Charles Isbell and Michael Littman: Machine Learning and Education | Lex Fridman Podcast #148

Charles Isbell is the Dean of the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. Michael Littman is a computer scientist at Brown University. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/lex and use code LEX to get 1 month of fish oil
– Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex and use code LEX to get special savings
– MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/lex to get 2 for price of 1
– Cash App: https://cash.app/ and use code LexPodcast to get $10

EPISODE LINKS:
Charles’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/isbellHFh
Charles’s Website: https://www.cc.gatech.edu/~isbell/
Michael’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/mlittmancs
Michael’s Website: https://www.littmania.com/
Michael’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mlittman

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41

OUTLINE:
0:00 – Introduction
2:27 – Is machine learning just statistics?
6:49 – NeurIPS vs ICML
9:05 – Data is more important than algorithm
14:49 – The role of hardship in education
23:33 – How Charles and Michael met
28:05 – Key to success: never be satisfied
31:23 – Bell Labs
42:50 – Teaching machine learning
53:01 – Westworld and Ex Machina
1:01:00 – Simulation
1:07:49 – The college experience in the times of COVID
1:36:27 – Advice for young people
1:43:19 – How to learn to program
1:54:43 – Friendship

CONNECT:
– Subscribe to this YouTube channel
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman
– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman
– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman