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.
This session from Okta and Auth0 introduces a comprehensive framework for securing AI agents, covering identity establishment, delegated API access via Token Vault, user consent for risky operations using Asynchronous Authorization (CIBA), and integration with MCP servers.
A discussion on the evolving cybersecurity landscape, covering the persistent threat of ransomware gangs adapting with AI, the critical failures in identity security highlighted by the Zestix case, the emergence of AI agents as a new class of insider threats, and the physical-world risks demonstrated by hacking humanoid robots.
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.
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.
Nick Coult from AWS explains that the future of serverless is not a replacement but an essential foundation for the rise of AI agents. This talk explores the core benefits of serverless, its synergy with event-driven architectures, and how agentic AI and agentic workflows will rely on serverless principles to scale and operate effectively.
A discussion on novel methods for hijacking AI agents through social engineering, the evolution of DDoS attacks, the legacy of Zero Trust, and the glaring security flaws in AI training data apps.
A detailed overview of OpenAI's announcement of Sora 2, a flagship video and audio generation model, and the new Sora app, which introduces novel features like "Cameo" for personalized content creation and a new social experience.
Former researchers from OpenAI and Google DeepMind, Liam Fedus and Ekin Dogus Cubuk, discuss their new venture, Periodic Labs. They aim to create an 'AI physicist' by integrating large language models with real-world, iterative experiments, moving beyond simulation to solve fundamental challenges in physics and chemistry, starting with high-temperature superconductivity.
Anthropic's Head of Pre-training, Nick Joseph, details the immense engineering and infrastructure challenges behind training frontier models like Claude. He covers the evolution from early-stage custom frameworks to debugging hardware at massive scale, balancing pre-training with RL, and the strategic importance of data quality and team composition.
Matt McLarty and Erik Wilde explore the blind spots in platform engineering, arguing that a narrow focus on developer velocity and toolchains overlooks the critical need for creating reusable, API-driven business capabilities that deliver tangible value and organizational optionality.
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