Speech Wrecko

Technical Debt in the World of Generative AI: Lessons from a Pioneering Google Paper

by Jason FlaksGenerative AI, Machine Learning February 1, 2026February 1, 2026Comments are Disabled

Chances are, you’ve already heard of Google’s landmark paper, “Attention Is All You Need.” This 2017 publication, which introduced the transformer architecture, is widely regarded as the fundamental enabler of modern generative AI. However, two years earlier, another team at Google published a far less celebrated paper that deserves equal recognition: “Hidden Technical Debt in …

A prospective employee negotiating for higher equity compensation.

Secrets of Startup Equity: How to Make Sure You Get Your Fair Share

by Jason FlaksStartups January 14, 2025January 14, 2025Comments are Disabled

So you’ve received a job offer from an early-stage startup, and they’re offering you a 1% equity stake. As you read that number, you might think, “1% of Microsoft’s market cap is over $19 BILLION!” While that sounds exciting, it’s important to set realistic expectations. The odds of achieving that kind of return are incredibly …

The Secrets of RAG: An Informative Introduction for Executives

by Jason FlaksConversational AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Machine Learning August 1, 2024August 1, 2024Comments are Disabled

Have you been walking around the office, puzzled by all the chatter about ratty dish towels? Don’t worry; I’m here to clear things up! No, it’s not a new obsession with rags; people are fascinated by RAG, or Retrieval-Augmented Generation. So, what exactly is retrieval-augmented generation? Let’s dive in. What is Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)? RAG …

When Buttons Triumph Over Words: Find Out Why

by Jason FlaksConversational AI, Large Language Models (LLMs) July 18, 2024July 18, 2024Comments are Disabled

Picture it, Redmond, 2008. A young, naive program manager at Microsoft builds a prototype of one of the world’s first far-field, open-microphone, conversational AI assistants. Excited by his invention, he invites his engineering manager to witness the masterpiece in action. He confidently says, “Hey Xbox, channel up,” and the Xbox responds, “Got it. I’ve changed …

How to Increase Team Productivity with “Swing”

by Jason FlaksManagement, Startups June 5, 2024June 5, 2024Comments are Disabled

I wasn’t looking for anything special when I first picked up a copy of The Boys in the Boat. I was in an airport, probably more concerned about finding a decent cup of coffee than a life-changing read. But what started as a random grab for entertainment turned into a transformative experience that solidified my …

How to Use Nondeterministic LLMs for Building Robust Deterministic Applications

by Jason FlaksConversational AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Machine Learning May 6, 2024May 7, 2024Comments are Disabled

If you’ve followed my previous posts, you might be under the impression that I’m against large language models (LLMs). However, in the words of my mother, “I’m just kvetching!” The truth is, I’ve been a devoted fan of LLMs for quite some time and have successfully integrated them into multiple customer-facing products. So, why the …

The Astonishing Reasons Why Your LLM is a Bad Notetaker

by Jason FlaksConversational AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Machine Learning March 28, 2024March 28, 2024Comments are Disabled

We’ve all been there. You gather your team for a meeting, you make a bunch of decisions that lead to a series of follow-up action items. Then a week goes by, you meet again and nobody remembers what on earth you decided and none of the action items have been closed out. And right there …

Introducing Task-Oriented Multiparty Conversational AI: Inviting AI to the Party

by Jason FlaksConversational AI, Machine Learning, Speech Recognition, Startups February 25, 2024February 25, 2024Comments are Disabled

The term “conversational AI” has been around for some time. There are dozens of definitions all over the internet. But let me refresh your memory with a definition from NVIDIA’s website. Conversational AI is the application of machine learning to develop language-based apps that allow humans to interact naturally with devices, machines, and computers using …

Generative AI – Prolific Copyright Infringer?

by Jason FlaksMachine Learning January 22, 2024January 22, 2024Comments are Disabled

So, you might be wondering, “What makes this guy fit to pen an article about generative AI and copyright infringement?” I mean, I’m no copyright lawyer, nor do I moonlight as one on television. But I do bring a unique viewpoint to the table. After all, I’ve dabbled in the music industry and have been …

Your Large Language Model – it’s as Dumb as a Rock

by Jason FlaksMachine Learning, Startups March 1, 2023March 2, 2023One Comment

© Jason Flaks -Initially generated by DALL-E and edited by Jason Flaks Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately you likely think we’re entering some sort of AI-pocalypse. The sky is falling and the bots have come calling. There are endless reports of ChatGPT acing college-level exams, becoming self-aware, and even trying to break …