Start 2025 by decoding the DNA of modern AI. Join GDG Baltimore and GDG Annapolis for a collaborative, 5-week deep dive into the "AI Research Foundations" learning path by Google DeepMind.
Overview:
This isn't a passive lecture series; it is a hands-on Study Group.
Google DeepMind’s AI Research Foundations is a practical, purpose-built AI curriculum (est. 50-60 hours) to empower you with the skills for high-impact AI research. This technical, university-level curriculum will deepen your understanding of transformers, and teach you how to responsibly build and fine-tune modern language models through practical activities.
Over five sessions, we will dissect the curriculum, run Keras labs, and debate the ethical implications of the models we build. Whether you are a student, a researcher, or a developer, this path will take you from simple N-grams to training your own Transformer model. We will provide you with free access to skills.google as well as any required tools and software. We will also introduce NotebookLM as a learning platform.
What You Will Achieve (5-Week Accelerated Path):
Weeks 1-2 (Foundations): From manual language understanding to statistical N-grams and their limitations.
Week 3 ( The Turning Point): Introduction to the Transformer Architecture and training an SLM using Keras.
Week 4 (Research in Action): Case studies in biology/education and the Machine Learning development pipeline.
Week 5 (Impact & Ethics): "Innovating Responsibly," ethical implications, and defining problem statements for our local context.
Who Should Join?
Developers
Researchers
Students
Prerequisites: very basic Python knowledge and a curiosity about how machines "think."
🗓️ The Schedule (Mark Your Calendars): We meet on Wednesdays for 5 consecutive weeks.
Session 1: Jan 8
Session 2: Jan 15
Session 3: Jan 22
Session 4: Jan 29
Session 5: Feb 5 (Grand Finale)
🕒 Time & Location:
Time: TBD by You! We know Maryland traffic can be tricky. Once you register, you will receive a scheduling poll to help us pick the time that works best for the majority of the cohort.
Location: Hybrid & Roving. We will rotate between venues in Baltimore and Annapolis to share the commute burden. A Google Meet link will always be provided for remote participation. Please feel free to recommend locations with computer labs that can accommodate 15-30 people.
The "Hybrid + Social" Experience: We believe code connects us, but community keeps us together.
The Work: We tackle the labs and theory together.
The Reward: Every in-person session concludes with a visit to a local pub or brewery to network, debrief, and warm up this winter.
👉 Register now to receive the Time Selection Poll and join the cohort!
