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.
Jason Droege, CEO of Scale AI, discusses the evolution of AI training from simple labeling to complex, expert-driven tasks. He shares insights on the future of AI agents, the reality of enterprise AI adoption, and crucial business lessons learned from building Uber Eats from zero to a multi-billion dollar business.
Eric Zelikman, formerly of Stanford and xAI, discusses his research on AI reasoning (STaR, Q-STaR) and introduces his new venture, humans&. He argues for a paradigm shift from building AI with pure IQ to AI with EQ, focusing on long-term memory, human collaboration, and empowering users to achieve their full potential.
Zhen Lu, CEO of Runpod, discusses the shift from Web 2.0 architectures to an "AI-first" cloud. The conversation covers the unique hardware and software requirements for production AI, key use cases like generative media and enterprise agents, and the critical challenges of reliability and operationalization in the new AI stack.
OpenAI's Developer State of the Union details the company's journey and unveils significant updates, including the powerful GPT-5 model, the new Codex SDK for agentic coding, the comprehensive Agent Kit for building complex agents, and the Apps SDK for integrating interactive applications directly into ChatGPT.
Sam Altman and Jony Ive discuss their collaboration on new AI hardware, exploring a design philosophy rooted in care, craft, and improving human well-being. They delve into the creative process, the challenges of building amidst rapid technological change, and their vision for AI-powered tools that are intuitive, joyful, and foster genuine connection rather than anxiety.
An overview of OpenAI's approach to AI evaluation, covering the GDP-val benchmark for frontier models and the practical tools available for developers to evaluate their own custom agents and applications.
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