E531 Risto Miikkulainen, VP of AI Research at Cognizant Advanced AI Labs

E531 Risto Miikkulainen, VP of AI Research at Cognizant Advanced AI Labs

Author: Alldus International September 9, 2024 Duration: 22:09

Today's guest is Risto Miikkulainen, VP of AI Research at Cognizant Advanced AI Labs. Since 2013, the team has focused on research, innovation and the development of advanced AI technologies that further the application of AI to surface opportunities and make better decisions, serving clients and the society at large. Coming together as the Cognizant Advanced AI Lab, the team remains committed to bridging science and the pragmatic application of AI, to foster a better, more productive and innovative future for businesses and society alike.

Risto's current research focuses on methods and applications of AI in decision-making, particularly those based on neuroevolution, as well as neural network models of natural language processing and vision. At Cognizant, and previously as a CTO of Sentient Technologies, he is scaling up these approaches to real-world problems. As an AAAI, IEEE and AAIA Fellow, Risto is an author of over 500 articles in these research areas, with his work on neuroevolution recently being recognized with multiple awards. 

In this episode, Risto talks about:

His journey from academia to AI deployment at Cognizant AI Labs,

Empowering human decision-making through AI,

Use Case: Winning an award for collaboration on improving Botox evaluation,

Why AI implementation needs practical adaptation and broad collaboration,

An insight into the team’s work within research and development,

The AI Labs focus on R&D, thought leadership and AI for good,

His top advice to require strong fundamentals, critical thinking and adaptability


Behind the buzzwords and headlines, artificial intelligence is already reshaping industries and daily routines in tangible ways. The Alldus Podcast-AI in Action cuts through the noise to focus on these real-world applications. Each conversation goes beyond theory, delving into the practical challenges and triumphs experienced by the people building and implementing these technologies. You’ll hear directly from technologists and data science practitioners who are on the front lines, discussing the specific impact of Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI on everything from healthcare and finance to how we interact with the world around us. This series, supported by Alldus International’s work in AI workforce solutions, is built on a simple idea: understanding comes from listening to those doing the work. The discussions are grounded in current projects and genuine expertise, offering a clear-eyed view of what’s possible now and what might be next. Tune in for a candid exploration of how intelligent systems are being put into action, moving from conceptual hype to functional reality. This podcast provides a essential perspective for anyone curious about the practical engine driving technological change today.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Alldus Podcast - AI in Action
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