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.
In a discussion with Astro Teller, Emily Ma from X (formerly Google X) delves into the multifaceted problem of food waste and the moonshot projects developed to tackle it. They explore Project Delta, an initiative that created an "air traffic control" system for surplus food, and Project Chorus, a broader supply chain moonshot designed to give every object a voice through advanced sensors and software.
Ben Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz discusses how AI is reshaping venture capital, detailing the firm's strategy for managing partners, verticalizing teams, and evaluating investments in real-time. He breaks down the current AI cycle, arguing that application design and model orchestration are key, and explains why the current market's growth is driven by real demand, not just hype.
Ashwin Rajeeva, cofounder and CTO of Acceldata, details the architecture and philosophy behind their Agentic Data Management (ADM) platform. He explains how the Xlake reasoning engine provides crucial context for AI agents to operate across petabyte-scale enterprise data, enabling capabilities like self-healing data pipelines and automated data quality assurance, while also discussing strategies for leading technical teams in the age of AI.
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.
An in-depth analysis of biometric authentication, exploring how the technology works, its applications in security, and the significant privacy risks involved. The summary covers biometric templates, threats like deepfakes, and mitigation strategies such as cancellable biometrics and multi-factor authentication.
Heiko Hotz and Sokratis Kartakis of Google Cloud introduce the Agent-to-Agent (A2A) protocol, a new open standard for enabling stateful, secure, and asynchronous collaboration between AI agents built on different frameworks. They contrast it with tool-use protocols like MCP and discuss its microservices-like architectural benefits.
Grant Miller uses a surfing analogy to explore the challenges and strategies of AI adoption. He discusses the historical waves of technological innovation, the current surge in AI—from generative models to agentic systems—and offers practical lessons on navigating this rapid change by being prepared, patient, and adaptable.
In a conversation with a16z, Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi and co-founder Ben Horowitz share pivotal stories and lessons from building Databricks. They cover Ali's transition to CEO, the strategies behind scaling an intense yet sustainable culture, the art of high-stakes dealmaking with giants like Microsoft, and the mindset required to turn down lucrative acquisition offers to build a trillion-dollar company.
Base Power CEO Zach Dell explains that the explosive energy demand from AI and other industries is creating a crisis for the electric grid. He outlines Base Power's mission to lower electricity costs through a vertically integrated model, building a distributed power plant using smart batteries in homes. This approach tackles the rising cost of energy transmission and modernizes the grid for an era of energy abundance.
A deep dive into the OpenAI Responses API, covering its architecture, advantages over Chat Completions, and practical applications for building persistent, multimodal agents with GPT-5, including live demos on migration and multi-tool workflows.
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