There is always a mini session inside MLconf about machine learning tools and software. Recently, the plan was not to have a focus on the platforms, but the open sourcing of TensorFlow by Google a week prior to MLcon SF 2015, inevitably brought the topic in the agenda. Speakers have the flexibility to adjust their talks and they did take advantage of it. The keynote speaker, Alex Smola, presented on scalable methods in machine learning with his Parameter Server and MXNet. Comparisons and benchmarks with TensorFlow were inevitable. One of the first experiments at scale with its competitors, Theano and Torch, created discussion during the break.
But is it really about performance? Quoc Le, one of the Google pioneers in deep learning, presented his new deep learning dialogue system built entirely on TensorFlow, We might know how fast it took him to train it, but we do know that it didn’t take that long to develop it, once he figured out the math!
Ufora, a NYC-based startup, took a different angle in scaling numerical computations in a more systems agnostic way, by presenting a new language paradigm that can create a supercomputer for 10$ per hour!
Five months later, the conversations about the future of the machine learning platforms that are not only fast, but also very agile and productive are heating up. More platforms, more advances and it is time for MLconf to have a special session on the platforms that the giants are using. Join us to hear the most recent developments at Facebook, Google, Samsung, Microsoft with the next generation ML platforms. Mention “Flows15” during registration and save 15% on tickets to MLconf NYC this April!
