AI Office Hours

27 Aug, 2025

Update (4th January 2026): Since launching these office hours in August 2025, I have received a very enthusiastic response and have enjoyed the conversations so far. To accommodate more discussions, I am increasing the cadence from 4 to 6 sessions per month. Everything else remains the same.

I am starting a new initiative: Free AI Office Hours, held once a month. The idea is simple: create a structured, accessible way for students, engineers, and researchers to ask questions and get feedback and guidance on their AI and machine learning journey.

Why am I doing this?

Over the years I have benefited tremendously from conversations with mentors, peers, and collaborators. A short conversation at the right time can unlock clarity, save weeks of confusion, or even reshape a career path. These office hours are a way to share that benefit and create consistent opportunities for meaningful conversations.

How will this work?

• Cadence: 1 hour each month
• Format: 4 6 individual slots of 15 minutes each
• Medium: Online (Zoom or Google Meet link will be shared with confirmed participants)
• Sign-up: First come, first served via a simple intake form (link below). Slots open one month in advance to avoid spam or repeated signups.

What can we discuss?

These sessions are open-ended but focused. Examples of suitable topics include:

• Research questions in AI and ML, especially large-scale training, foundation models, distributed systems
• Career guidance such as navigating roles in research, engineering, or academia-to-industry transitions
• Feedback on study plans, side projects, or early research ideas
• Practical considerations for scaling ML systems and working in large teams

What will not be covered

To make the most of these short sessions, I will not:

• Debug or fix code
• Do detailed walkthroughs of assignments or homework
• Provide company-specific or confidential advice
• Give interview questions or test answers
• Offer funding or job referrals
• Provide ongoing project supervision (this requires more structured mentorship)
• Review full research papers or lengthy drafts

What you will gain

Think of these office hours as a place for clarity and direction. My goal is that each participant leaves the conversation with at least:

1. A clear next step to act on
2. A resource or new perspective that helps them move forward

How to sign up

There are 4 6 spots available each month. If you don't get a spot this time, there will be another chance next month.

👉 Calendly Link

Closing note

This initiative is one small way to give back to the community, and my hope is that these conversations create meaningful impact for those who join. If a discussion sparks ideas for deeper collaboration or structured mentorship, I am open to exploring that separately.

Looking forward to the first round of conversations.