Welcome to another insightful episode of Top End Devs, where we delve into the fascinating world of machine learning and data science. In this episode, host Charles Max Wood is joined by special guest Pierpaolo Hipolito, a data scientist at the SAS Institute in the UK. Together, they explore the intriguing paradoxes of data science, discussing how these paradoxes can impact the accuracy of machine learning models and providing insights on how to mitigate them.

Pierpaolo shares his expertise on causal reasoning in machine learning, drawing from his master's research and contributions to Towards Data Science and other notable publications. He elaborates on the complexities of data modeling during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the use of simulation and synthetic data to address data sparsity.

Throughout the conversation, the focus remains on the importance of understanding the underlying system being modeled, the role of feature engineering, and strategies for avoiding common pitfalls in data science. Whether you are a seasoned data scientist or just starting out, this episode offers valuable perspectives on enhancing the reliability and interpretability of your machine learning models.

Tune in for a deep dive into the paradoxes of data science, practical advice on feature interaction, and the importance of accurate data representation in achieving meaningful insights.


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What do cows and camels have to do with the human brain? The latest developments in machine learning, of course! In this episode, Michael and Ben dive into a new white paper from Facebook AI researchers that reveals a LOT about the future of modeling. They discuss “cows and camels”, the question of predictive vs causal modeling, and how algorithms are getting scary good at emulating the human brain these days.
In This Episode
Why Facebook’s new research is VERY exciting for AI learning and causality (but what does it have to do with cows and camels?)
 The answer to “Is predictive or causal modeling more accurate?” (and why it’s not the best question to ask)
 Not sure if you need machine learning or just plain data modeling? Michael lays it out for you
 What algorithms are learning about human behavior to accurately emulate the human brain in 2022 and beyond


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Michael Berk joins the adventure to discuss how he uses Machine Learning within the context of A/B testing features within applications and how to know when you have a viable test option for your setup.

Links

• How to Find Weaknesses in your Machine Learning Models
• LinkedIn: Michael Berk
• Michael Berk - Medium

Picks

• Ben- David Thorne Books
• Charles- Shadow Hunter
• Michael- Stuart Russell

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In today's episode, we dive into the critical decision-making process of building versus buying technology solutions, especially when it comes to agentic logic-based frameworks. With the industry still in its early stages, I recommend waiting for managed solutions to mature, while Ben suggests the educational value of simple project builds. They discuss the importance of understanding the technology thoroughly before diving into business-focused decisions, using tools like customer user journeys (CUJs) to evaluate scalability, cost-efficiency, and maintainability. They also highlight some initial challenges and missteps in project management and the necessity for pre-evaluation by tech teams.
For non-technical teams engaged in technical projects, they provide structured guidance on navigating these unknowns efficiently. Additionally, they emphasize the value of research spikes and incremental development to manage risk and learn from user behavior. Finally, they explore the promising yet evolving landscape of generative AI and its potential high ROI with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).

Socials

• Linkedin: Ben Wilson
• LinkedIn: Michael Berk

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Peter Elger and Eóin Shanaghy join Charles Max Wood to dive into what Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning related services are available for people to use. Peter and Eóin are experts in AWS and explain what is provided in its services, but easily extrapolate to other clouds. If you're trying to implement Artificial Intelligence algorithms, you may want to use or modify an algorithm already built and provided to you.

Links

• fourTheorem
• Twitter: Eóin Shanaghy
• Twitter: Peter Elger

Picks

• Charles- The Eye of the World: Book One of The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
• Charles - Changemakers With Jamie Atkinson
• Charles- Podcast Domination Show by Luis Diaz
• Charles- Buzzcast
• Charles- Podcast Talent Coach
• Eóin- IKEA | IDÅSEN Desk sit/stand, black/dark gray63x31 1/2 "
• Eóin- Kinesis | Freestyle2 Split- Adjustable Keyboard for PC
• Peter- The Wolfram Physics Project
• Peter- PBS Space Time
• Peter- Youtube Channel | 3Blue1Brown
• Peter- Cracking the Code

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In this episode, Ben and Michael explore burnout, particularly in machine learning and data science. They highlight that burnout stems from exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficiency and can be caused by repetitive tasks, overwhelming workloads, or being in the wrong role. They also tackle strategies to combat burnout, including collaborating with others, mentoring, shifting focus between tasks, and hiring more people to distribute the workload. A key takeaway is the importance of knowledge sharing and not hoarding tasks for job security, as this can lead to burnout and inefficiency. They also discuss managing burnout and its components, particularly exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficiency, through personal experiences. Finally, they talk about how burnout can lead to inefficiency and physical manifestations, like a lack of motivation to engage in activities outside of work.


Socials 

• LinkedIn: Ben Wilson
• LinkedIn: Michael Berk 

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Rishal Hurbans is the author of Grokking Artificial Intelligence Algorithms. He walks us through how to learn different Machine Learning algorithms. He also then walks us through the different types of algorithms based on different natural systems and processes.

Links

• Kaggle: Your Machine Learning and Data Science Community
• Rishal Hurbans
• Inktober
• Book giveaway link

Picks

• Chuck- Hero with a thousand faces by Joseph Campbell
• Chuck- Masterbuilt smoker
• Rishal-Learn something new everyday
• Rishal- Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

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In today’s episode, Michael and Ben are joined by industry expert Barzan Mozafari, the CEO and co-founder at Keebo. He delves deep into the evolving landscape of data learning and cloud optimization. They explore how understanding data distribution can lead to early detection of anomalies and how optimizing data workflows can result in significant cost savings and unintended business growth. Barzan sheds light on leveraging existing cloud technologies and the role of automated tools in enhancing system interactions, while Ben talks about the intricacies of platform migration and tech debt.
They dig into the challenges and strategies for optimizing complex data pipelines, the economic pressures faced by data teams, and insights into innovation stemming from academic research. The conversation also covers the importance of maintaining customer trust without compromising data security and the iterative nature of both academic and industrial approaches to problem-solving. Join them as they navigate the intersection of technical debt, AI-driven optimization, and the dynamic collaboration between researchers and engineers, all aimed at driving continuous improvement and innovation in the world of data.
So, gear up for an episode packed with insights on shrinking pie data learning, cloud costs, automated optimization tools, and much more. Let’s dive right in!


Socials

• LinkedIn: Barzan Mozafari

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Today, join Michael and Ben as they delve into crucial topics surrounding code security and the safe execution of machine learning models. This episode focuses on preventing accidental key leaks in notebooks, creating secure environments for code execution, and the pros and cons of various isolation methods like VMs, containers, and micro VMs.
They explore the challenges of evaluating and executing generated code, highlighting the risks of running arbitrary Python code and the importance of secure evaluation processes. Ben shares his experiences and best practices, emphasizing human evaluation and secure virtual environments to mitigate risks.
The episode also includes an in-depth discussion on developing new projects with a focus on proper engineering procedures, and the sophisticated efforts behind Databricks' Genie service and MLflow's RunLLM. Finally, Ben and Michael explore the potential of fine-tuning machine learning models, creating high-quality datasets, and the complexities of managing code execution with AI.
Tune in for all this and more as we navigate the secure pathways to responsible and effective machine learning development.


Socials

• LinkedIn: Michael Berk
• LinkedIn: Ben Wilson

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They delve into the journeys and insights of distinguished leaders in the development world. In today's episode, Michael engages with  Brian Vallelunga, the visionary CEO of Doppler. Brian shares his compelling journey from early tech innovations to leading multiple startups and eventually founding Doppler, a centralized cloud secret management tool.
Brian emphasizes the importance of making security tools enticing for developers, comparing it to making vegetables taste like candy, to boost productivity. His team’s strategy revolves around seamless integration into developers’ workflows, featuring a VS Code extension and automatic syncing akin to Dropbox, enhancing efficiency and ease of use.
They explore Doppler's competitive edge and how it partners with major cloud resource managers, making two-click integrations effortless. Brian also discusses their customer-centric development approach and the release of enterprise features like two-person approval and config inheritance, designed for complex organizational needs.
Brian's entrepreneurial journey is marked by significant pivots driven by frustration and market demand, rather than strategic planning alone. He shares candid thoughts on the impact of founders and success, cautioning against the allure of celebrity status and emphasizing team contributions.
Join them as they dive into insightful discussions on building developer-friendly security tools, the nuances of secret management, and Brian's perspectives on startup growth and innovation. Discover how Doppler is revolutionizing secret management, one integration at a time.


Socials

• LinkedIn: Brian Vallelunga

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/adventures-in-machine-learning--6102041/support.