First Time at Stanford, Dive into AI: My TreeHacks Odyssey
Stepping onto the Stanford campus for the first time was like walking into a realm where the future is forged. It was here, amid the iconic palm trees and architectural marvels, that I joined the ranks of fellow innovators at TreeHacks 2024.
Inside the Hacker’s Workshop: The Creation of PirateShield
PirateShield wasn’t just a project; it was our beacon in the stormy seas of digital piracy. We harnessed the might of Fetch.ai’s AI agents to meticulously scan TikTok videos, detecting copyright infringements with the precision of a master jeweler. The YouTube API was our litmus test, verifying each flag with an authority that only such a platform could provide.
The 2023 AI Index Report, published by Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), provides a comprehensive overview of the state of AI, including its technical achievements, ethical considerations, and policy implications. This report illuminates the rapid advancements in AI, such as the development of generative models like DALL-E 2, Stable Diffusion, and ChatGPT, which have captivated public interest while also prompting discussions on ethical issues. The report also notes the significant investment in AI, despite a cool-down in 2022, reflecting the field’s dynamic and evolving nature​​.
The Stanford Experience: More Than Just Coding
Amidst the revered halls and green spaces, the experience was surreal — a blend of history and innovation. Each keystroke was a note in a grander symphony of shared intellect and ambition. My first-time awe of Stanford’s campus life was matched only by the adrenaline of collaborating, learning, and pushing boundaries within its inspiring atmosphere.
Shadow AI: A fascinating trend for 2024 is “shadow AI,” where AI technologies are employed to significantly enhance employee productivity without the need for additional hiring. This approach is being utilized to enable a single engineer to review the code of 175 other engineers, showcasing the profound impact AI can have on efficiency and organizational structure​​.
The Nitty-Gritty: Our Technical Saga
We built PirateShield from the ground up, with React.js painting our dashboard across screens and Python Flask, coupled with MongoDB, ensuring our data danced to the right rhythm. Our AI agents evolved, becoming ever more adept at playing detective in the vast expanse of social media.
Fun Fact!
AI in Education and Workplaces: Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are being widely used in education, with 1 in 3 US college students and more than half of UK college students using these tools for homework assignments. This widespread adoption underscores the versatile applications of generative AI beyond professional settings, extending into personal and academic uses​​.
The Takeaway: Learning, Growing, Connecting. Though PirateShield didn’t garner a trophy, our triumph was in the transformation we underwent and the connections we forged. We left Stanford with more than just code — we carried a piece of its spirit, a wealth of newfound knowledge, and friendships that would outlast any hackathon.
Gen2 by Runway: A cutting-edge text-to-video generation tool that is reshaping how videos are produced, making it easier to create engaging and customized video content​​.
For a more in-depth journey into PirateShield and my first Stanford experience, set sail to our detailed odyssey here: Our Hackathon Chronicle