Josh Barker’s Post

Don't miss the next West Michigan AI Lab meetup this Wednesday! Whether you're looking to enhance your business strategies with AI or simply curious about its applications, this event promises to be a treasure trove of knowledge and practical skills. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with the West Michigan AI community. #AI #GrandRapidsMI #GrandRapids #TechEvent #Meetup

I have another opportunity to talk about one of my favourite topics: Simulations 😍 I hope to see some familiar IU faces in the audience during my "Getting started with AI-powered simulations" taster. See you there!

Discover the latest demos powered by Generative AI today at #GainSummit! Pass by the Microsoft booth and learn about the innovations in the world of #GenAI. Don’t miss out and join us from 10-12 September! #Msftadvocate #MicrosoftArabia Global AI Summit

🚀 Excited to be on my way to #TheAISummit New York 2024! I’ll be joining a panel discussion on “Building AI on a Budget” alongside Gaurav Tiwari from Spotify and Oz Katz from lakeFS. We’ll dive into cost-efficient strategies for AI solutions, from storage to compute optimization. Later, I’ll also be presenting on mastering LLM techniques to tackle complex generative use cases, comparing Agentic Workflows for closed and open source models vs Finetuned LLMs. If you’re attending, I’d love to see you there! Bring your insights and curiosity 😉 #AI #LLM #GenerativeAI #AIInfrastructure #LLMOps

82% of enterprises are planning to use AI for productivity gains, but only 27% have taken steps towards responsible AI frameworks. Join me and other industry leaders at the R.AI.SE summit in Paris to discuss responsible AI adoption. We will be hearing from Mrinal Manohar, Theodoros Evgeniou and Nicole Büttner on governance and activation of responsible AI. Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/e4F2_nHQ

Join Shivay Lamba, CNCF Ambassador, and Subhasmita Swain, R&D at Civo, as they delve into building scalable infrastructure for generative AI at our upcoming open source meetup in Delhi-NCR. This talk covers the basics of Gen AI, common infrastructure challenges in deploying models, and practical solutions to overcome them. Register: https://lu.ma/v0dhix0t

The grand finale of the BoodleBox education accelerator program will be today at 1 PM EST. Here is what I plan to talk about. Today, I want to dive into a critical topic for educators, administrators, and ed-tech enthusiasts: the importance of consistently integrating AI across educational programs. As AI reshapes industries, our academic institutions must evolve to prepare students for this new landscape. Let's explore why this matters and how we can approach it effectively: Why Consistent AI Integration is Crucial: • Equity in Education: Ensures all students, regardless of their program, have equal access to AI tools and knowledge. • Standardization: Allows for developing common AI literacy standards across disciplines. • Interdisciplinary Applications: Prepares students for AI's cross-disciplinary impact in the workforce. • Resource Efficiency: A unified approach is more cost-effective and manageable at an institutional level. Benefits for Individual Programs: • Enhanced Relevance: Keeps curricula up-to-date with the latest technological advancements. • Improved Employability: Equips students with in-demand AI skills valued by employers. • Innovation Catalyst: Encourages application of AI concepts within specific fields of study. • Future-proofing: Positions programs to adapt to ongoing AI developments. Advantages for Students: • Coherent Learning Experience: Students can build on AI knowledge across different courses. • Fairness: Provides similar AI exposure and opportunities to all students. • Collaboration Skills: Facilitates interdisciplinary teamwork on AI-related projects. • Transferable Skills: Enables the application of AI knowledge across various contexts. Implementing with Integrity: Inspired by initiatives like Algonquin College's Regulatory Affairs AI Ethics Initiative, it's crucial to balance technical skills with ethical considerations: • Emphasize responsible AI use and development • Integrate discussions on AI ethics and societal impact • Teach critical thinking skills for evaluating AI applications. Framework for Implementation: • Assess current AI integration across programs • Identify gaps and opportunities for standardization • Develop a phased integration plan • Train faculty and staff on AI technologies and ethical considerations • Create opportunities for hands-on AI projects • Regularly review and update the AI curriculum to stay current What do you think about AI integration in education? Have you happened to see practical examples in practice? Let's discuss this today! https://lnkd.in/gpx_eTZv

How have you made your campus AI ready?  CIC offers two paths to learn more about AI:  -All Campus Essentials, an opportunity to engage with the most pressing topics for all areas of campus     -Build Your Own, a small, space-limited, pilot program for institutions ready to implement generative AI on campus  Institutions can join one or both programs. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eM_tUDRi  

Many analysts today are heavily reliant on tools and software to perform data analysis, often without fully understanding the underlying principles of data analytics. While these tools are powerful and essential in handling large datasets, they are just that—tools. They can automate processes and generate reports, but they can't replace the critical thinking and deep understanding required to turn data into meaningful insights. The true value of data analytics lies not in the ability to use tools but in the ability to translate raw data into actionable insights that drive decision-making. This is what I call the journey from "data to impact." It’s about understanding the context, asking the right questions, interpreting the results, and then applying those insights to create real-world outcomes. When analysts focus solely on the tools, they risk missing the bigger picture—how the data can be used to make informed decisions that lead to tangible improvements and strategic success. It’s essential to cultivate a mindset that goes beyond just using the tools to one that emphasizes understanding the data itself and how it can be leveraged to create impactful changes.