We are excited to celebrate the release of Introduction to Generative AI, published by Manning Publications.

The author reading and Q&A will begin promptly at 8:00 PM, and Numa and Maggie will be signing and personalizing copies of the book throughout the evening.

There is a ticketed option to purchase the book at a discounted price to receive at the event. If you have already purchased a book and would like to get it signed, bring it along!

There will be light refreshments and an open bar.

About the book:

Introduction to Generative AI discusses generative AI models at a high level, with an emphasis on large language models (LLMs). The book illustrates how LLMs could live up to their potential while building awareness of the limitations of these models. It also discusses the broader economic, legal, and ethical issues that surround them, as well as recommendations for responsible development and use, and paths forward.

The book is written for anyone who has an interest in generative AI models. It aims to build an intuition into the technical pitfalls that are inherent to LLMs and discusses how generative AI models can exacerbate societal issues. These are sociotechnical challenges that require a whole-of-society response, and we hope that this book can make a diverse set of concepts accessible to a wide range of individuals.

About the authors:

Numa Dhamani is an engineer and researcher working at the intersection of technology and society. She is a natural language processing expert with domain expertise in influence operations, security, and privacy. Numa has developed machine learning systems for Fortune 500 companies and social media platforms, as well as for start-ups and nonprofits. She has advised companies and organizations, served as the Principal Investigator on the United States Department of Defense’s research programs, and contributed to multiple international peer-reviewed journals. She is deeply engaged in the technology policy space supporting think tanks and nonprofits with data and AI governance efforts. Her work on combating online disinformation has been featured in several news media outlets, including the New York Times and the Washington Post. Numa is passionate about working towards a healthier online ecosystem, building responsible artificial intelligence, and advocating for transparency and accountability in technology. She holds degrees in Physics and Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin.

Maggie Engler is an engineer and researcher currently working on safety for large language models. She focuses on applying data science and machine learning to abuses in the online ecosystem, and is a domain expert in cybersecurity and trust and safety. Maggie has built machine learning systems for malware and fraud detection, content moderation, and risk assessment. She has advised start-ups and non-profits on data infrastructure and privacy and conducted technical due diligence for venture capital firms. She is also a committed educator and communicator, and taught as an adjunct instructor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Information. Maggie is deeply invested in technology policy, and works with civil society groups to advocate for responsible AI and data governance. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

Book Launch: Introduction to Generative AI