In Context

Episode 11: The Reinforcement Learning Game with Danny Lange

Could something like measurement, which seems boring on the surface, actually be the secret to getting value from machine learning? Measurement isn’t always what you think it is. Great product developers and applied machine learning practitioners are finding creative ways to incorporate it as part of their feedback loops and machine learning products. In this episode, Kathryn Hume talks with Danny Lange, the VP of and Machine Learning at Unity Technologies. In addition to discussing the role of measurement in putting reinforcement learning systems into production, they also dive into why gaming is an excellent simulation ground for the some of the most exciting developments in applied machine learning and reinforcement learning research.

Episode 10: Moving to Probabilistic Operating Models with Len D'Avolio

In this episode of the In Context podcast, we welcome Len D’Avolio. Len is Co-Founder and CEO of Cyft, a Boston-based machine learning startup that turns healthcare organizations into learning healthcare systems. In his conversation with Kathryn Hume, they talk about what does and doesn’t work in helping companies shift from a deterministic to a probabilistic operating model through the lens of the healthcare industry.

Episode 9: Hiring for Autonomy in Data Science Teams with Eric Colson

In this episode of the In Context podcast, we're joined by Eric Colson, the Chief Algorithms Officer for Stitch Fix, an online subcription personal shopping service whose tech blog, Multithreaded, may have the coolest algorithms tour on the internet. In a fascinating discussion, he and Kathryn Hume analyze how Stitch Fix's engineering culture works, including what they value, what they look for in new hires, and how they’ve architected their platform to enable astounding success. You'll also hear about the critical role that autonomy plays in how Eric organizes his data science teams.

Episode 8: Trust in Enterprise AI with Susan Etlinger

In this episode of the In Context podcast, we welcome Susan Etlinger, an industry analyst at Altimeter Group who focuses on data, conversational business, and ethics in the age of artificial intelligence. In their conversation, she and Kathryn Hume look at how AI is unlocking the promise of design thinking to enable amazing customer experiences, how the rapidly evolving technology landscape is changing consumer expectations around trust, and why enterprises should view ethics as a competitive differentiator rather than merely a compliance exercise. Find out how you can break these issues down and start thinking about them clearly for your business.

Episode 7: Understanding the Marketplace for Data Products with Clare Corthell and Sarah Catanzaro

In our latest episode of the In Context Podcast, we welcome Clare Corthell, the Founder of Luminant Data, and Sarah Catanzaro, a Principle at Amplify Partners. Join us for a fascinating discussion about data products and where value and work occurs in machine learning pipelines. Find out about the competitive concerns that many companies have as they think about disclosing their data to third parties and the challenges and opportunities companies face as they consider entering this highly competitive space.