Packt Podcast

The Packt podcast features interviews with industry experts and key influencers to help you better understand what’s actually happening in tech. Presented by Stacy Matthews and Richard Gall, the podcast tackles complexity head-on and unpicks the real-world implications of new trends and technologies.

"We're still very far from robots taking over society" | Rowel Atienza on Deep Learning and AI

• Published 8.4.2019
• Link on Soundcloud
• Link on Hub

Artificial intelligence threats are regularly talked up by the media. This is largely because the area is widely misunderstood. The robot revolution and dangerous algorithms are, unfortunately, much sexier than math and statistics.

In this episode of the Packt Podcast Stacy Matthews and Richard Gall speak to Rowel Atienza, researcher and author of Advanced Deep Learning with Keras, in a bid to cut through the hype and the scare stories and understand what’s really at stake when it comes to developing deep learning systems and artificial intelligence.

Stacy, Richard, and Rowel discuss:

• The distinction between AI, machine learning and deep learning
• Why artificial intelligence is so hot right now
• The key machine learning frameworks – TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Keras
• How they compare, and why Rowel loves Keras
• The importance of ethics and transparency
• Essential skills for someone starting or building a career in the field
• How far are we really are from AGI

Can good design really save the world? | Will Grant on the importance of UX in 2019

• Published 18.3.2019
• Link on Soundcloud
• Link on Hub

The emphasis we place on ‘user experience’ is a curious part of the way software - applications and websites - have become central to our daily lives. This has made UX designer a valuable - maybe even sexy - job. But are we in danger of diluting the role? Are we over inflating the term?

In this episode of the Packt Podcast, Stacy Matthews and Richard Gall talk to UX Designer and Consultant Will Grant (author of 101 UX Principles) about the state of the UX industry in 2019. From what the role requires to dark patterns and dodgy metrics, it’s a deep dive into the reality of designing software for today’s users.

Stacy, Richard, and Will discuss:

• What UX is and isn’t
• The UX process – what UX designers actually do
• The key skills a UX designer needs
• Originality v. templating
• Whether developers need to write code
• What conversational UI means for UX
• Can good design really save the world? Or should we quit the bullshit?