compute were now threatening to sink the company. According to an internal October financial forecast seen by Forbes, Stability was on track to spend $99 million on compute in 2023. It noted as well that Stability was “underpaying AWS bills for July (by $1M)” and “not planning to pay AWS at the end of October for August usage ($7M).” Then there were the September and October bills, plus $1 million owed to Google Cloud and $600,000 to GPU cloud data center CoreWeave. (Amazon, Google and CoreWeave declined to comment.) With an additional $54 million allocated to wages and operating expenses, Stability’s total projected costs for 2023 were $153 million. But according to its October financial report, its projected revenue for the calendar year was just $11 million. Stability was on track to lose more money per month than it made in an entire year. The company’s dire financial position had thoroughly soured Stability’s current investors, including Coatue, which had invested tens of millions in the company during its $101 million funding round in 2022. In the middle of 2023, Mostaque agreed to an independent audit after Coatue raised a series of concerns, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The outcome of the investigation is unclear. Coatue declined to comment. Within a week of an early October board meeting where Mostaque shared that financial forecast, Lightspeed Venture Partners, another major investor, sent a letter to the board urging them to sell the company. The distressing numbers had “severely undermined” the firm’s confidence in Mostaque’s ability to lead the company. “In particular, we are surprised and deeply concerned by a cash position just now disclosed to us that is inconsistent with prior discussions on this topic,” Lightspeed’s general counsel Brett Nissenberg wrote in the letter, a copy of which was viewed by Forbes. “Lightspeed believes that the company is not likely financeable on terms that would assure the company’s long term sound financial position.” (Lightspeed declined a request for comment.) The calls for a sale led Stability to quietly begin looking for a buyer. Bloomberg reported in November that Stability approached AI startups Cohere and Jasper to gauge their interest. Stability denied this, and Jasper CEO Timothy Young did the same when reached for comment by Forbes. A Cohere representative declined to comment. But one prominent AI company confirmed that Mostaque’s representatives had reached out to them to test the waters. Those talks did not advance because “the numbers didn’t add up,” this person, who declined to be named due to the confidential nature of the talks, told Forbes. Stability also tried to court Samsung as a buyer, going so far as to redecorate its office in advance of a planned meeting with the Korean electronics giant. (Samsung said that it invested in Stability in 2023 and that it does not comment on M&A discussions.) Coatue had been calling for Mostaque’s resignation for months, according to a source with direct knowledge. But it and other investors were unable to oust him because he was the company’s majority shareholder. When they tried a different tact by rallying other investors to offer him a juicy equity package to resign, Mostaque refused, said two sources. By October, Coatue and Lightspeed had had enough. Coatue left the board and Lightspeed resigned its observer seat. “Emad infuriated our initial investors so much it’s just making it impossible for us to raise more money under acceptable terms,” one current Stability executive told Forbes. The early months of 2024 saw Stability’s already precarious position eroding further still. Employees were quietly laid off. Three people in a position to know estimated that at least 10% of staff were cut. And cash reserves continued to dwindle. Mostaque mentioned a lifeline at the October board meeting: $95 million in tentative funding from new investors, pending due diligence. But in the end, only a fraction of it was wired, two sources say, much of it from Intel, which Forbes has learned invested $20 million, a fraction of what was reported. (Intel did not return a request for comment by publication time.) Two hours after Forbes broke the news of Mostaque’s plans to step down as CEO, Stability issued a press release confirming his resignation. Chief operating officer Wong and chief technology officer Laforte have taken over in the interim. Mostaque, who said on X that he still owns a majority of the company, also stepped down from the board, which has now initiated a search for a permanent CEO. There is a lot of work to be done to turn things around, and very little time in which to do it. Said the current Stability executive, “There’s still a possibility of a turnaround story, but the odds drop by the day.” In July of 2023, Mostaque still thought he could pull it off. Halfway through the month, he shared a fundraising plan with his lieutenants. It was wildly optimistic, detailing the raise of $500 million in cash and another $750 million in computing facilities from marquee investors like Nvidia, Google, Intel and the World Bank (Nvidia and Google declined comment. Intel did not respond. The World Bank said it did not invest in Stability). In a Slack message reviewed by Forbes, Mostaque said Google was “willing to move fast” and the round was “likely to be oversubscribed.” It wasn’t. Three people with direct knowledge of these fundraising efforts told Forbes that while there was some interest in Stability, talks often stalled when it came time to disclose financials. Two of them noted that earlier in the year, Mostaque had simply stopped engaging with VCs who asked for numbers. Only one firm invested around that time: actor Ashton Kutcher’s Sound Ventures, which invested $35 million in the form of a convertible SAFE note during the second quarter, according to an internal document. (Sound Ventures did not respond to a request for comment.) And though he’d managed to score a meeting with Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang, it ended in disaster, according to two sources. “Under Jensen's microscopic questions, Emad just fell apart,” a source in position to know told Forbes. Huang quickly concluded Stability wasn’t ready for an investment from Nvidia, the sources said. Mostaque told Forbes in an email that he had not met with Huang since 2022, except to say “hello and what’s up a few times after.” His July 2023 message references a plan to raise $150 million from Nvidia. (Nvidia declined to comment.) After a June Forbes investigation citing more than 30 sources revealed Mostaque’s history of misleading claims, Mostaque struggled to raise funding, a Stability investor told Forbes. (Mostaque disputed the story at the time and called it "coordinated lies" in his email this week to Forbes). Increasingly, investors scrutinized his assertions and pressed for data. And Young, now the CEO of Jasper, turned down a verbal offer to be Stability’s president after reading the article, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The collapse of the talks aggravated the board and other executives, who had hoped Young would compensate for the sales and business management skills that Mostaque lacked, according to four people in a position to know. (Young declined to comment.) When Stability’s senior leadership convened in London for the CogX conference in September, the financing had still not closed. There, a group of executives confronted Mostaque asking questions about the company’s cash position and runway, according to three people with direct knowledge of the incident. They did not get the clarity they’d hoped for. By October, Mostaque had reduced his fundraising target by more than 80%. The months that followed saw a steady drumbeat of departures — general counsel Adam Avrunin, vice presidents Mike Melnicki, Ed Newton-Rex and Joe Penna, chief people officer Ozden Onder — culminating in the demoralizing March exit of Stable Diffusion’s primary developers Robin Rombach, Andreas Blattmann, Patrick Esser and Dominik Lorenz. Rombach, who led the team, had been angling to leave for months, two sources said, first threatening to resign last summer because of the fundraising failures. Others left over concerns about cash flow, as well as liabilities — including what four people described as Mostaque’s lax approach to ensuring that Stability products could not be used to produce child sexual abuse imagery. “Stability AI is committed to preventing the misuse of AI and prohibits the use of our image models and services for unlawful activity, including attempts to edit or create CSAM,” Ella Irwin, senior vice president of integrity, said in a statement. Newton-Rex told Forbes he resigned because he disagreed with Stability’s position that training AI on copyrighted work without consent is fair use. Melnicki and Penna declined to comment. Avrunin and Onder could not be reached for comment. None of the researchers responded to requests for comment. The Stable Diffusion researchers’ departure as a cohort says a lot about the state of Stability AI. The company’s researchers were widely viewed as its crown jewels, their work subsidized with a firehose of pricey compute power that was even extended to people outside the company. Martino Russi, an artificial intelligence researcher, told Forbes that though he was never formally employed by Stability, the company provided him a “staggering” amount of compute between January and April 2023 to play around with developing an AI video generator that Stability might someday use. “It was Candy Land or Coney Island,” said Russi, who estimates that his experiment, which was ultimately shelved, cost the company $2.5 million. Stable Diffusion was simultaneously Stability’s marquee product and its existential cash crisis. One current employee described it to Forbes as “a giant vacuum that absorbed everything: money, compute, people.” While the software was widely used, with Mostaque claiming downloads reaching into the hundreds of millions, Stability struggled to translate that wild success into revenue. Mostaque knew it could be done — peers at Databricks, Elastic and MongoDB had all turned a free product into a lucrative business — he just couldn’t figure out how. His first attempt was Stability’s API, which allowed paying customers to integrate Stable Diffusion into their own products. In early 2023, a handful of small companies, like art generator app NightCafe and presentation software startup Tome, signed on, according to four people with knowledge of the deals. But Stability’s poor account management services soured many, and in a matter of months NightCafe and Tome canceled their contracts, three people said. NightCafe founder Angus Russell told Forbes that his company switched to a competitor which “offered much cheaper inference costs and a broader service.” Tome did not respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, Mostaque’s efforts to court larger companies like Samsung and Snapchat were failing, according to five people familiar with the effort. Canva, which was already one of the heaviest users of open-sourced Stable Diffusion, had multiple discussions with Stability, which was angling for a contract it hoped would generate several millions in annual revenue. But the deal never materialized, four sources said. “These three companies wanted and needed us,” one former employee told Forbes. “They would have been the perfect customers.” (Samsung, Snap and Canva declined to comment.) “It’s not that there was not an appetite to pay Stability — there were tons of companies that would have that wanted to,” the former employee said. “There was a huge opportunity and demand, but just a resistance to execution.” Mostaque’s other big idea was to provide governments with bespoke national AI models that would invigorate their economies and citizenry. “Emad envisions a world where AI through 100 national models serves not as a tool of the few, but as a benefactor to all promising to confront great adversaries, cancer, autism, and the sands of time itself,” the AI avatar of Aristotle said in his intro at the conference. Mostaque told several prospective customers that he could deliver such models within 60 days — an untenable timeline, according to two people in position to know. Stability attempted to develop a model for the Singaporean government over the protestation of employees who questioned its technical feasibility, three sources familiar with the effort told Forbes. But it couldn’t pull it off and Singapore never became a customer. (The government of Singapore confirmed it did not enter into a deal with Stability, but declined to answer additional questions.) As Stability careened from one new business idea to another, resources were abruptly reallocated and researchers reassigned. The whiplash shifts in a largely siloed organization demoralized and infuriated employees. “There were ‘urgent’ things, ‘urgent urgent’ things and ‘most urgent,’” one former employee complained. “None of these things seem important if everything is important.” Another former Stability executive was far more pointed in their assessment. “Emad is the most disorganized leader I have ever worked with in my career,” this person told Forbes. “He has no vision, and changes directions every week, often based on what he sees on Twitter.” In a video interview posted shortly before this story was published, Mostaque explained his leadership style: “I'm particularly great at taking creatives, developers, researchers, others, and achieving their full potential in designing systems. But I should not be dealing with, you know, HR and operations and business development and other elements. There are far better people than me to do that.” By December 2023, Stability had partially abandoned its open-source roots and announced that any commercial use of Stable Diffusion would cost customers at least $20 per month (non-commercial and research use of Stable Diffusion would remain free). But privately, Stability was considering a potentially more lucrative source of revenue: reselling the compute it was leasing from providers like AWS, according to six people familiar with the effort. Though it was essentially GPU arbitrage, Stability framed the strategy to investors as a “managed services” offering. Its damning October financial report projected optimistically that such an offering would bring in $139 million in 2024 — 98% of its revenue. Multiple employees at the time told Forbes they feared reselling compute, even if the company called it “managed services,” would violate the terms of Stability’s contract with AWS. Amazon declined to comment. “The line internally was that we are not reselling compute,” one former employee said. “This was some of the dirtiest feeling stuff.” Stability also discussed reselling a cluster of Nvidia A100 chips, leased via CoreWeave, to the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, three sources said. “It was under the guise of managed services, but there wasn’t any management happening,” one of these people told Forbes. Andreessen Horowitz and CoreWeave declined to comment. Stability did not respond to questions about if it plans to continue this strategy now that Mostaque is out of the picture. Regardless, interim co-CEOs Wong and Laforte are on a tight timeline to clean up his mess. Board chairman Jim O’Shaughnessy said in a statement that he was confident the pair “will adeptly steer the company forward in developing and commercializing industry-leading generative AI products.” But burn continues to far outpace revenue. The Financial Times reported Friday that the company made $5.4 million of revenue in February, against $8 million in costs. Several sources said there are ongoing concerns about making payroll for the roughly 150 remaining employees. Leadership roles have gone vacant for months amid the disarray, leaving the company increasingly directionless. Meanwhile, a potentially catastrophic legal threat looms over the company: A trio of copyright infringement lawsuits brought by Getty Images and a group of artists in the U.S. and U.K., who claim Stability illegally used their art and photography to train the AI models powering Stable Diffusion. A London-based court has already rejected the company’s bid to throw out one of the lawsuits on the basis that none of its researchers were based in the U.K. And Stability’s claim that Getty’s Delaware lawsuit should be blocked because it's a U.K.-based company was rejected. (Stability did not respond to questions about the litigation.) AI-related copyright litigation “could go on for years,” according to Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University. He told Forbes that though plaintiffs suing AI firms face an uphill battle overcoming the existing legal precedent on copyright infringement, the quantity of arguments available to make are virtually inexhaustible. “Like in military theory, if there’s a gap in your lines, that’s where the enemy pours through — if any one of those arguments succeeds, it could completely change the generative AI environment,” he said. “In some sense, generative AI as an industry has to win everything.” Stability, which had more than $100 million in the bank just a year and a half ago, is in a deep hole. Not only does it need more funding, it needs a viable business model — or a buyer with the vision and chops to make it successful in a fast-moving and highly competitive sector. At an all hands meeting this past Monday, Stability’s new leaders detailed a path forward. One point of emphasis: a plan to better manage resources and expenses, according to one person in attendance. It’s a start, but Mostaque’s meddling has left them with little runway to execute. His resignation, though, has given some employees hope. “A few people are 100% going to reconsider leaving after today,” said one current employee. “And the weird gloomy aura of hearing Emad talking nonsense for an hour is gone.” Shortly before Mostaque resigned, one current Stability executive told Forbes that they were optimistic his departure could make Stability appealing enough to receive a small investment or sale to a friendly party. “There are companies that have raised hundreds of millions of dollars that have much less intrinsic value than Stability,” the person said. “A white knight may still appear.”

[D] what's the best approach for this use case?

Hi everyone, I’m working on a project to help a friend who applies sun foils to building windows. Customers often want to see a preview of how the building will look with the foils, and right now, they’re manually photoshopping these images. I’m new to AI and experimenting with different tools. My goal is to automate this process so we can input a building photo and get an output with darkened windows, simulating the foil effect. Should I fine-tune a model for this specific task, or would using something like ControlNet be more effective? Any advice on the best approach would be greatly appreciated!

[D] if your company is ingesting work emails and chats for AI/ML pipelines, is there concern around sensitive business info getting out?

Edit: to be more specific - around sensitive raw data/metadata being dumped in system logs and accidentally viewed by an insider Hi folks Firstly full disclosure I’m the CEO of DataFog (www.datafog.ai). This is NOT a sales pitch but rather an interest in hearing what the community thinks about the overall issue which I believe will ultimately be solved via an ML-based implementation. My contention is: Generative AI has catalyzed widespread practice of ingesting email and work chat content to power AI training and inference this introduces a risk of content concerning confidential corporate affairs\ that can pass most privacy filters This results in Raw data alluding to sensitive business events flowing in freely for easy accidental unauthorized access by an internal - like MLOps - user My second contention is that the current security tools may not offer adequate coverage for what will be an evolving ongoing need that run of the mill PII redactors can’t account for. Take this statement which might easily be found in the inbox of the C-Suite for one of these two companies under “CiscoAcqPR\_Draft.docx” or the like: Cisco offered $157 in cash for each share of Splunk, representing a 31% premium to the company's last closing price. I myself have run various merger docs and legal filings through some standard PII tools and all of them fail to redact mention of deal terms. ~~A model training on phrases like “ $157 in cash per share” could have negative downstream inferential consequences or~~ if viewed accidentally by someone internally without the right access privileges How’re you all thinking about this problem? Custom recognizers are a common option like what you see with Microsoft Presidio but I’ve heard from some that maintaining those can be a PITA. At big companies this has been solved through internal tooling. \*more than Personally Identifiable Information (PII), HIPAA, or customer transaction data. It’s about those emails the CEO has sent to the Board of Directors in the midst of a corporate crisis, or the email thread between the C-Suite regarding an upcoming Earnings Call, or the market-moving announcement in the works regarding a merger with a competitor. In other words, Non-PII content that still needs to be redacted.

[Dataset][R] 19,762 Garbage Images for Building AI Recycling Solutions

Hi ML community! I’m excited to share the Garbage Classification V2 Dataset, featuring 19,762 high-quality images of garbage categorized into 10 distinct classes (e.g., metal, plastic, clothes, and paper). Why this matters: Train AI models for automated waste sorting and recycling. Develop waste segregation apps or sustainability-focused tools. Create innovative computer vision projects for environmental impact. 🔗 Dataset Link: Garbage Classification V2 This dataset has been used in the research paper, "Managing Household Waste Through Transfer Learning," proving its utility in real-world applications. Looking forward to seeing how you can use it to promote sustainability!

[D] Misuse of Deep Learning in Nature Journal’s Earthquake Aftershock Paper

Recently, I saw a post by Rajiv Shah, Chicago-based data-scientist, regarding an article published in Nature last year called Deep learning of aftershock patterns following large earthquakes, written by scientists at Harvard in collaboration with Google. Below is the article: Stand Up for Best Practices: Misuse of Deep Learning in Nature’s Earthquake Aftershock Paper The Dangers of Machine Learning Hype Practitioners of AI, machine learning, predictive modeling, and data science have grown enormously over the last few years. What was once a niche field defined by its blend of knowledge is becoming a rapidly growing profession. As the excitement around AI continues to grow, the new wave of ML augmentation, automation, and GUI tools will lead to even more growth in the number of people trying to build predictive models. But here’s the rub: While it becomes easier to use the tools of predictive modeling, predictive modeling knowledge is not yet a widespread commodity. Errors can be counterintuitive and subtle, and they can easily lead you to the wrong conclusions if you’re not careful. I’m a data scientist who works with dozens of expert data science teams for a living. In my day job, I see these teams striving to build high-quality models. The best teams work together to review their models to detect problems. There are many hard-to-detect-ways that lead to problematic models (say, by allowing target leakage into their training data). Identifying issues is not fun. This requires admitting that exciting results are “too good to be true” or that their methods were not the right approach. In other words, it’s less about the sexy data science hype that gets headlines and more about a rigorous scientific discipline. Bad Methods Create Bad Results Almost a year ago, I read an article in Nature that claimed unprecedented accuracy in predicting earthquake aftershocks by using deep learning. Reading the article, my internal radar became deeply suspicious of their results. Their methods simply didn’t carry many of the hallmarks of careful predicting modeling. I started to dig deeper. In the meantime, this article blew up and became widely recognized! It was even included in the release notes for Tensorflow as an example of what deep learning could do. However, in my digging, I found major flaws in the paper. Namely, data leakage which leads to unrealistic accuracy scores and a lack of attention to model selection (you don’t build a 6 layer neural network when a simpler model provides the same level of accuracy). To my earlier point: these are subtle, but incredibly basic predictive modeling errors that can invalidate the entire results of an experiment. Data scientists are trained to recognize and avoid these issues in their work. I assumed that this was simply overlooked by the author, so I contacted her and let her know so that she could improve her analysis. Although we had previously communicated, she did not respond to my email over concerns with the paper. Falling On Deaf Ears So, what was I to do? My coworkers told me to just tweet it and let it go, but I wanted to stand up for good modeling practices. I thought reason and best practices would prevail, so I started a 6-month process of writing up my results and shared them with Nature. Upon sharing my results, I received a note from Nature in January 2019 that despite serious concerns about data leakage and model selection that invalidate their experiment, they saw no need to correct the errors, because “Devries et al. are concerned primarily with using machine learning as [a] tool to extract insight into the natural world, and not with details of the algorithm design.” The authors provided a much harsher response. You can read the entire exchange on my github. It’s not enough to say that I was disappointed. This was a major paper (it’s Nature!) that bought into AI hype and published a paper despite it using flawed methods. Then, just this week, I ran across articles by Arnaud Mignan and Marco Broccardo on shortcomings that they found in the aftershocks article. Here are two more data scientists with expertise in earthquake analysis who also noticed flaws in the paper. I also have placed my analysis and reproducible code on github. Standing Up For Predictive Modeling Methods I want to make it clear: my goal is not to villainize the authors of the aftershocks paper. I don’t believe that they were malicious, and I think that they would argue their goal was to just show how machine learning could be applied to aftershocks. Devries is an accomplished earthquake scientist who wanted to use the latest methods for her field of study and found exciting results from it. But here’s the problem: their insights and results were based on fundamentally flawed methods. It’s not enough to say, “This isn’t a machine learning paper, it’s an earthquake paper.” If you use predictive modeling, then the quality of your results are determined by the quality of your modeling. Your work becomes data science work, and you are on the hook for your scientific rigor. There is a huge appetite for papers that use the latest technologies and approaches. It becomes very difficult to push back on these papers. But if we allow papers or projects with fundamental issues to advance, it hurts all of us. It undermines the field of predictive modeling. Please push back on bad data science. Report bad findings to papers. And if they don’t take action, go to twitter, post about it, share your results and make noise. This type of collective action worked to raise awareness of p-values and combat the epidemic of p-hacking. We need good machine learning practices if we want our field to continue to grow and maintain credibility. Link to Rajiv's Article Original Nature Publication (note: paywalled) GitHub repo contains an attempt to reproduce Nature's paper Confrontational correspondence with authors

[D] What is your honest experience with reinforcement learning?

In my personal experience, SOTA RL algorithms simply don't work. I've tried working with reinforcement learning for over 5 years. I remember when Alpha Go defeated the world famous Go player, Lee Sedol, and everybody thought RL would take the ML community by storm. Yet, outside of toy problems, I've personally never found a practical use-case of RL. What is your experience with it? Aside from Ad recommendation systems and RLHF, are there legitimate use-cases of RL? Or, was it all hype? Edit: I know a lot about AI. I built NexusTrade, an AI-Powered automated investing tool that lets non-technical users create, update, and deploy their trading strategies. I’m not an idiot nor a noob; RL is just ridiculously hard. Edit 2: Since my comments are being downvoted, here is a link to my article that better describes my position. It's not that I don't understand RL. I released my open-source code and wrote a paper on it. It's the fact that it's EXTREMELY difficult to understand. Other deep learning algorithms like CNNs (including ResNets), RNNs (including GRUs and LSTMs), Transformers, and GANs are not hard to understand. These algorithms work and have practical use-cases outside of the lab. Traditional SOTA RL algorithms like PPO, DDPG, and TD3 are just very hard. You need to do a bunch of research to even implement a toy problem. In contrast, the decision transformer is something anybody can implement, and it seems to match or surpass the SOTA. You don't need two networks battling each other. You don't have to go through hell to debug your network. It just naturally learns the best set of actions in an auto-regressive manner. I also didn't mean to come off as arrogant or imply that RL is not worth learning. I just haven't seen any real-world, practical use-cases of it. I simply wanted to start a discussion, not claim that I know everything. Edit 3: There's a shockingly number of people calling me an idiot for not fully understanding RL. You guys are wayyy too comfortable calling people you disagree with names. News-flash, not everybody has a PhD in ML. My undergraduate degree is in biology. I self-taught myself the high-level maths to understand ML. I'm very passionate about the field; I just have VERY disappointing experiences with RL. Funny enough, there are very few people refuting my actual points. To summarize: Lack of real-world applications Extremely complex and inaccessible to 99% of the population Much harder than traditional DL algorithms like CNNs, RNNs, and GANs Sample inefficiency and instability Difficult to debug Better alternatives, such as the Decision Transformer Are these not legitimate criticisms? Is the purpose of this sub not to have discussions related to Machine Learning? To the few commenters that aren't calling me an idiot...thank you! Remember, it costs you nothing to be nice! Edit 4: Lots of people seem to agree that RL is over-hyped. Unfortunately those comments are downvoted. To clear up some things: We've invested HEAVILY into reinforcement learning. All we got from this investment is a robot that can be super-human at (some) video games. AlphaFold did not use any reinforcement learning. SpaceX doesn't either. I concede that it can be useful for robotics, but still argue that it's use-cases outside the lab are extremely limited. If you're stumbling on this thread and curious about an RL alternative, check out the Decision Transformer. It can be used in any situation that a traditional RL algorithm can be used. Final Edit: To those who contributed more recently, thank you for the thoughtful discussion! From what I learned, model-based models like Dreamer and IRIS MIGHT have a future. But everybody who has actually used model-free models like DDPG unanimously agree that they suck and don’t work.

[D] AI Agents: too early, too expensive, too unreliable

Reference: Full blog post There has been a lot of hype about the promise of autonomous agent-based LLM workflows. By now, all major LLMs are capable of interacting with external tools and functions, letting the LLM perform sequences of tasks automatically. But reality is proving more challenging than anticipated. The WebArena leaderboard, which benchmarks LLMs agents against real-world tasks, shows that even the best-performing models have a success rate of only 35.8%. Challenges in Practice After seeing many attempts to AI agents, I believe it's too early, too expensive, too slow, too unreliable. It feels like many AI agent startups are waiting for a model breakthrough that will start the race to productize agents. Reliability: As we all know, LLMs are prone to hallucinations and inconsistencies. Chaining multiple AI steps compounds these issues, especially for tasks requiring exact outputs. Performance and costs: GPT-4o, Gemini-1.5, and Claude Opus are working quite well with tool usage/function calling, but they are still slow and expensive, particularly if you need to do loops and automatic retries. Legal concerns: Companies may be held liable for the mistakes of their agents. A recent example is Air Canada being ordered to pay a customer who was misled by the airline's chatbot. User trust: The "black box" nature of AI agents and stories like the above makes it hard for users to understand and trust their outputs. Gaining user trust for sensitive tasks involving payments or personal information will be hard (paying bills, shopping, etc.). Real-World Attempts Several startups are tackling the AI agent space, but most are still experimental or invite-only: adept.ai - $350M funding, but access is still very limited MultiOn - funding unknown, their API-first approach seems promising HypeWrite - $2.8M funding, started with an AI writing assistant and expanded into the agent space minion.ai - created some initial buzz but has gone quiet now, waitlist only Only MultiOn seems to be pursuing the "give it instructions and watch it go" approach, which is more in line with the promise of AI agents. All others are going down the record-and-replay RPA route, which may be necessary for reliability at this stage. Large players are also bringing AI capabilities to desktops and browsers, and it looks like we'll get native AI integrations on a system level: OpenAI announced their Mac desktop app that can interact with the OS screen. At Google I/O, Google demonstrated Gemini automatically processing a shopping return. Microsoft announced Copilot Studio, which will let developers build AI agent bots. Screenshot Screenshot These tech demos are impressive, but we'll see how well these agent capabilities will work when released publicly and tested against real-world scenarios instead of hand-picked demo cases. The Path Forward AI agents overhyped and it's too early. However, the underlying models continue to advance quickly, and we can expect to see more successful real-world applications. Instead of trying to have one large general purpose agent that is hard to control and test, we can use many smaller agents that basically just pick the right strategy for a specific sub-task in our workflows. These "agents" can be thought of as medium-sized LLM prompts with a) context and b) a set of functions available to call. The most promising path forward likely looks like this: Narrowly scoped, well testable automations that use AI as an augmentation tool rather than pursuing full autonomy Human-in-the-loop approaches that keep humans involved for oversight and handling edge cases Setting realistic expectations about current capabilities and limitations By combining tightly constrained agents, good evaluation data, human-in-the-loop oversight, and traditional engineering methods, we can achieve reliably good results for automating medium-complex tasks. Will AI agents automate tedious repetitive work, such as web scraping, form filling, and data entry? Yes, absolutely. Will AI agents autonomously book your vacation without your intervention? Unlikely, at least in the near future.

[P] Utilizing graph attention-based neural networks and generative AI to build a tool to automate debugging and refactoring Python code

For the last two years, I and three others have been working on a project we started in a research lab. The project is to create a tool that can automatically identify complex programming errors from source code that require a contextual understanding of the code. For this, we have built a graph attention-based neural network that is used to classify problematic code and embed context info. We employ a two-stage system for accurately embedding context information within a single graph. First, we split up the source code into semantic tokens through an nlp2 tokenizer and generate 80-bit vector embeddings using FastText, which has been trained on code snippets of a particular language. We then map those text tokens to groupings identified in the abstract syntax tree, excluding the individual nodes for each text token, opting instead for the function call with attributes as the smallest individual grouping, averaging the embeddings across each token type. The seed data for the system consists of code changes and their surrounding documentation on why a given code change was made. For this, we utilize a BERTopic-based topic modeling system to identify and categorize the reason why the given change was made from the docs. For the explanations and code recommendations, we utilize generative AI models. They are promising for this purpose as we are able to pass enriched context to them along with the problematic code, hoping to receive more accurate outputs. We are just looking for feedback on if the project currently provides any value to Python users. We've published the first version of the tool on vscode marketplace. It's of course free to use, and we'd appreciate any feedback on it. As it's not a weekend, let me know if you are interested to try the tool and give us your thoughts on it.

[R] AutoDev: Automated AI-Driven Development - Microsoft 2024

Paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.08299 Sorry posted a wrong github link. The real code sadly isnt public yet! Thank you for everyone who pointed that out to me! ~~Github includes Code + AutoDev Coder Model:~~ ~~https://github.com/unit-mesh/auto-dev~~ Abstract: The landscape of software development has witnessed a paradigm shift with the advent of AI-powered assistants, exemplified by GitHub Copilot. However, existing solutions are not leveraging all the potential capabilities available in an IDE such as building, testing, executing code, git operations, etc. Therefore, they are constrained by their limited capabilities, primarily focusing on suggesting code snippets and file manipulation within a chat-based interface. To fill this gap, we present AutoDev, a fully automated AI-driven software development framework, designed for autonomous planning and execution of intricate software engineering tasks. AutoDev enables users to define complex software engineering objectives, which are assigned to AutoDev's autonomous AI Agents to achieve. These AI agents can perform diverse operations on a codebase, including file editing, retrieval, build processes, execution, testing, and git operations. They also have access to files, compiler output, build and testing logs, static analysis tools, and more. This enables the AI Agents to execute tasks in a fully automated manner with a comprehensive understanding of the contextual information required. Furthermore, AutoDev establishes a secure development environment by confining all operations within Docker containers. This framework incorporates guardrails to ensure user privacy and file security, allowing users to define specific permitted or restricted commands and operations within AutoDev. In our evaluation, we tested AutoDev on the HumanEval dataset, obtaining promising results with 91.5% and 87.8% of Pass@1 for code generation and test generation respectively, demonstrating its effectiveness in automating software engineering tasks while maintaining a secure and user-controlled development environment. https://preview.redd.it/5nxqajnvbkoc1.jpg?width=924&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8343c5fb33d2914bbfbf2dd9c164b5970b9743ab https://preview.redd.it/z5fkkjnvbkoc1.jpg?width=1364&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc434ff384d2ed67ea0382dbbb68b9a90313cd44