Applied AI #7 Report

The 7th batch of Applied AI Study Group has come to a close, and what a ride it was! We revamped our classic program with fresh materials on natural language processing and computer vision, and added industry-specific use cases to the syllabus. We came together on Saturdays between 19 August and 23 September for this crash course with our brilliant 4 guides.

We opened the renewed program exclusively to inzva graduates and 37 participants were selected from 75 applications through a tough evaluation process. 32 participants graduated successfully and learned the skills needed to deploy AI models and demonstrate the practical utility of AI in the real world!

Throughout the 6 weeks, our participants not only gained practical skills but also grew as individuals by engaging in lively dialogue, seeking guidance, and gleaning wisdom from our inspirational and supportive mentors: Onur Boyar, Hasan Avcı, Enes Sadi Uysal, and Şafak Bilici.

Hasan provided his expertise in ML in Business and MLOps, such as Docker, model deployment and monitoring. Şafak shared his knowledge on recent trends in Natural Language Processing such as LLMs, and provided a hands-on-experience on designing search engines. Enes discussed the recent popular models in Computer Vision, including Diffusion Models and multi-model architectures. And finally, Onur wrapped-up the course on the implementation of LLMs in the domain of AI for Science. Check out our GitHub repository to explore our lessons' content and resources!

HOW DID OUR PARTICIPANTS DO?

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OUR GUIDES

Hasan Avcı, Guide of the Week 1&2

Şafak Bilici, Guide of the Week 3&4

Enes Sadi Uysal, Guide of the Week 5

Onur Boyar, Program Lead & Guide of the Week 6

TAKE A LOOK AT THE SYLLABUS!

Machine Learning in Business, led by Hasan Avcı

Week 1, August 19 - Week 2, August 26

During these 6 weeks, we had explored how Machine Learning can bring value to businesses. Throughout the section, we discussed various topics related to ML engineering and its practical applications in the industry.

By the conclusion of the course, participants had a comprehensive understanding of Machine Learning engineering from creating ML prototypes to developing production-ready ML products and deploying them.

Natural Language Processing, led by Şafak Bilici

Week 3, September 2 - Week 4, September 9

Week 3 began with a brief recapitulation of NLP and the vanilla Transformer model. Subsequently, our focus shifted towards pre-trained large language models, encompassing encoder models, decoder models, as well as encoder-decoder models.

Advanced Computer Vision, led by Enes Sadi Uysal

Week 5, September 16

In this week, we focused on advanced computer vision topics, including diffusion models, visual transformers, multimodal approaches, and practical advice. Through the notebook sessions and demos, this lesson aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of advanced computer vision techniques.

Models in Action: Discussion on Specific Use Cases & Wrap-up led by Onur Boyar

Week 6, September 23

In this week, we had a brief discussion about the application of the models we learned throughout the course on different fields such as bioinformatics & drug design. We also wrapped-up the course and had an open discussion field about how we can put our new toolbox into practice. Lastly, we had a our graduation ceremony!

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

In the Applied AI program, I had the opportunity to take a closer look at the applications of theoretical knowledge in business life through useful sessions. Our journey, which started with the ML in Business session, continued NLP and Computer Vision.

Thanks to the Applied AI's up-to-date content, I was informed about the developments in the industry. After 6 full weeks with the inzva community, I'm already looking forward to the next training.

*Zülal Beyza Yaylı, Yıldız Technical University*

As someone with no prior experience in artificial intelligence other than computer vision, I wasn't sure how effectively I could use my theoretical knowledge about artificial intelligence in practice. Applied AI Study Group was an enriching experience that significantly enhanced my understanding of the practical use of AI. The thoughtfully designed program structure, combined with lectures and hands-on exercises, enabled me to gain proficiency in real-world AI utilization. The interactive nature of the sessions and the collaborative learning environment encouraged by like-minded peers further uplifted the learning journey. I can confidently say that thanks to this program I am more prepared to work in the AI industry. Being a part of inzva and having the opportunity to learn from experts was an invaluable experience.

No worries if you missed Applied AI Study Group #7.

Follow our social media accounts and stay tuned for the next batch!

All participants have to abide by our CODE OF CONDUCT and LETTER OF CONSENT.

A BEV Foundation project inzva is a non-profit hacker community organizing study and project groups as well as camps in the fields of AI and Algorithm; and gathering CS students, academics, and professionals in Turkey.