Welcome to episode 531 of the AI in Action podcast, the show where we break down the hype and explore the impact that Data Science, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are making on our everyday lives.

Powered by Alldus International, our goal is to share with you the insights of technologists and data science enthusiasts to showcase the excellent work that is being done within AI in North America and Europe.

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

To find out more about all the great work happening at Cognizant, check out the website www.cognizant.com or follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram and X @Cognizant. You can also connect with Risto directly on LinkedIn.

If you’re interested in exploring our latest Data Science &ML jobs, check out our live vacancies or upload your resume today to keep up to date with all the latest opportunities.

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