An expert overview of post-training techniques for language models, covering the entire workflow from data generation and curation to advanced algorithms like Supervised Fine-Tuning (SFT), Direct Preference Optimization (DPO), and Reinforcement Learning (RL), along with practical advice on evaluation and iteration.
This talk introduces Anaximander, a system designed to bridge the gap between traditional, GUI-driven Geographic Information System (GIS) workflows and modern, code-heavy machine learning practices. Anaximander integrates geospatial foundation models directly into QGIS, allowing experts to interactively orchestrate, run, and evaluate models for tasks like semantic segmentation and object detection on satellite imagery.
At Applied Compute, efficient Reinforcement Learning is critical for delivering business value. This talk explores the transition from inefficient synchronous RL to a high-throughput asynchronous 'Pipeline RL' system. The core challenge is managing 'staleness'—a side effect of in-flight weight updates that can destabilize training. The speakers detail their first-principles systems model, based on the Roofline model, used to simulate and find the optimal allocation of GPU resources between sampling and training, balancing throughput with algorithmic stability and achieving significant speedups.
A deep dive into the security vulnerabilities of Multi-Context Protocol (MCP) for AI agents. The talk explores how identity loss, "all-or-nothing" permissions, and disappearing audit trails create significant attack surfaces, and presents solutions like identity chain tracking, context-aware permissions, and intelligent auditing to secure agent-to-tool communication.
A detailed overview of a modular, five-agent system designed to combat the entire lifecycle of digital misinformation. Based on an ICWSM research paper, this practitioner's guide details the roles of the Classifier, Indexer, Extractor, Corrector, and Verifier agents. The system emphasizes scalability, explainability, and high precision, moving beyond the limitations of single-LLM solutions. The talk covers the complete blueprint, from agent coordination and MLOps to holistic evaluation and optimization strategies for production environments.
Panos Stravopodis, CTO of Elyos AI, shares the infrastructure and orchestration challenges of building production-ready voice AI agents. He details the four pillars for success—latency, consistency, context, and recovery—and provides engineering patterns for error handling, context management, and achieving conversational coherence in real-time systems.
Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, shares his unconventional journey and leadership philosophy. He provides a masterclass in building a multi-platform company through strategic M&A, explains why founders should sometimes ignore customers, and reveals how to lead with conviction while managing imposter syndrome.
Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Slack and Flickr, shares the product frameworks and leadership principles that guided his success. He delves into concepts like "utility curves" for feature investment, the "owner's delusion" in product design, and why focusing on "comprehension" is often more important than reducing friction. He also introduces powerful mental models for organizational effectiveness, such as combating "hyper-realistic work-like activities" and applying Parkinson's Law to team growth.
Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi discusses the operational playbook for reinventing a 40-year-old company, from its slow transition to SaaS to its early adoption of AI. He shares insights on winning the SMB market by treating small businesses like consumers, building effective channel partnerships, and developing a platform strategy. Goodarzi also details his leadership philosophy, emphasizing that grit and curiosity are more critical than raw talent.
The experts discuss OpenAI's GPT-5.1, focusing on its shift towards conversational style and user experience over raw benchmarks. They contrast this with the release of Moonshot AI's Kimi K2 Thinking, a powerful open-source model that challenges the dominance of proprietary systems. Finally, they analyze the profound security, organizational, and cultural risks of Microsoft's plan to introduce 'agentic users' as autonomous employees in the enterprise.
OpenAI’s Ben Goodger and Darin Fisher discuss the creation of ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-native browser designed to transform the web experience. They explore how integrating ChatGPT at the core enables agentic capabilities, allowing the browser to take actions on the user's behalf, from summarizing content to automating complex tasks. The conversation covers the architectural decisions behind Atlas, the future of agentic internet traffic, and the vision for a more intuitive, natural language-driven way of interacting with computers.
Starcloud launched the first NVIDIA H100 GPU into orbit, a first step towards building massive AI data centers in space. Their vision is to leverage continuous solar power and zero-water cooling to overcome Earth's energy and resource limitations for large-scale compute.
Kevlin Henney and James Lewis explore the evolution of our vision of the future, contrasting the boundless optimism of the 20th century with today's more cynical outlook. They analyze the economic and technological forces, such as Jevons' Paradox and the power of connectivity, that have shaped our present reality and offer a hopeful perspective on how a better future could still emerge through gradual, cumulative change.
Anoop Dawar from Deepgram discusses the evolution of voice AI, from basic transcription to sophisticated, real-time voice agents. He covers the key technical challenges in production, such as latency and interruption handling, and introduces Deepgram's Flux system. The talk concludes with a look at the future of speech-to-speech models that can understand emotional nuance, moving closer to passing the audio Turing Test.
Ciro Greco, CEO of Bauplan, outlines a new paradigm for data engineering that applies software engineering principles like version control, transactionality, and a code-first approach to build a programmable lakehouse designed for AI-driven automation and enhanced developer productivity.
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