More than any other modern technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionize how we live, work, and solve complex problems. AI's immediate impact spans a broad range of sectors, such as healthcare, finance, and environmental science, offering innovative solutions to longstanding challenges. Much of the recent developments and investment in AI have centered on Generative AI developments, such as ChatGPT, and companies are aggressively hiring for AI developers to stay innovative.
There is a critical need for professionals who can design, implement, and manage AI systems effectively, ethically, and sustainably. According to the World Economic Forum, demand for AI jobs will increase by approximately 40% by the year 2027. Jobs for machine learning engineers in 2023 offer average starting salaries of $98,000 - $163,000, according to Glassdoor.
Rize’s Applied AI program is a highly technical program designed to provide students with the extensive, practical knowledge and hands-on experience they need to pursue roles in AI, such as AI specialists, machine learning engineers, data scientists, and more. The program emphasizes practical applications and responsible practices in AI.
The Applied AI program is a specialized pathway for Computer Science (CS) and Data Science (DS) students interested in deep-diving into AI technologies. This 5-course sequence is a concentration or major that can be added to any CS or DS degree. Applied AI is a highly technical program best for students with entry-level programming experience.
Our curriculum is designed to offer students a comprehensive and practical understanding of AI. It covers foundational topics in machine learning and generative AI, along with more cutting-edge topics such as multiagent coordination, hyperparameter optimization, and surrogate modeling. By the end of this program, students will be able to build custom AI systems, design neural architectures, fine-tune models, engineer effective prompts, design experiments, and create informative visualizations to communicate the value of their work.
This program emphasizes the applied aspects of AI, because - in the rapidly-evolving AI sector – practical skills are more valuable than theoretical knowledge. This shift from a traditional focus on math and theory to a more hands-on approach ensures that students are prepared to navigate the complexities of AI and are equipped to implement AI solutions effectively. This program emphasizes a “tinkerer” approach to these new technologies, equipping students with the skills and mindset required to stay up to date in an incredibly fast-moving space, positioning them as builders for an increasingly AI-driven future.
Risto Miikkulainen is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin and VP of AI Research at Cognizant’s Advanced AI Labs. He received an M.S. in Engineering from the Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University) in 1986, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA in 1990. His current research focuses on methods and applications of neuroevolution, as well as neural network models of natural language processing and vision; he is the author of over 500 articles in these research areas.
James Groeneveld is a seasoned research engineer at Character.ai with a rich background in software engineering, having contributed significantly to AI development at Google Brain and various tech projects at BCG Digital Ventures. Notably, as a founding member of Endpoint, incubated within BCG Digital Ventures in partnership with NYSE: FAF, he excelled as the venture CTO.
Ben Lynton was the Head of Data Science at Blackbook.ai, an Australian consultancy specializing in automation and artificial intelligence development. He has been involved in discussions and presentations on Amazon Web Services' natural language processing (NLP) stack, including Amazon Kendra and Amazon Lex, which are tools designed for enterprises to efficiently manage and utilize large volumes of natural language data.
| Member | Organization | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Risto Miikkulainen | University of Texas at Austin | Academic representative |
| James Groeneveld | Character.ai | Industry representative |
| Ben Lynton | 10ahead.ai | Industry representative |
If you have any questions about technology requirements for Rize courses, please see below: