On December 24, 2024, the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) hosted a guest lecture titled “Exploring AI and Open Source at Hugging Face: From a Master’s in AI to a Machine Learning Research Engineer” by Ms. Dana Aubakirova. Dana is a Nazarbayev University graduate, and former ISSAI Research assistant, and currently she is working as an ML Research Engineer at the LeRobot team, part of the Hugging Face.
During the lecture, Ms. Aubakirova discussed her academic background in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Paris, as well as her subsequent role at Hugging Face, a prominent AI innovation hub. She told about the challenges she faced on her journey with ISSAI members.
Dana highlighted the key stages of her professional career. She discussed her internship at Hugging Face, where she worked on developing Vision-Language models for document image analysis. She also elaborated on her research into the open-source community in France, which brings together professionals and enthusiasts in generative AI. Additionally, she presented her current projects, including research on Vision-Language Action Models as part of the LeRobot initiative, aimed at creating accessible robotics. This project combines cutting-edge AI technologies with practical solutions to enhance the quality of life.
The lecture sparked great interest among ISSAI members, who actively asked questions, discussed the presented ideas, and shared their impressions. This lecture not only provided new knowledge but also served as an inspiration for professional growth.
“This lecture is a vivid example of how graduates from Kazakhstan can achieve outstanding results on the global stage. Such stories inspire us to move forward and believe in ourselves”, noted the participants.
We thank Dana Aubakirova for her efforts and for taking the time to visit ISSAI. We wish her success in her future projects and a great career ahead!