On December 16, 2023, in Bengaluru, the Global AI Conclave organised by Palo Alto Networks, CNBC-TV18, and Moneycontrol marked a seminal juncture in the transformative landscape of AI. The core vision of the Conclave was to establish a global platform that fosters collaboration, facilitates the exchange of knowledge, and advocates the responsible exploration of AI. Distinguished speakers, encompassing luminaries, ministers, and a diverse array of experts graced the event. Noteworthy global leaders such as Andrew Ng, Chris Miller, Mary Snapp, Pandu Nayak, and Andrew Feldman delivered insightful talks, delving into their respective areas of expertise. Let’s dive into their discussions and topics below.
Andrew Ng, (Co-Founder of DeepLearning.AI, Coursera, AI Fund, and Google Brain) commenced his presentation with the captivating theme, 'AI Unleashed: View from Cerebral Valley.' Ng expressed his conviction that India has as good a chance as any other country, and arguably better than most, owing to its high AI skill penetration and the remarkable enthusiasm witnessed on Coursera. Serving as the board chairman for Coursera, Ng highlighted the significant interest from India, citing that the generative AI course recorded the second-fastest enrollment, with 20,000 out of the total 90,000 enrollments occurring within the first month. This underscores the substantial interest and concentrated AI enthusiasm in the country.
Andrew Feldman (CEO of Cerebras Systems), addressed the audience on the topic, ‘FS: The Chipmaker Challenger Cerebras’ Story.’ As an entrepreneur committed to pushing boundaries in the computing space, Feldman shared valuable insights including the effectiveness of keeping AI models small for specific domains and highlighting the potential for lower inference costs. Reflecting on their experience in India, Feldman acknowledged meeting numerous AI thinkers and leaders. While obtaining government pronouncements and signing agreements is the initial phase, he emphasised that the real challenges begin afterward, particularly when building data centers, signifying the substantial work ahead.
Mary Snapp (Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Microsoft), took the spotlight at the Conclave, delving into the topic, ‘PD: Responsible AI: Building Guardrails to Tackle the Fallouts of AI.’ As a driving force behind strategic AI initiatives, Snapp brought to the forefront her expertise in navigating the intersection of technology and philanthropy. She illuminated the profound impact of AI, illustrating where these paths converge. Snapp emphasised the imperative for responsible nations to advance with AI and regulations, noting a growing alignment from more countries. She also highlighted the presence of AI champions within Microsoft's engineering teams, dedicated to identifying and mitigating risks in their products.
Pandu Nayak (Vice President of Search at Google), took the stage at the Conclave, offering key insights into the topic, ‘FS: AI and the Future of Search.’ With over 18 years of experience at Google, where he has led algorithmic and ranking teams, Nayak's focus on language understanding in the context of search was evident. He shared advancements in automatically translating high-quality, locally relevant English documents to enhance the Hindi search experience. Nayak also emphasised the evolving nature of ‘search’, moving towards a multi-modal future. He highlighted the increasing user preference for searching using various content types, such as images and text, which collectively capture the user's intent. According to Nayak, this approach reflects a natural way for users to pose a series of questions.
Chris Miller (author of the definitive book, 'Chip Wars'), had an insightful discussion centered around the topic, ‘FS: AI and Chips in Geopolitical Cocktail.’ Leveraging his expertise in international politics, economics, and technology analysis, Miller shared valuable perspectives. According to him, the success of a significant chip design or fabless firm in India hinges on two critical factors: a supportive capital market and a venture capital ecosystem ready to take risks, coupled with a substantial user base. Miller also highlighted a global consideration, stating, “Not just India, all governments are thinking whether to train their own AI models or use open source models.”
Reflecting on the Global AI Conclave, it emerges as an exceptional assembly where luminaries and experts delved into the multifaceted realms of AI, significantly contributing to its resounding success. The event surpassed anticipated outcomes, leaving an indelible mark on all participants. As we revisit this remarkable gathering, attendees found themselves immersed in a world of limitless possibilities, actively engaging in thought-provoking discussions led by distinguished experts.
Moneycontrol journalists were not involved in the creation of the article.
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