Libraries, Law and LLMs: How Unconventional Paths Are Shaping the Future of AI (E.15)
In this episode of Free Form AI, we sit down with Lara Rachidi and Maria Zervou, two AI professionals whose paths defy the traditional tech blueprint.Lara began her career in law and economics before pivoting into data science. Maria started at the British Library, digitizing manuscripts and unlocking forgotten datasets. Today, they’re building GenAI systems, leading strategy across regions, and shaping the next chapter of machine learning at OpenAI and beyond.Tune in to Episode 15 for a wide-ranging conversation about:•What actually makes a technical career resilient•Why network-driven learning accelerates growth in AI•How tools like DSPy are revolutionizing prompt optimization for agentic systems•What the future of LLMs may look like More than a career story, this episode is a reminder: some of the most effective voices in tech began outside of it.If you’re looking to pivot into the AI field and want some role models, this episode’s for you.
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GenAI, Agency and Infrastructure: What’s Actually Holding Back the AI Frontier (E.14)
In this episode of Free Form AI, we sit down with Puneet Jain, Senior Applied AI Engineer at Databricks, to explore what’s really holding back GenAI from reaching production at scale, and why infrastructure, not intelligence, might be the missing piece.From toy clustering algorithms to national-scale LLMs in healthcare, we unpack how secure data access, agentic tooling, and long-term system design are reshaping the GenAI landscape. We also discuss what “AI agency” really means. More importantly, is the road to AGI shorter than we think?Tune in!
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From Career Pivots to AI Innovation: Lessons in Building Better Systems (E.13)
In this episode of Free Form AI, we sit down with Mary Moore-Simmons, VP of Engineering at Kibo (formerly GitHub), to explore how career pivots, leadership, and AI are reshaping engineering.From drying Kona coffee beans with radiant heat to leading complex orgs at GitHub, Mary shares how curiosity, efficiency, and a bias for action can accelerate your career. We discuss the hidden cost of inefficiency in scaling teams, why “just doing the thing” often opens new doors, and how AI is transforming cost and performance optimization at scale.
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How AI Assistants Are Changing Coding (E.12)
In this episode of Free Form AI, we explore how AI coding assistants are reshaping the development workflow. From spotting bugs that slip past human review to writing context-aware tests and reviewing entire PRs, these tools are changing how engineers build software. We break down the “secret sauce” behind how they scan a repo with targeted search commands, keeping context focused and results accurate without overwhelming the model. The conversation also tackles the trade-offs, from productivity gains to the risk of skill decay and what this means for the future of engineering.
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LATAM Engineers vs. Offshore Norms: Gino Ferrand on Hiring Right (E.11)
In this episode of Free Form AI, Michael sits down with Gino Ferrand, CEO of Tecla, to explore how traditional tech hiring misses the mark, especially when it comes to LATAM engineering talent. We break down flawed “rockstar” hiring, AI-proofing your interview process and what successful onboarding actually looks like in a distributed, GenAI-driven world.Music: “Intro” by DJ RADIK, used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Edited for duration and volume by Free Form AI.
Free Form AI explores the landscape of machine learning and artificial intelligence with topics ranging from cutting-edge implementations to the philosophies of product development. Whether you're an engineer, researcher, or enthusiast, we cover career growth, real-world applications, and the evolving AI ecosystem in an open, free-flowing format. Join us for practical takeaways to navigate the ever-changing world of AI.
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