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Ali Rahimi's talk at NIPS(NIPS 2017 Test-of-time award presentation)

ObservantVids · talk · Watch on YouTube

Machine learning & deep learningScientific method & science communication

What it is

Ali Rahimi's NIPS 2017 Test-of-Time award talk, in which he argues that modern machine learning has become alchemy, working without being rigorously understood. He calls for more rigor and understanding in the field.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN points to it as the sharpest, most-quoted critique of deep learning practice, and cites it whenever ML reliability or understanding is debated.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2018, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “Ali Rahimi's NIPS 2017 Test of Time award talk.”

    Favorite 2017 talk calling modern machine learning alchemy.

    vowelless, 2018-01 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: What’s your favorite talk from 2017?”

  2. “For a more cutting and insightful critique, watch Ali Rahimi's short talk at NIPS 2017”

    A cutting, insightful critique of deep learning practice, received a standing ovation.

    ssivark, 2018-02 · Strong recommendation · in “Greedy, Brittle, Opaque, and Shallow: The Downsides to Deep Learning”

  3. “See this talk which compares modern AI work to alchemy”

    Compares modern AI work to alchemy: works unreliably, not always understood.

    ShredKazoo, 2023-02 · Recommendation · in “Only You Can Stop an AI Apocalypse”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: deep learning, nips, alchemy, ali rahimi, ml research

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