Last August I started a PhD residency at X, the moonshot factory. X is a research and development branch of Google (or more precisely Alphabet). X is a diverse group of inventors and entrepreneurs who build and launch technologies that aim to improve the lives of millions, even billions, of people. The goal is 10x impact on the world’s most intractable problem. X approaches projects that have the aspiration and riskiness of research with the speed and ambition of a startup.
In 2010, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin decided to form a new division of the company to work on moonshots: far-out, sci-fi sounding technologies that could one day make the world a radically better place. It was a grand experiment with ambiguous wording in vision. 10 years in, X website mentions that it has incubated hundreds of different moonshot projects, many of which have gone on to become independent businesses.
As an AI Resident, I'm engaged in an early stage project where I work on various facets of GeoAI model development and deployment, encompassing everything from model design to DevOps and MLOps practices. This role has afforded me the great opportunity of learning the implementation and deployment of AI models at the forefront of the industry, while also being exposed to the practical, conceptual, and theoretical challenges that emerge due to scalability issues.
My academic background and research in the Geography Department at CU Boulder have been instrumental in preparing me for this role. In particular, courses such as Geospatial machine learning in the Geography Department, along with deep learning courses in the Computer Science and Applied Mathematics Departments, have been significant. Additionally, an equally impactful course, software engineering for scientists, has also greatly contributed to the skills I use on a daily basis in this position.
In light of this experience, I look forward to my return to academia to complete my PhD leveraging the insights and skills I have gained in this role. I am excited to integrate the practical knowledge I have acquired from the industry into my doctoral research.