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.
Thomas Wolf, co-founder of Hugging Face, discusses his journey from physics to AI, the power of open-source models to accelerate innovation, the practical challenges of productionalizing AI demos, and why the biggest opportunities for founders now lie in the application layer on top of powerful foundation models.
Daren Fields, Co-Founder & CEO of Virtual Select, discusses the future of manufacturing, emphasizing the role of AI as a tool for human augmentation, not replacement. He explores how to modernize manufacturing by combining a carbon-based workforce with silicon-based systems to prevent defects, reduce costs, and de-risk execution.
The panel discusses Anthropic's Claude Cowork and the challenge of user trust in AI agents for everyday tasks. They then analyze the Apple-Google partnership to integrate Gemini into Siri, debating its implications for edge AI, privacy, and hardware limitations. Finally, they explore Linus Torvalds' use of AI for "vibe coding," considering its impact on hobbyist programming and entrepreneurship versus the current limitations in producing production-ready 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.
Brian Balfour, founder of Reforge, explains the predictable four-step cycle of technology platforms, from open to closed, and argues that ChatGPT is about to enter the "open" phase, creating a massive, time-sensitive distribution opportunity that startups and incumbents alike cannot afford to ignore.
Google DeepMind researchers Jack Parker-Holder and Shlomi Fruchter detail the creation of Genie 3, a model that generates interactive, persistent worlds from text in real time. They cover its breakthrough spatial memory, emergent physical intuition, and its potential to revolutionize gaming, robotics, and AI agent training.
Bob Kalka from IBM and Tyler Lynch from HashiCorp discuss the critical disconnect between managing human and non-human identities, which contributes to 80% of all cyberattacks. They introduce the concept of an 'Identity Fabric'—an AI-augmented approach to unify existing tools—and outline six key use cases and a three-phase strategy to address modern identity and access management (IAM) challenges.
Ben Lorica and Evangelos Simoudis analyze three pivotal AI trends: the "Great Hollowing Out" of entry-level jobs, the financial disconnect between AI hardware depreciation and its useful life, and OpenAI's strategic shift to router-based models in the quest for a sustainable business model.
Members of Anthropic's interpretability team discuss their research into the inner workings of large language models. They explore the analogy of studying AI as a biological system, the surprising discovery of internal "features" or concepts, and why this research is critical for understanding model behavior like hallucinations, sycophancy, and long-term planning, ultimately aiming to ensure AI safety.
OpenAI's Chief Scientist Jakub Pachocki and researcher Szymon Sidor discuss the rapid progress towards AGI, focusing on the shift from traditional benchmarks to real-world capabilities like automating scientific discovery. They share insights into recent breakthroughs in mathematical and programmatic reasoning, highlighted by successes in competitions like the International Math Olympiad (IMO), and explore what's next for scaling and long-horizon problem-solving.
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