In the vast universe of artificial intelligence (AI), Andrew Ng is undoubtedly a shining star. As the co-founder of Google Brain, former Chief Scientist at Baidu, and co-founder of Coursera, his name is almost synonymous with modern AI development. His contributions have not only propelled the advancement of machine learning and deep learning technologies but also made AI accessible to millions through online education. This article delves into Andrew Ng’s journey, academic achievements, and career, exploring how he became a leading figure in the AI world while also bringing more traffic and attention to our AI-focused website.
From the UK to Silicon Valley: Andrew Ng’s Early Life
Andrew Ng was born in the United Kingdom in 1976 to Chinese immigrant parents from Hong Kong. He spent his childhood in Hong Kong and Singapore, graduating from Raffles Institution in Singapore in 1992. This multicultural background laid the foundation for his global perspective.
In 1997, Ng earned bachelor's degrees in computer science, statistics, and economics from Carnegie Mellon University, graduating as the top student in his class. During his time there, he conducted research at AT&T Bell Labs on reinforcement learning, model selection, and feature selection, showcasing his early talent in machine learning. In 1998, he pursued a master’s degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he developed the predecessor to CiteSeerX/ResearchIndex—an automated indexing and search engine for machine learning research, highlighting his vision for academic resource sharing.
In 2002, Ng completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, under the mentorship of Michael I. Jordan. His dissertation, Shaping and Policy Search in Reinforcement Learning, remains widely cited and serves as a crucial reference in AI research. He then joined Stanford University, beginning his academic career.
Academic Achievements: A Pioneer in Machine Learning Education
At Stanford University, Ng served as a professor in the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering departments and was the director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL). His CS229 Machine Learning course became one of the most popular on campus, with over a thousand students enrolling in some years. The course gained even broader recognition through Coursera, attracting millions of learners worldwide.
Ng’s research focused on data mining, big data, and machine learning. His team was among the first to advocate for using GPUs in deep learning in 2008. While controversial at the time, this decision proved transformative, as GPUs dramatically accelerated AI model training, laying the groundwork for deep learning advancements. Since 2017, he has also championed high-performance computing (HPC) applications in AI, further shaping industry trends.
As an educator, Ng's influence is unparalleled. In 2012, he co-founded Coursera with Daphne Koller, making high-quality education accessible to all. His courses—Machine Learning, AI for Everyone, and Neural Networks and Deep Learning—rank among the most popular on Coursera, with over 2.5 million learners enrolled. His teaching style emphasizes practical applications, truly realizing his vision of making AI education available to everyone.
Career: Driving AI Innovation from Google to Baidu
Ng’s professional career is equally remarkable. From 2011 to 2012, he co-founded the Google Brain project alongside Jeff Dean and others. This initiative applied deep learning to search engines, speech recognition, and image recognition, marking a significant milestone in AI’s industrialization.
In 2014, Ng joined Baidu as Chief Scientist, leading big data and AI research. He built an AI team of thousands and spearheaded projects such as facial recognition technology and the AI healthcare chatbot Melody. These advancements not only strengthened Baidu’s technological capabilities but also paved the way for real-world AI applications. He left Baidu in 2017, but his drive for innovation remained unstoppable.
After leaving Baidu, Ng launched Deeplearning.ai, offering online deep learning courses. He then founded Landing AI, focusing on AI-driven SaaS products that provide intelligent solutions for enterprises. In 2018, he established the AI Fund, raising $175 million to support AI startups. In 2021, Landing AI secured $57 million in Series A funding, further advancing computer vision applications in manufacturing.
Global Impact on AI Education
Ng’s contributions to online education have been revolutionary. When Coursera was launched, his CS229A course attracted over 100,000 students. Today, Coursera is one of the world’s leading MOOC platforms, with millions of users. Through Deeplearning.ai, he continues to provide specialized deep learning courses. His philosophy is clear: AI should not be reserved for a select few but should be a skill accessible to everyone.
Looking Ahead: A Leader in AI’s Future
From Stanford classrooms to Google and Baidu’s AI labs, and from Coursera to the AI Fund, Andrew Ng has shaped the present and future of AI with his talent and vision. His work has transformed machine learning and deep learning from academic concepts into real-world applications while educating a new generation of AI practitioners. As Landing AI and the AI Fund continue to grow, there is no doubt that Ng will remain at the forefront of AI innovation.
