Hello AI LA Community,

With a heavy heart, I write to extend my deepest compassion and unwavering support to everyone affected by the devastating fires across Los Angeles.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted—especially our community members who have faced unimaginable losses, been forced to evacuate, or are enduring the challenges of poor air quality. During this difficult time, please know that you are not alone.

We’ve curated a shared resource list where you can find GoFundMe pages and other ways to help those in need. If you know of additional support pages or resources, please add them to the list so we can rally as a community:
Support Resource List
GoFundMe Community List - please add to the list and support our fellow community members
Topanga Mutual Aid Tracker

If you have ideas for further community action or need assistance yourself, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

With thoughts, prayers, and solidarity,
Todd Terrazas
Founder, President, & Executive Director, AI LA Community

Event Schedule Updates

• This Sunday’s (1/12) Cerebral Beach hike in Runyon Canyon has been cancelled.

• This month’s GenAI Meetup w/ Qualcomm has been postponed to February.

• Next week’s ML Models & Bottles event has been re-scheduled for January 23rd.

• You can still become an AI LA+ Member here.

IDEAS Cohort 4 Applications Open

Join the 4th cohort of AI LA’s IDEAS program—a competitive and free career accelerator designed to empower LA-based Community College students with the skills and connections to thrive in the evolving AI and STEAM industries.

This hybrid program features our Machine Learning Track and is delivered through Coursera, combining cutting-edge online coursework with in-person events. Engage in interactive learning, industry mentorship, thought-provoking discussions, research exploration, and targeted professional development.

Participants will master key AI concepts remotely, connect at exclusive networking sessions, and apply their knowledge in a hands-on capstone project. Elevate your career with future-ready skills, expert guidance, and real-world experience.

Applications are open now—don’t miss this opportunity to shape the future of AI and make an impact.

Eligibility: Applicants should be community college students, and have an intermediate knowledge of Python

Application Deadline: January 20, 2025 by 11:59PM PST

Apply today: https://joinai.la/ideas

Upcoming Events

AI Policy Happy Hour (1/16)

Join us for an AI Policy happy hour in the vibrant heart of miracle mile! This unique event brings together curious minds in artificial intelligence, policy-making, and tech innovation to exchange ideas and insights.

IDEAS Cohort 4 Info Session #2 (1/17)

​Join us for an Information Session to explore the details of the AI LA IDEAS program, which focuses exclusively on the Machine Learning Specialization through Coursera. Gain hands-on experience through a final capstone project designed to apply your learning to real-world challenges. Learn how you can develop advanced machine learning skills and receive mentorship from industry professionals to support your growth.

​This session is your opportunity to ask questions, learn about the application process, and see how this program can advance your career in AI and machine learning.

​Take the first step toward your future in AI—don’t miss out! Apply for IDEAS Cohort 4 (ML Track) today at: https://joinai.la/ideas

AI x Fintech Happy Hour (1/21)

​Join us for an AI x Fintech Happy Hour, a casual networking event that offers a unique opportunity for like-minded professionals in AI and Fintech to connect, share insights, and discuss the latest trends in the space.

Demystifying AI: A Beginner's Guide to Intelligent Agents (1/22)

In this 2-hour introductory workshop, we'll break down the buzz around tools like ChatGPT, image generation, and the new wave of AI powered by LLMs and transformers.

​You'll learn the basics of prompt engineering, explore how these tools handle different input/output modalities, and discover what it means to build an "agent" using persona, tools, knowledge, and memory.

​This session is perfect for anyone curious about how natural language copilot technologies work and where they're headed.

​This is a live session, so you’ll get to interact with the instructor, Parth Patel (works with Reid Hoffman).

Responsible AI Reading Group Session w/ Mantej Lamba (1/23)

Join the Responsible AI Reading Group for an engaging session on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in education, facilitated by Mantej Lamba of Shift USC, University of Southern California's student-led platform dedicated to socially responsible technology.

​This session will explore key themes from AI's potential to enhance personalized learning and automate routine tasks, to the ethical, privacy, and equity challenges it presents. Drawing from Mantej's insights, we will discuss how AI tools such as ChatGPT and adaptive learning platforms are reshaping classrooms as well as the implications of biased algorithms, data privacy concerns, and the digital divide.

​This is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about the intersection of technology, education, and ethics

ML Models & Bottles - This Won't be WACC! #4 (1/23)

AI LA & Buildnow.ai is proud to present the 4th edition of ML Models & Bottles – this won’t be WACC. This isn’t just another gathering; it’s a celebration of our favorite things – technical ML research papers, great Pinot, and engaging financial discussions.

​​​What to Expect: Attendees will present a diverse range of research papers on topics like computer vision, NLP, AI agents, RAG, model compression, and more. Each presenter will have a maximum of 5 minutes and will use simple slides:

Cerebral Beach: Sunday Morning Hike (Culver City Stairs) (1/26)

Join AI LA for a Sunday morning hike at Culver City Stairs (1.4mi)!

LA GenAI Meetup w/ Qualcomm – February 2025

Join us for a casual evening AI meetup in the heart of Pasadena! This friendly get-together is the perfect opportunity for GenAI enthusiasts, hobbyists, experts, and newcomers alike to connect, share insights, and learn from each other in an informal setting.

​This GenAI Meetup is sponsored by Qualcomm.

Blog post: IDEAS Cohort 4 Recap

What happens when 12 community college students take on AI and machine learning in just three months? They redefine what’s possible.

On December 15, we celebrated the graduation of AI LA’s IDEAS Cohort 3. These students tackled rigorous coursework, built real-world projects, and showed what’s possible when you mix talent with opportunity.

Cohort 3 graduate May Yadanar Thein shared:

"As part of Cohort 3, I took full advantage of the program’s opportunities. At the largest in-person hackathon I attended, I applied what I learned to develop a web app that leverages artificial intelligence to create personalized music experiences based on user emotions and random word inputs. I also collaborated with a team as my final project of the program to build a machine learning model capable of evaluating news credibility with 99.8% accuracy. These projects allowed me to connect my technical skills with real-world applications, which was both rewarding and insightful.”

Cohort 3’s journey is proof: with the right support, talent can thrive anywhere. The future of AI is inclusive, and we’re just getting started.

Read the full recap blog post by Rita Sargsyan here.