About me

Through my various roles - as a Research Assistant, AI Engineer at BARBAH Games, and President of the UON AI Society - I'm constantly looking for ways to explore these advanced concepts while also making AI more accessible to others. Whether I'm working on AI literacy projects, developing chatbots, or evaluating AI-generated content, I'm always thinking about how we can use AI's potential responsibly and ethically.

In my roles as a Research Assistant, AI Engineer, and UON AI Society President, I'm exploring advanced AI concepts and making them accessible to others, always focusing on responsible and ethical AI development.

It's an exciting time to be in this field, and I can't wait to see where my path in AI takes me. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll be part of the team that creates the first AGI/Super Intelligence - or at least, I'll have some great stories to tell about trying!

Projects

• Research Coordinator - AI-Powered Chatbot for Independent Learning (Urban Project) Developing an AI chatbot for personalized learning experiences.

  Leading the development of an AI-powered chatbot designed to enhance independent learning and revision processes in digital learning environments like NILE (Northampton Integrated Learning Environment). This innovative project leverages advanced AI techniques including Natural Language Processing (NLP), machine learning, and Large Language Models (LLM) to create a personalized and interactive learning experience.

  Key Responsibilities and Ongoing Efforts:

  • Spearheading the development of core functionalities including coursework summarization, interactive Q&A, extended reading suggestions, and content simplification.
  • Working on implementing enhanced features such as personalized learning insights, an educator interface for content management, and module structure analysis for improved content organization.
  • Actively collaborating with the NILE analytics team to establish secure protocols for accessing and utilizing student interaction data, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and ethical standards.
  • Researching and designing state-of-the-art encryption and anonymization techniques for sensitive data handling.
  • Planning for broad platform compatibility, initially focusing on NILE with the aim of future integration into other university platforms.
  • Developing an adaptive learning support system designed to continuously learn from student interactions to meet evolving educational needs.

  This project aims to revolutionize the way students engage with course content, offering personalized support and insights to enhance their learning experience. By using AI technologies, we're creating a scalable solution, we're creating a scalable solution that has the potential to significantly impact educational outcomes across various higher education platforms.

  Leading the development of an AI-powered chatbot for NILE, focusing on personalized learning experiences. Key features include coursework summarization, Q&A, and content simplification, with an emphasis on data privacy and ethical AI use.

  View Full Project Details
• Study Smart: AI Literacy Initiative Driving data-driven insights for AI literacy development across the University of Northampton.

  Playing a key role in a university-wide project funded by the UON Learning Enhancement and Innovation Fund, aimed at fostering AI literacy among staff and students. This initiative bridges knowledge gaps relating to Generative AI tools and pedagogic strategies to positively impact educational outcomes while maintaining high ethical standards.

  Key Contributions and Responsibilities:

  • Spearheading comprehensive data analysis efforts, including cleaning, processing, and interpreting data from various project components.
  • Developing and fine-tuning a custom GPT model specifically for analyzing project data, ensuring high-quality and relevant outputs.
  • Creating impactful visualizations to effectively communicate findings and insights from the project data.
  • Collaborating with the research team to develop a robust methodology for AI-assisted qualitative data analysis, currently working on a paper to expound on this innovative approach.
  • Contributing to the analysis of workshop outcomes and participant feedback, using AI-driven techniques to identify trends and areas for improvement in the AI literacy program.
  • Assisting in the integration of data-driven insights into the Staff Toolkit and AI-enhanced course creation tools.

  This project aligns with the University's strategic objectives, addressing key themes such as learning and teaching enhancement, assessment and feedback improvement, creativity and employability boost, diversity and inclusion promotion, and research and ethics considerations in the context of AI integration in higher education. My work focuses on utilizing AI and data science to provide actionable insights that drive the project's success and impact.

  Contributing to a university-wide AI literacy project, focusing on data analysis, custom GPT model development, and AI-driven insights. The project aims to enhance AI understanding among staff and students, aligning with key university objectives.

  View Full Project Details

Experience

• Student Careers Coach, University of Northampton (September 2024 - Present): Supporting students in their career development through guidance and coaching.

  As a Student Careers Coach at the University of Northampton, I support students in their career development by offering guidance on CV writing, job applications, and interview preparation.

  I help students understand and improve the skills they need for the recruitment process. Through individual coaching sessions and workshops, I assist students in recognising their strengths and connecting them with career opportunities.

  My goal is to equip students with the practical tools and knowledge to present themselves confidently to potential employers and make informed decisions about their future careers.

  
• Founding AI Engineer, BARBAH Games (May 2024 - Present): Driving AI innovation across gaming and educational applications.

  Leading AI integration in the company, focusing on AI assisted learning for our users, working on creating personalized assistants using LLM techniques and custom AI avatars, lastly, enhancing language translation for local dialects.

  Additionally, I conduct research on developing digital twins, generative AI for UI/UX for interfaces and large action models (agentic systems) to improve gaming experiences.

  View Full Project Details
  
• Research Assistant, Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise Programme (May 2024 - July 2024): Enhancing warehouse efficiency through AI-assisted consolidation techniques with GXO.

  As a Research Assistant funded by the Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise Programme, I collaborate with GXO on cutting-edge AI projects aimed at optimizing warehouse operations. My role involved applying advanced algorithms like k-means clustering and decision trees to analyze vast datasets and uncover trends and opportunities for operational improvements.

  I conducted in-depth research and produced a detailed report that assessed the logistics industry's current landscape, explored various AI implementations, and proposed innovative applications. By reviewing techniques like reinforcement learning and neural networks, I and the team evaluated the potential of different AI systems to enhance efficiency.

  Utilized open datasets, I suggested AI-driven optimization models tailored to meet both general and specific needs within the logistics sector. Our findings were presented to the Artificial Intelligence Lead Engineer at GXO and have been featured in a blog post on the course website, highlighting our contributions to the field.

  View Full Project Details
  
• Student Ambassador, Intel Corporation (June 2024 - Present): Promoting learning and collaboration within developer communities.

  As a Student Ambassador for Intel, I'm actively involved in fostering learning and collaboration within our university's developer communities. My focus is on promoting Intel's oneAPI and cutting-edge hardware and software products. This role has been instrumental in enhancing my AI and oneAPI skills, expanding my professional network, and gaining early access to Intel's latest tech developments.

  I organize and deliver hands-on training sessions and workshops centered on AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and visualization for fellow students. A key part of my role involves showcasing Intel's software development tools and resources, as well as developing and sharing projects that inspire and educate my peers. I also contribute by writing blogs and articles to disseminate new insights and best practices within our community.

  Additionally, I take the lead in organizing local events like watch parties and workshops to strengthen our campus tech community. The role grants me extended access to the Intel® Developer Cloud and allows me to participate in exclusive Intel events and training sessions. There's also the exciting possibility of internship opportunities at Intel and reimbursement for participating in approved conferences and events.

  
• Campus Ambassador, Facia (May 2024 - Present): Raising cybersecurity awareness within academia through creative campaigns and events.

  As a Campus Ambassador for Facia, I'm leading efforts to raise cybersecurity awareness within our academic community.

  My role involves creating impactful campaigns, organizing events, and producing engaging content to promote Facia's vision on campus. I regularly share insights through blogs and social media stories, collaborating on ideas that shape global initiatives. I've had the opportunity to engage with students and professionals worldwide, building a network and representing Facia at various campus events.

  
• AI Content Quality Evaluator, Outlier (June 2024 - Present): Enhancing AI-generated content through meticulous evaluation and feedback.

  In my role as an AI Content Quality Evaluator at Outlier, I'm directly contributing to the improvement of AI models for some of the world's leading companies. My work involves providing detailed human feedback on AI-generated content, focusing on ensuring high standards of factuality, completeness, brevity, and grammatical correctness.

  A key aspect of my role is reviewing the work of fellow writing evaluators. I provide constructive feedback to help enhance the overall quality of AI responses, which I find both challenging and rewarding. Additionally, I craft original, detailed answers to prompts and questions, demonstrating what excellent writing looks like to train and refine the AI model.

  
• Research Assistant, University of Northampton (November 2023 - July 2024): Spearheading AI literacy research and development in higher education.

  As a key member of the Study Smart project, funded by the UON Learning Enhancement and Innovation Fund, I'm deeply involved in groundbreaking research on AI applications in education. Our focus is on enhancing independent learning and revision among students through interesting AI-driven solutions.

  My role involved conducting in-depth research, data collection, cleaning, analysis, and visualization using tools like Pandas, Numpy, Seaborn, and Matplotlib. This work was crucial in identifying trends that contribute to current and future educational strategies within the university.

  A significant part of my work centered on AI literacy enhancement. I delivered thorough workshops and presentations to both faculty and students, facilitating effective knowledge sharing about AI in education. Our project's impact was recognized when we presented at three conferences, highlighting our outstanding contribution to AI in education.

  I was also heavily involved in the technical aspects of our research, including prompt engineering and fine-tuning a customized GPT model. Through data analysis and output testing, I ensure accurate and desired results, leveraging my expertise in AI and machine learning.

  Most recently, I co-authored and presented our research, "Study Smart: Staff and students co-constructing AI literacy at UON," at the Merged Futures 6 conference on June 14, 2024. This county-level presentation showcased our team's collaborative efforts in advancing AI literacy within our academic community.

  
• President & former Treasurer, UON AI Society (September 2023 - Present): Leading and managing the AI Society.

  As President of the UON AI Society, I'm leading initiatives to foster a vibrant community of AI enthusiasts and future innovators. My role involves strategic leadership, partnership development, and event organization to expand our society's reach and impact.

  Key Achievements:
  • As Treasurer, I significantly boosted the society's budget by 52%, and enabled the execution of key projects and events and the expansion of our digital presence.
  • Grew our community to over 100 LinkedIn followers, 70+ Discord members, and 60+ Instagram followers.
  • Established partnerships with industry leaders like Erictron AI, Takara AI, and NN1 Dev Club, as well as academic collaborations with CUoL Robotics Society and The National Museum of Computing.
  • Organized our first hackathon, "Hack the Museum," in collaboration with The National Museum of Computing, where we developed an IoT-based motion detection system.
  • Implemented a mentorship program and facilitated workshops on securing internships and advancing AI literacy.

  Ongoing Initiatives:
  • Planning monthly events, hackathons, and workshops for the upcoming academic year.
  • Coordinating speaker sessions and panel events with industry professionals.
  • Developing support sessions led by senior students to foster knowledge sharing within our community.

  

Education

• Bachelor's in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (Expected Graduation Year 2026) University of Northampton, Northampton, United Kingdom

  Year 1 modules and grades:

  • Problem Solving and Programming: A+
  • Software Engineering Fundamentals: A+
  • Computer Systems: B+
  • Mathematics for Computer Science: B
  • Computer Communications: B
  • Web Development: A+
  
• Generative AI Bootcamp, GetSeen Ventures (July 2023 - September 2023) Six-week program on advanced Generative AI technologies and applications

  This focused bootcamp gave me practical experience with modern Generative AI technologies. I learned how to develop AI solutions using Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). Through team projects, I applied these concepts to address real business challenges, improving my skills in creating useful AI applications.

  The program ended with the development of a startup idea as aprt of a team, which we are currently working on as a stealth startup. This experience expanded my technical knowledge and sharpened my business skills in the AI field. Working with industry experts and other participants, I gained a solid understanding of how Generative AI can be used to create effective solutions for various industries.

  
• Generative AI Applications Bootcamp, Encode Club and Venture Miner (August 2024 - October 2024) Eight-week program focused on practical uses of Generative AI across industries

  This intensive bootcamp provided hands-on experience with advanced AI technologies and their real-world applications. Through expert-led sessions, group projects, and problem-solving exercises, I improved my skills in:

  • Creating and launching AI-powered applications using current models and tools
  • Using advanced AI techniques for processing text, recognizing images, and generating content
  • Applying Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and AI Agents in practical scenarios
  • Following industry best practices in AI development and deployment

  Key projects included building a multi-purpose AI chatbot with image recognition, an AI-powered illustrated book creator, and a RAG-based chatbot using custom data sources. These projects showed my ability to plan, develop, and launch complex AI applications using both cloud services and local hardware.

  

Awards and Recognitions

• Presenter at the Learning and Teaching Conference, University of Northampton - Showcased early URBAN, research work
• Presenter at the UON Research Conference - Presented Study Smart data analysis work
• Speaker at Merged Futures VI, University of Northampton - Presented Study Smart project findings
• Certificates ▾ Various certifications in AI, Machine Learning, and Data Analysis

  • Certified Kaggle Certificate in Pandas – Demonstrated proficiency in data manipulation and analysis using Pandas in Python.
  • Completed Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Neural Networks (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) – Gained foundational skills in neural networks and deep learning.
  • Completed Azure Machine Learning Development: Part 1 (LinkedIn Learning) – Acquired practical skills in Microsoft Azure Machine Learning services.
  • Completed Big Data in the Age of AI (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) – Developed knowledge in big data analytics and its role in AI applications.
  • Completed Machine Learning Foundations: Statistics (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) – Strengthened understanding of statistical analysis in machine learning algorithms.

Charitable Work

• Friendship International Students and Hosts (FISH) (March 2024 - Present): Member since October 2023 and Volunteer since October 2024. Assisting with setting up and taking down weekly Monday events, contributing to enriching experiences for the FISH community.
• Volunteer, Barnardo's (January 2023 - May 2023): Managed store keeping and merchandising for charitable causes, including managing the cash register.
• Blog Post Creator, Learning Technology Team, University of Northampton (February 2023 - Present): Creating and disseminating blog posts about technology projects, including AI initiatives at the university. Contributing to data collection through surveys, interviews, and study groups to support research initiatives and information sharing.
• Blog Post Contributor, University of Northampton AI Course Blog(January 2024 - Present): Creating blog posts featuring information on projects currently being done at the university and using the platform for dissemination of technology-related projects.

Blog

• Choosing the Right Course to Study in an AI-Driven World: My Latest Project - October 10, 2024
• AI for Independent Learning: A Glimpse into Our Research - July 05, 2024

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Contact

Don't hesitate to reach out if you want to collaborate on a project or discuss other opportunities.

Ryan Mutiga Gichuru | ryan@barbahgames.gg | +44 7396957302


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