Shafik Quoraishee
New York Times Game Engineer and A.I. Enthusiast
New York City, New York, United States
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I'm currently a Senior Android Games Engineer that works on the New York Times Games Team, working on the integration of games such as Wordle, Connections and the NYT Crossword, into the NYT Games Android App.
I am also an A.I. enthusiast and practitioner with multiple years experience in the field and published research that has been deployed across real world systems with both civilian to government applications.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shafik-quoraishee/
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Building a Handwriting Recognition System for the New York Times Crossword
This session explores the development of an experimental amd potential future handwriting recognition feature for The New York Times Crossword app, on the New York Times Games Android App.
We'll discuss the transformation of crossword squares into interactive "SketchBoxes" that capture user input, the challenges of determining input completion timing, and the preprocessing steps like downscaling and binarizing user-drawn characters.
The talk will dive into the selection and training of a deep convolutional neural network (Deep-CNN) using augmented datasets to handle diverse handwriting styles, and the integration of the TensorFlow Lite model into the app for on-device inference.
Key Takeaways & Learning Points:
* Learn how to create responsive interfaces that accurately capture and process user handwriting.
* Understand strategies to determine when a user has completed writing a character, balancing responsiveness and accuracy.
* Explore methods for normalizing and preparing diverse handwriting inputs for machine learning models.
Training Deep-CNNs with augmented datasets
* Gain insights into enhancing model accuracy by expanding training data to include varied handwriting samples.
Integrating machine learning models on-device with TensorFlow Lite
* Discover best practices for deploying efficient ML models within mobile applications.
As a Senior Android Engineer on The New York Times Games team, I led the exploration of this handwriting recognition work during MakerWeek 2023. My work involved designing the SketchBox component, implementing input handling mechanisms, preprocessing data, training the Deep-CNN model, and integrating it into the app using TensorFlow Lite. I have about 11 years of experience in Android development.
Keywords: Handwriting recognition, machine learning, Android development, TensorFlow Lite, convolutional neural networks, on-device inference, data preprocessing, user input handling.
This work has been published in Nieman Lab:
https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/01/how-the-new-york-times-is-building-experimental-handwriting-recognition-for-its-crosswords-app/
And the New York Times:
https://open.nytimes.com/experimenting-with-handwriting-recognition-for-new-york-times-crossword-a78e08fec08f
AI and Game Theory: A Case Study on NYT's Connections
This session will examine the interplay between human intuition and artificial intelligence in puzzle-solving, using the popular New York Times Connections game as a practical case study.
We'll investigate how gameplay can be systematically evaluated through AI algorithms, exploring machine learning strategies such as clustering, semantic mapping, and natural language processing.
Attendees will gain insights into building AI-driven puzzle solvers, learn methods for quantitatively assessing gameplay complexity, and discuss the potential impacts of AI on puzzle game design and player engagement.
Generative AI And Video Games
This talk will make a Segway from the massive hype train of the "AI Revolution" and veer into the well established, but still ever evolving world of AI and Video Games.
A vast and complex subject in its own right, it's becoming ever more important to understand the so called "world models" that AI builds and interacts in - especially as they continue to intersect with our physical world through robotics, automation, and several other spaces.
Thus we will cover some of the history of AI and video games, some of unique symbolic AI algorithms used in facilitating video game behavior from individual character interaction to grand Strategic planning algorithms by A.I., to generating entire new games from AI.
Unveiling the Shadows of A.I: The Power of Generative Adversarial Networks
In the continuously expanding frontier of AI, few innovations capture our collective imagination quite like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). Known for their remarkable ability to create art, these networks are also reshaping the paradigms of data synthesis and AI training. We'll demystify the intricate mechanics of GANs, offering insights that transcend their well-publicized artistic feats.
By attending this talk, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for GANs as they meticulously craft lifelike scenarios. Beyond mere visual spectacles, these are indispensable instruments that train more resilient AI models and spotlight key system vulnerabilities. As we scale these technologies to grapple with vast datasets, we'll discuss the groundbreaking shifts they instigate across industries and the new challenges they introduce.
Yet, it's impossible to discuss GANs without confronting their darker potential. Their prowess in creating and amplifying misinformation can be weaponized, with the potential to interfere in democratic processes, including elections. By generating persuasive fake content, they could destabilize societal norms and trust. We'll delve into this double-edged sword, navigating the ethical dilemmas of GAN-produced content, its implications on global stability, and its capacity to shape perceptions surreptitiously.
For AI practitioners and tech enthusiasts, it's paramount to discern the duality of GANs: their promise and their peril. You'll leave with a nuanced understanding of both the amazing inner workings of GAN and understand their amazing powers which can be used for good or evil.
droidcon NYC 2025 Sessionize Event
AI Engineer World's Fair 2025 Sessionize Event
NYT Maker Week 2024 Tech Talks Sessionize Event
NYT TechTalks 2023 Sessionize Event
Shafik Quoraishee
New York Times Game Engineer and A.I. Enthusiast
New York City, New York, United States
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