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cover of episode Bill Dally: NVIDIA’s Evolution and Revolution of AI and Computing (Encore)

Bill Dally: NVIDIA’s Evolution and Revolution of AI and Computing (Encore)

2025/1/16
logo of podcast Generative Now | AI Builders on Creating the Future

Generative Now | AI Builders on Creating the Future
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Bill Dally: 我从加州理工学院攻读研究生时期就开始接触神经网络，但当时计算能力的限制阻碍了其发展。后来，我参与了并行计算和流处理技术的开发，并与英伟达合作，将这些技术应用于GPU计算，使并行处理更易于访问。在斯坦福大学任教期间，我目睹了自动驾驶技术的发展，并认识到数据和统计方法的重要性。加入英伟达后，我意识到GPU是运行神经网络的理想平台，并推动了CUDA和cuDNN等技术的开发。如今，生成式AI的快速发展超出了我的预期，但它将彻底改变人类生活，这毋庸置疑。数据并非AI发展的立即障碍，因为还有大量私有数据和合成数据可以利用。作为英伟达首席科学家兼研发高级副总裁，我负责推动技术改进和领导研发团队，致力于开发新技术并加深对其运作机制的理解。我们正在研究将生成式AI应用于自动驾驶汽车领域，包括创建训练环境和改进感知、规划和预测能力。我们也在研究新的技术来保持在GPU领域的领先地位，包括改进AI的数值表示、处理模型的稀疏性以及提高平台效率。自动驾驶技术的进步主要在于处理罕见情况和确保安全，而生成式模型在其中发挥了重要作用。英伟达利用生成式AI来提高芯片设计的效率，包括使用大型语言模型辅助设计、改进调试流程以及优化电路设计。我们通过设定高标准、创造良好的工作环境和提供高影响力的工作来吸引和留住人才。保持领先的关键在于成为变革的推动者，并拥有核心技术优势，敏捷地应对应用变化。我建议新毕业生选择能够学习新知识、与优秀人才共事并拥有良好文化的工作。与年轻一代的AI从业者交流，能让我从不同的角度看待新技术。未来的学生可能不再需要学习传统的编程方式，而是更注重API的整合和应用。 Michael Mignano: 作为访谈主持人，Michael Mignano主要负责引导话题，提出问题，并对Bill Dally的观点进行总结和回应。他引导Bill Dally回顾其职业生涯，探讨AI技术发展，以及英伟达在AI领域的研究和贡献。

Deep Dive

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Bill Dally's career is a testament to the evolution of AI and computing. Starting with early neural network experiments in the 1980s, he transitioned through parallel computing and stream processing, culminating in his pivotal role at NVIDIA. This chapter details his journey and the factors that led to the current AI revolution.
  • Early neural network experiments at Caltech in the 1980s
  • Development of stream processing technology at Stanford
  • Partnership with NVIDIA in developing CUDA
  • Role of chief scientist and senior vice president of research at NVIDIA

Shownotes Transcript

Inspired by NVIDIA’s announcements at CES, we are looking back at one of our favorite episodes. The explosion of generative AI-powered technologies has forever changed the tech landscape. But the path to the current AI revolution was paved by many breakthroughs. Bill Dally had a hand in quite a few of them.

In this week’s episode of Generative Now, we are revisiting a conversation Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano had with Bill Dally, NVIDIA's Chief Scientist and Senior Vice President for Research, whose nearly four-decade long career spans from experiments with neural networks in the 1980s to leading NVIDIA's groundbreaking research. He discusses the work at NVIDIA in advancing GPU technology, as well as the shift towards generative AI. Michael and Bill also explore the challenges of keeping up with rapid advancements in AI, the future implications for the industry, and advice for aspiring engineers.

Bill Dally joined NVIDIA in January 2009 as chief scientist, after spending 12 years at Stanford University, where he was chairman of the computer science department. He has published over 250 papers, holds over 120 issued patents, and is an author of four textbooks. Bill received a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech, a master’s in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from CalTech.

Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:22) Bill Dally's Journey from Neural Networks to NVIDIA (01:39) The Evolution of AI and Computing: A Personal Account (05:48) The AI Revolution: Expectations vs. Reality (08:58) Inside NVIDIA: The Role of Chief Scientist and the Power of Research (11:30) Exploring the Frontiers of Generative AI and Research (15:24) AI’s Role in the Future of Autonomous Vehicles (21:54) The Impact of AI on Chip Design and Efficiency (26:56) Building NVIDIA's Elite Research Team (37:01) Anticipating the Future: Advice for the Next Generation (40:59) Closing Thoughts

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