Future of AI in E-commerce and Ad Tech 

Join us for a discussion with Staff AI Researcher and Project Leader from Criteo, Alberto Lumbreras. We chatted about how Agentic AI will transform the AdTech and e-commerce experience. 

Alberto shares his unique career journey from telecommunications engineering to AI and machine learning, exploring his involvement in social network analysis and PhD studies. The conversation goes into the evolving landscape of AI in e-commerce, with a specific focus on shopping assistants and agent interfaces. Alberto also discusses the challenges in developing AI systems for commerce, the impact on the ad tech industry, and future predictions. Learn about his views on the importance of unique data, the advent of smaller, more efficient AI models, and how AI will become more autonomous and integrated into daily life.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:02 Alberto's Career Journey
03:06 AI and Social Movements
03:53 Joining Criteo and Current Work
04:52 The Future of Shopping with AI Agents
08:25 Impact on Ad Tech Industry
10:48 Challenges and Opportunities in E-commerce
21:06 Data as a Competitive Moat
26:21 Challenges in Retail Catalogs for AI
27:15 Dynamic Data in Travel Industry
28:19 Importance of Comprehensive Data for AI
28:41 User Willingness to Share Data
29:07 Research, Engineering, and Talent Crossover
30:00 Essential Skills for ML Researchers
31:45 Impact of AI Tools on Engineering
32:46 Advice for Working with AI
38:19 Future Trends in AI Development
44:49 Research Directions and Influential Papers
48:18 Books That Shape AI Thinking
51:41 Conclusion and Farewell

Link to the first solo publication mentioned in the podcast: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2510.04871

We welcome Michal Klos, former Tech Lead from ByteDance and ShareChat focusing on machine learning and recommendations. Michal recently joined Lex AI as Co-Founder, a tech start-up in Germany solving challenges in Legal Monitoring with AI, recently partnering with Deloitte.

 The conversation delves into the architecture and innovative solutions offered by Lex AI. Mical shares his views on integrating AI to streamline workflows while maintaining accuracy and efficiency. 

The episode also explores the importance of feedback in finding product-market fit, building 0-1 and navigates through the challenges and future trends in the legal tech space.

00:43 Michal's Career Journey
03:49 Working at ByteDance
06:48 Challenges at ShareChat
09:46 Founding Lex AI
10:20 Machine Learning Fundamentals
15:39 The Value of an MBA
20:01 Transitioning to Startups
24:01 Building Lex AI
32:19 Technical Insights of Lex AI
42:24 Overview of Legal Problems
43:30 Product Market Fit Challenges
45:53 Feedback and Adaptation
52:03 AI in Legal Tech
55:00 Startup Culture and Engineering
01:00:44 Future of AI in Legal Tech
01:04:45 Productivity Tools for Founders
01:15:37 AI Trends and Predictions
01:22:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Learn more about Lex AI's partnership with Deloitte and how they are creating positive change here: https://www.lexai.co/post/deloitte-partnership-with-ai-startup-lex-ai-underscores-role-of-ai-in-legal-and-compliance

Exploring the Future of Longevity: Breakthroughs, Ethical Dilemmas, and Viva City

In this episode of the NeuralPod, Chris and Alexey discuss recent developments in the field of longevity, with an emphasis on breakneck innovations and ethical concerns. Our guest, Alexey, shares insights on his co-founded project, Viva City—a new initiative aiming to accelerate progress in longevity through special economic zones. They discuss the concept of 'sack of organs', the potential and controversy around gene-edited and animal-grown organs, and recent advances in longevity research. The podcast also sheds light on the importance of mega-projects for longevity, akin to the International Space Station or Apollo programs, and the need for substantial investments to make significant breakthroughs. Learn about the AI agents vs. aging hackathon aimed at attracting more talent to the longevity space and explore future possibilities of significantly extending human lifespan through technology.

00:00 Welcome Back to the Neural Pod
00:28 Longevity in the Mainstream
01:14 Recent Breakthroughs in Longevity
03:14 The Concept of 'Sack of Organs'
07:04 Ethical Dilemmas in Organ Replacement
09:50 AI and Organ Transplantation
14:31 Introducing Viva City: The Longevity City
16:16 The Vision Behind Viva City
24:59 Challenges and Negotiations for Viva City
29:56 Building Viva City: The Role of Universities and Smart People
30:23 Governance and Initial Experiments in Viva City
32:06 Challenges and Legal Considerations for Longevity Therapies
38:47 Global Perspectives on Longevity Research
47:27 AI and Longevity: The Hackathon Initiative
54:40 The Future of Longevity and AI
58:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join Chris as he sits down with Danijela Horak, former Head of AI of the BBC. Danijela holds a mathematics PhD and she is a machine learning expert. 

We explore her unconventional career path leading to the BBC. Danijela discusses common themes in machine learning, the importance of scientific thinking, and the role of AI in media and journalism.

Their conversation covers the increasing relevance of LLMs, deepfake detection, and initiatives for responsible AI. Learn about cutting-edge projects at the BBC, the challenges of balancing innovation with trust, and Danijela's leadership philosophy in a highly complex, interdisciplinary environment.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:50 Danijela's Career Journey
03:36 Common Themes in Machine Learning
04:08 The Importance of Fundamentals in AI
08:20 Challenges in Programming and Engineering
16:35 AI Innovation at BBC
21:26 DeepFakes and Detection
30:42 Governance and Responsible AI
36:32 Leadership and Culture
44:44 Future Trends and Personal Use of AI
51:13 Conclusion and Farewell

Thanks for sharing your insights, Danijela!

Join us, as Chris interviews Pavan Vemuri, the Director of Product Engineering at SDVerse. Pavan shares his remarkable journey from working with Cognizant in India to leading AI and ML operations at major automotive companies like Ford and Stellantis. 

They discuss a range of topics, including the application of generative AI in the automotive sector, overcoming technical and organizational challenges, and building efficient ML infrastructure. Pavan also delves into his effective strategies for onboarding teams and scaling AI use across large organizations. They conclude with thoughts on future trends in AI and the rise of AI agents. 

Here's what we covered 👇

00:00 Introduction and Career Background
05:36 Move to Advanced Engineering at Ford
10:22 Implementing Data Quality Inference Engine
15:45 Role in Advanced Product Group
19:56 Centralized vs. Decentralized ML Platform
23:36 Entry into Generative AI
27:12 Overcoming Technical Hurdles
32:44 Improving Onboarding Process
38:59 Collaboration and Adoption
46:23 GenAI in Automotive
52:14 AI Productivity Tools and Techniques
56:21 Future AI Trends and Predictions
59:42 Building Trusted Teams and Culture

Thanks, Pavan, for sharing!

Exploring Agentic Systems and Infrastructure with Schaun Wheeler, Chief Scientist at Aampe. 

In this in-depth discussion with Schaun, we discuss his unique career path, from cognitive anthropology to leading roles in civil service and ad tech. Sean offers insights into the development of agentic systems for optimizing user experience and the challenges within. Here's what we covered 👇

✓ Schaun's career journey: From cognitive anthropology to data science
✓ The role of anthropology in data science and decision-making
✓ Common themes and challenges in machine learning projects
✓ Developing agentic infrastructure for consumer apps
✓ Key technical challenges in startup environments
✓ Building agentic systems at Aampe
✓ Aampe's Unique Approach to User Engagement
✓ The Role of LLMs in Engineering
✓ Agent Decision-Making Processes
✓ Navigating a fully remote global team culture
✓ Future advancements in agentic systems and AI
✓ The importance of understanding evidence and decision-making processes in AI
✓ Future of AI and Agents

Tune in for real-world AI insights and cutting-edge developments in agentic systems. 

Thanks, Schaun for sharing!

The NeuralPod welcomes Shreesha Jagadeesh, Associate Director of Applied Machine Learning at Best Buy, for an insightful conversation. 

Shreesha shares her extensive career journey, from his early days in biomedical diagnostics to her current role at Best Buy. The discussion delves into machine learning techniques in retail, the evolution of recommendation systems, and the technical challenges of personalisation at scale. They also explore his contributions to HR tech at Amazon and his innovative paper on homepage personalisation using XGBoost, soon to be published at RecSys.

Additionally, Shreesha offers valuable advice on leadership, career growth, and navigating the competitive field of machine learning. Get ready for an episode packed with expert insights and practical tips for aspiring AI professionals.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
01:48 Career Journey: From Academia to Industry
03:34 Transition to Software and Data Science
04:19 Consulting and Managerial Roles
07:09 Joining Amazon and HR Tech
09:35 Advising a Startup in India
11:19 Joining Best Buy and Recommender Systems
12:46 Challenges in Retail Personalisation
28:28 Implementing XGBoost for Homepage Personalisation
40:01 Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches in AI
40:57 Challenges in Implementing Recommender Systems
42:20 Understanding Business Objectives in AB Testing
44:36 Experimentation and Value Demonstration
46:20 Representation Learning in Machine Learning
51:03 Leadership Principles in AI
58:08 Hiring and Team Building in AI
01:02:43 Future of Recommender Systems and Generative AI
01:03:00 Upcoming Book on Recommender Systems
01:10:21 AI Tools for Productivity
01:16:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

References: 

Multi stage recommender systems blog 
https://eugeneyan.com/writing/system-design-for-discovery/

Hidden technical debt in machine learning 
https://papers.nips.cc/paper_files/paper/2015/hash/86df7dcfd896fcaf2674f757a2463eba-Abstract.html

HSTU paper
https://github.com/meta-recsys/generative-recommenders/blob/main/README.md

Join Chris as he welcomes Erik Schwartz in an in-depth conversation covering the fast-paced world of AI. 

Eric shares his extensive career journey, providing insights from his early days in information retrieval to his current role as Chief AI Officer. 

The discussion spans various topics, including the challenges of keeping up with rapid technological changes, the impact of AI on business operations, DeekSeek, the Paris AI Summit, the emergence of agentic AI, and the future of AI in personal and enterprise applications. Erik also delves into the similarities between the current AI boom and the dotcom era, and offers valuable advice for companies looking to align AI to business strategy. 

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Eric Schwartz
00:27 The Rapid Pace of AI Development
02:28 Eric's Career Journey and Early Tech Experiences
05:20 Building Digital Libraries and Information Retrieval
06:33 The Evolution of AI and Large Language Models
08:40 The Role of AI in Business and Market Trends
14:13 Defining AI Agents and Their Capabilities
18:06 Adoption of AI in Businesses and Strategic Planning
26:04 The Role of a Chief AI Officer
36:12 Automating Content Review
36:57 Measuring ROI and Success
38:15 Improving Operational Efficiency
40:18 Product Market Fit for Startups
43:26 Impact of AI on SEO and Search
46:17 Enterprise Search Solutions
48:57 Future of AI and Distributed Technologies
55:32 Exciting Developments in AI
01:05:34 Closing Thoughts and Community Engagement

Don't miss this thought-provoking episode as they explore the intricacies of AI adoption, ethics, and the future landscape of search and recommender systems.

Exploring the Role and Impact of a Chief of Staff in AI Startups and fundraising with Mwenya. 

In this episode, we join Chris as he chats with Mwenya, an accomplished Chief of Staff with a rich background in operations and strategy within UK startups.

Together, they delve into Mwenya's career journey, transitioning from liberal arts to consultancy and AI. Mwenya is a true champion for responsible AI development and its intersection with industries like social media. Discover insights on what has made her successful as Chief of Staff and when the right time to hire one is. 

We also cover the intricacies of AI strategy, the challenges of responsible AI development and why it's vital to any start-up trying to succeed. Mwenya also shares valuable fundraising tips, specifically focused on supporting founders, emphasizing the importance of having a clear vision and understanding the market dynamics.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:45 Career Journey and Background

06:02 Role and Responsibilities of a Chief of Staff

14:00 AI Strategy and Responsible Development

35:42 Fundraising Insights and Challenges

49:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Mwenya here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwenyakawesha/

In this episode, we chat with Marco, who is extremely passionate and accomplished in NLP research; with a diverse background from the University of Amsterdam to industry giants like Amazon and Cohere. Marco shares his unique transition from academia to industry, his work on fake news detection, and his contributions to advancements in Amazon Alexa's conversational abilities.

We dig into the future of Large Language Models (LLMs), the challenges with LLM evals, and the promise of AI agents in simplifying daily tasks. Marco also discusses the emerging research directions and the potential of AI agents becoming integral to our daily lives.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:01  Background and Research Journey
06:28 Transition from Academia to Industry
10:13 LLMs and Their Future
15:10 Evaluating LLMs
23:43 Interpretability and Explainability
28:50 Understanding AI Agents
37:26 Research and Future of AI Agents
52:14 Predictions and Closing Remarks

Connect with Marco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-del-tredici-316a2984/