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Metadata

ID:
2025-05-29-yagub-rahimov-gala-discussion
Participants:

Conversation with Yagub Rahimov

Overview​

Gary Sheng had a multifaceted conversation with Yagub Rahimov at the Texas Venture Gala. The discussion spanned Yagub's long history in AI/Machine Learning, his thoughts on the Alpha Schools model, and his unique philosophical perspectives on AI, particularly in relation to God and faith. Due to audio quality, some parts of the transcript are difficult to decipher, but key themes emerged.

Yagub Rahimov's Background & Expertise​

  • Early AI/ML Adopter: "I did my machine learning mouses (courses/masters?) in 1990 as well." He noted the lack of "practical out(put/let)" for these skills at the time.
  • Academic & Speaker: Travels frequently for lectures (e.g., Chicago around June 14th). Teaches on AI topics, possibly including the use of tools like Cursor ("Here's how I use curser").
  • Age: Mentioned being 57.
  • Familiarity with Agri Tech: Indicated knowledge in this area.

Discussion on Alpha Schools​

  • Gary's Explanation: Gary outlined the Alpha Schools model: AI-adaptive learning for core subjects in 2 hours, with the remainder of the day for passion projects and developing real-world skills. He mentioned the 8:1 student-to-guide ratio and the goal of scaling the model.
  • Yagub's Understanding: Yagub appeared to grasp the concept of early identification and intervention for students: "...basically identifying him earlier, if we need some intervent(ion) beyond like 100%. 100%. because it's like there are a lot of kids that like get stuck... like what do you do with it?"
  • Hyper-Personalization: Gary elaborated on the vision for "hyperpersonalized" learning paths, allowing students to pursue their "divine takes to the design" (unique purpose/talents) including developing social skills, and the ability to form and test hypotheses early on.

Philosophical Exchange on AI and Faith​

  • Gary's Advisory Work: Gary mentioned advising faith institutions (Catholic Church, Latter-day Saints) on AI and organizational strategy.
  • Yagub's View on AI & God: After Gary shared an article (likely "Divine Alignment"), Yagub offered a striking perspective: "AI is actually a war against the goddess. War against God. AI is against the god... because before AI, the god was, uh-"
    • This suggests a view of AI as a challenging or disruptive force to traditional conceptions of divinity or spiritual order.
  • Belief in God: Yagub affirmed his belief in God, though the specifics of his faith were not detailed.
  • Connection with Father Benante: Yagub mentioned working with a "Father Benante" on AI, who was reportedly connected to papal preparations.

Gary's Background Shared​

  • Gary recounted his career trajectory: starting at Google as a software engineer, engaging in prolific online activism (especially around police brutality, e.g., Philando Castile case), running a youth empowerment nonprofit, and being approached by the Ethereum Foundation. He also mentioned his work with the Catholic Church and his more recent involvement with Gauntlet AI leading to Alpha Schools.

Other Notable Points​

  • Information Overload/Trust: There was a brief, somewhat unclear segment about the difficulty of processing information and the importance of trust, possibly in the context of evaluating new ventures or ideas.
  • Networking & Future Contact: They exchanged contact information. Gary invited Yagub to a June 14th event, though Yagub had a prior engagement in Chicago.

Key Quotes (discernible)​

  • Yagub Rahimov on early ML: "I did my machine learning mouses in 1990 as well. and there was no there was no practical out."
  • Yagub Rahimov on student support: "...it's like there are a lot of kids that like get stuck... like what do you do with it?"
  • Yagub Rahimov on AI & God: "AI is actually a war against the goddess. War against God. AI is against the god..."
  • Gary Sheng on Alpha's goal: "...inside of the Al(pha) we say hyperpersonized where people based on their... divine takes to the design. are able toursue their (purpose)."

Overall Impression​

Despite the challenging audio, the conversation reveals Yagub Rahimov as a seasoned AI/ML expert with a long-term perspective on the field and deeply considered, albeit unconventional, philosophical views. His engagement with the Alpha Schools model and Gary's work with faith institutions suggests a potential for future in-depth discussions or collaboration, particularly around the ethical, pedagogical, and societal implications of AI in education. His strong statements about AI and God indicate a unique thinker who could bring a distinct perspective.