April in-person meetup at REA, realestate.com.au

Join us for an enlightening evening dedicated to the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in Search and Recommendation Systems. Hosted at the prestigious REA Group head office, home to realestate.com.au, this meetup promises to be a melting pot of ideas and discussions for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Talks:
Title: Embracing Vector Search: A Leap in Print-on-Demand Discovery
Abstract: we explored the integration of vector search technology into a existing search engine for Redbubble, focusing on improving user discovery and experience. This presentation covers the journey from initial challenges to the positive impacts of vector search, including enhancing product discoverability and increasing customer satisfaction.

Bio: Lance Song is a Data Scientist at Redbubble, where he applies his deep expertise in efficient personalization search to enhance user experiences. Lance earned his PhD from RMIT University, focusing on pioneering research in personalization search technologies. His academic journey was preceded by significant contributions to web search and data mining with Microsoft Research Asia and advancing multimedia research at the National University of Singapore.

Title: Walert: Putting Conversational Information Seeking Knowledge into Action by Building and Evaluating a Large Language Model-Powered Chatbot

Abstract: Creating and deploying customized applications is crucial for operational success and enriching user experiences in the rapidly evolving modern business world. A prominent facet of modern user experiences is the integration of chatbots or voice assistants. The rapid evolution of Large Language Models (LLMs) has provided a powerful tool to build conversational applications. We present Walert, a customized LLM-based conversational agent able to answer frequently asked questions about computer science degrees and programs at RMIT University. Our demo aims to showcase how conversational information-seeking researchers can effectively communicate the benefits of using best practices to stakeholders interested in developing and deploying LLM-based chatbots. These practices are well-known in our community but often overlooked by practitioners who may not have access to this knowledge. The methodology and resources used in this demo serve as a bridge to facilitate knowledge transfer from experts, address industry professionals’ practical needs, and foster a collaborative environment. The data and code of the demo are available at https://github.com/rmit-ir/walert.
Bio:
Sachin Pathiyan Cherumanal, a former software engineer turned Researcher/Data Scientist works in the intersection of Information Retrieval, Natural Language Processing, Spoken Conversational Systems, and Human-Computer Interaction. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Amrita University, India, and his Masters in Information Technology from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia in 2015 and 2019 respectively. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science at RMIT University (Melbourne), his focus lies in exploring multi-perspective fairness in conversational intelligent assistants. With a keen interest in understanding the nuances of spoken conversational systems from both user and algorithmic perspectives, his goal is to eventually make spoken conversations easier.
Link: @sachinpc's link in bio | Twitter and socials | Linktree
Futoon M. AbuShaqra is currently pursuing her PhD at RMIT University in Australia, building upon her strong academic background. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Computer Information Systems and her Master of Science degree in Computer Science from JUST University in Jordan. Her research focuses primarily on temporal data analytics and deep learning. Particularly, she delves into various methodologies aimed at enhancing the modelling process for sequence data by streamlining data engineering and preprocessing steps. Linkedin: Futoon M AbuShaqra

Agenda:

• 6:15 PM - 6:30 PM: Arrival and Registration
  Begin the evening by checking in and enjoying some pre-event networking.
• 6:30 PM - 6:35 PM: Opening Remarks
  A brief welcome and introduction to the evening's agenda.
• 8:05 PM - 8:10 PM: Closing Remarks
  Concluding the talks with a note of thanks and a brief on upcoming events.
• 8:10 PM - 8:30 PM: Networking and Food
  Wind down the evening with more networking opportunities over food and drinks.
• Additional Details:
• Food and Beverages: Food will be available during the networking session.