CAIS++ is the student branch of the USC Center for AI in Society (CAIS), where undergraduates work on innovative projects to develop AI applications for social good.
Raja Somou, CAIS++ Co-President
Let’s meet CAIS++ 2024 Co-President Rajakrishnan Somou. Originally from San Antonio, TX, Raja is a junior studying Computer Science while pursuing a Progressive Master’s in Electrical Engineering with a focus on the theoretics of Machine Learning. Raja’s fascination with AI and machine learning stems from his love for mathematics, computer science, and making tangible, impactful contributions to the world. His journey to AI began with tinkering with hardware and software as a kid, but it was in high school, when he discovered the beauty of mathematical abstractions, that he found his path to machine learning: “Through research, I found the realm of Machine Learning. A universe intertwined with multivariable derivatives, matrix functions, probabilistic processes, and more. I knew that I had stumbled upon what I had dreamed of, a place to realize my desire to make an impact in the world in my own way,” Raja said.
As co-president, Raja collaborates with Jessica Fu to ensure CAIS++ continues to thrive as a space where students can learn, innovate, and create AI applications for social good.
It’s time to get to know more about Rajakrishnan Somou!
What are some of your responsibilities as the co-president of CAIS++?
Our responsibilities can drastically range but a core tenant of our position is to shape the next generation of CAIS++ through our vision. From conducting meetings with shareholders to structuring our research and curriculum, we lead a multi pronged approach to facilitate a new cohort of students in every regard to make a impact in the field through machine learning and artificial intelligence.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Recently, It’s been a lot of forecasting the day before on how I need to tackle upcoming tasks. But when I wake up in the morning, I have a typical routine to get ready. After that, I walk to campus, where I’ll sit in on my classes, grab food, and go to a library to fill time between classes. My favorite library is MHP or the philosophy one but I’ll switch it up for a change of scenery; I will say as a junior I do tend to walk a lot more. I’ll typically get back home around 6 pm where I’ll try to make food. At the end of the day, I try to catch up on work that needs to be done, watch a couple of videos, and talk to my suitemate. Rinse and repeat, with the occasional busier days with meetings and events that happen.
What excites you the most about the intersection of AI and social work?
AI/ML in itself is a paradigm that uses vastly different fields of of mathematics to abstractly structure problems that exist in the real world. But reality is nearly impossible to model so we use assumptions in our approach to gain useful insights. “All models are wrong but some are useful” – from George Box. This is where we need to decide how we apply what we know to a world as complex as ours and what problems we want to solve. AI/ML can be used in a variety of different ways such as in finance and more. But out of many of its applications, there’s one major theme that will directly benefit humanity: social good. Why not use our powerful algorithmic and analytical tools to solve issues that have been notoriously difficult to solve by humans alone. That is what CAIS stands for, for the technological advancement of social good so we can make a significant difference in our world through the passions of many machine learning researchers alike.
Raja Somou Presenting Research
How do you manage to relax and stay social amidst your rigorous academic and professional schedule?
It does get challenging at times but I would say I try to get my social dosage minimally every other week, whether that’s grabbing food with friends and hanging out or going to events. It does take a bit of interweaving to leave time for me to get a breath of air but I wouldn’t trade it for anything as I’m passionate about my responsibilities and work.
Have you learned anything new since you joined CAIS++?
Its been foundational to the perspectives I have as a researcher in the field. I’ve not only gained a more nuanced understanding of these topics but also I have gained a community of friends that I don’t think I could’ve gotten anywhere else.
What would you like for someone who is interested in joining CAIS++ to know about?
It’s never too late to start, and It’s never too late to become who you want to be.
