Recap of the 15th Data & AI Meetup: Reinforcement Learning; TensorFlow on Azure; Visual Analytics

200 attendees at the 15th Data & AI Meetup at DB Systel in Frankfurt, Germany
200 attendees at the 15th Data & AI Meetup at DB Systel in Frankfurt, Germany

Yesterday we had an amazing Data & AI Meetup in Frankfurt! Let’s have a quick recap!

The venue: DB Systel’s Silberturm

DB Systel kindly hosted the 15th iteration of our Data & AI Meetup on the 30th floor of the Silberturm in Frankfurt, Germany.

Welcome & Intro

Darren Cooper and I had the pleasure to welcome 200 Data & AI enthusiasts! Furthermore, we were happy to announce that our Data & AI Meetup group has 1,070 members and our brand new Data & AI LinkedIn group already has 580 members.

Reinforcement Learning of Train Dispatching at Deutsche Bahn

Dr. Tobias Keller, Data Scientist at DB Systel, showed in his session how Deutsche Bahn aims at increasing the speed of the suburban railway system in Stuttgart (S-Bahn) using Artificial Intelligence. In particular, a simulation-based reinforcement learning approach provides promising first results.

TensorFlow & Co as a Service

Sascha Dittmann, Cloud Solution Architect for Advanced Analytics & AI at Microsoft, showed in his presentation, how TensorFlow and other ML frameworks can be used better in a team through appropriate Microsoft Cloud services. He presented different ways of how data science experiments can be documented and shared in a team. He also covered topics such as versioning of the ML models, as well as the operationalization of the models in production.

Visual Analytics: from messy data to insightful visualization

Daniel Weikert, Expert Consultant at SIEGER Consulting, showed in his session the ease of use of Microsoft Power BI Desktop. He briefly highlighted the AI Capabilities which Power BI provides and showed a way on how to get started with messy data, doing data cleaning and visualize results in an appealing way to your audience.

Speaking at an upcoming Data & AI meetup?

If you’ve dreamed of sharing your Data & AI story with many like-minded Data & AI enthusiasts, please submit your session proposal or reply to the recap tweet:

15th Data & AI Meetup: Reinforcement Learning; TensorFlow on Azure; Visual Analytics

We’d like to invite you to our 15th Data & AI Meetup, hosted at Skydeck @ DB Systel in Frankfurt, Germany.

Agenda:

5:30pm: Doors open

6:00pm: Welcome & Intro
by Alexander Loth, Digital Strategist at Microsoft
and Darren Cooper, Principal Consultant at DB Systel

6:20pm: 🚄 Reinforcement Learning of Train Dispatching at Deutsche Bahn
by Dr. Tobias Keller, Data Scientist at DB Systel

7:00pm: 🚀 TensorFlow & Co as a Service
by Sascha Dittmann, Cloud Solution Architect for Advanced Analytics & AI at Microsoft

7:40pm: 📊 Visual Analytics: from messy data to insightful visualization
by Daniel Weikert, Expert Consultant at SIEGER Consulting

8:30pm: Networking & drinks

9:30pm: Event concludes

DB Systel Skydeck in Frankfurt (previous meetup)
DB Systel Skydeck in Frankfurt (previous meetup)

Sign up on Meetup and join us on Twitter @DataAIHub and LinkedIn!

Do you want to speak at our events? Submit your proposal here: https://aka.ms/speakAI

Machine Learning kompakt: Alles, was Sie wissen müssen

Machine Learning Kompakt Cover und Deep-Learning-Kapitel
Machine Learning kompakt und Blick in das Kapitel „Neuronale Netze und Deep Learning“

Nachdem ich bereits Erfahrung als Buchautor (hier und hier) gesammelt habe, hatte ich kürzlich die Gelegenheit als Technical Reviewer ein sehr spannendes Buchprojekt zu unterstützen. Das Buch Machine Learning kompakt: Alles, was Sie wissen müssen, geschrieben von Andriy Burkov, fand ich dabei dermaßen interessant, dass ich es gerne im Folgenden kurz vorstellen werde:

Machine Learning kompakt von Andriy Burkov ist ein hervorragend geschriebenes Buch und ein Muss für jeden, der sich für Machine Learning interessiert.

Andriy Burkov gelang ein ausgewogenes Verhältnis zwischen der Mathematik, intuitiven Darstellungen und verständlichen Erklärungen zu finden. Dieses Buch wird Neulingen auf dem Gebiet als gründliche Einführung zu Machine Learning zugutekommen. Darüber hinaus dient das Buch Entwicklern als perfekte Ergänzung zu Code-intensiver Literatur, da hier die zugrunde liegenden Konzepte beleuchtet werden.

Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio
Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio

Machine Learning kompakt eignet sich außerdem als Lehrbuch für einen allgemeinen Kurs zu Machine Learning. Ich wünschte, ein solches Buch gäbe es, als ich studiert habe!

Protip: viele der im Buch vorgestellten Machine-Learning-Algorithmen können Sie einfach und bequem in Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio selbst ausprobieren: https://aka.ms/mlst

My First Day at Microsoft: A New Journey Begins

Alexander Loth on his first day at Microsoft
Alexander Loth on his first day at Microsoft

Joining Microsoft marks an exciting new chapter in my professional journey. With memories of my farewell to Tableau still fresh, I arrived at the Microsoft office, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Read about my farewell to Tableau here.

Walking through the doors of Microsoft’s sprawling campus, the spirit of creativity and technological advancement was palpable. The legacy of innovation that defines Microsoft was evident everywhere I looked. I was immediately struck by the energy and innovation that permeated the air. From the architecture to the people, everything spoke of a commitment to excellence.

My first day was filled with introductions to my talented new colleagues. Their passion and expertise left me inspired and eager to contribute. With previous experiences at Tableau, CERN, and other industry leaders, I am well-prepared for this new adventure. Each step has shaped me, and I’m confident that this new adventure at Microsoft will add valuable layers to my career.

I’m thrilled to be part of Microsoft’s vision to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. The future promises exciting projects, innovation, and growth.

My day 1 at Microsoft has been a remarkable experience, setting the stage for a fruitful journey. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Stay connected with me on Twitter and LinkedIn to follow my journey at Microsoft.

Thank you Tableau and farewell!

Farewell to Tableau: A Reflective Goodbye - Alexander Loth with Tableau Data Rockstar t-shirt
Farewell to Tableau: A Reflective Goodbye – Alexander Loth

10 years ago, I started using Tableau.

4 years ago, I started working at Tableau.

Today is my last day with Tableau.

As I pen down my farewell to Tableau, it’s hard not to look back at the incredible journey that began 10 years ago. I reflect on a decade-long connection that began with using Tableau and culminated in four amazing years as an employee. This journey has shaped my career, leaving me filled with gratitude. Read about my 10-year blogging anniversary here.

These last four years have been the most inspiring of my career, what a ride it has been! It’s been a great opportunity and an amazing experience, joining this unique Seattle start-up as one of the first employees in Tableau’s Frankfurt office. Watching our DACH team grow to 120+ people is far more than I had imagined at the beginning, it is simply amazing!

As for my next phase, I’ll take on a strategist role at a leading cloud & AI company. I am excited to continue creating an impact in the digital age.

I’m very grateful to have worked alongside talented people both in Tableau and in our greater #datafam community — people who are brilliant and freakishly friendly. I am immensely grateful for the guidance of my mentors, Nate Vogel and Andy Cotgreave. Their wisdom and support have been instrumental in my growth at Tableau. I have many lifetime memories and made lots of great friends. I wish all of you at Tableau all the best for your next chapter, joining the Salesforce Ohana.

This farewell to Tableau is filled with gratitude, memories, and excitement for the future. Thank you, Tableau, for the incredible ride. So long, and thank you for everything!

— Alex

Watch my 4-years-in-2-minutes clip here:

Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates on my farewell to Tableau and new ventures.