AIS graduate student Anany Sharma
Major: Artificial Intelligence Systems
Department: Engineering Education
Advisor: Andrea Ramírez-Salgado, Ph.D.
Born in India, Anany Sharma always loved trying new things, be it technology, school subjects or sports. Curiosity led him to soccer, badminton, table tennis, cricket and, most recently, pickleball.
“The elective I chose in my high school years sparked my curiosity and set me on a path to major in computer science during my undergraduate studies,” said Sharma. “Now, as a master’s student specializing in artificial intelligence at one of the top institutions in the United States, I see all that fits the storyline now.”
A proud resident of Gator Nation, Sharma is part of the inaugural Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) master’s degree program in the Department of Engineering Education (EEd) in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.
Launched in 2024 to meet demand for skilled AI professionals, the AIS degree program equips students with a comprehensive skill set that merges computer science, mathematics, engineering and ethics. Students benefit from access to the HiPerGator supercomputer and state-of-the-art research facilities, preparing them for careers across various industries such as healthcare, finance, robotics and aerospace.
“The University of Florida was always my top choice because of its research and faculty credentials,” he said.
Here is more on this Gator researcher with an eye on AI applications in the real world.
Question: Where did you grow up?
Sharma: I was born and brought up in Jaipur, India, which is called The Pink City of India. It’s a culturally rich and vibrant city.
Q: What is your area of study?
Sharma: I am really excited about the generative AI space and seeing how rapidly it is evolving in language and vision generation. My current research lies in AI for embedded systems and how I can leverage AI for building smart systems with real-world application.
I am planning to build some generative AI applications on embedded systems merging these two fields and making AI feasible for everyone. Imagine talking with ChatGPT on your smart watch without the internet.
My current research lies in the field of edge AI, which is AI for embedded systems. It is deploying AI models directly into sensors, cameras and other edge devices rather than on cloud-based processing. I will contribute in building and deploying these models along with designing and developing AI curriculum for students in different stages of their studies (middle-schoolers/highschoolers/undergrads). Along with this, I aim to bridge the gap between generative AI and edge AI, making these state-of-the-art models more available and feasible for anyone and everyone.
Q: How would you describe MSAIS?
Sharma: It’s an amazing program. It gives us hands-on skills on building from the fundamentals all the way through state-of-the-art technology and then applying them to solve real-world problems. It’s a great place to be with everything moving so rapidly in AI space.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
Sharma: Usually there are two routes after graduating.
Industry: Working with big tech and other tech firms building products. Research: Participate and contribute to the field of study and innovate new tech.
My goal resonates with both paths, and I am open to opportunities where I can just learn, innovate and apply my skills irrespective of the field. I just want to contribute and continue to build and learn exciting applications for real-world use and continue what I love, which is building AI systems.
Q: What pop culture are you consuming these days?
Sharma: Right now, I am watching “Black Mirror.” It’s an interesting TV show with episodes set in near-future dystopias containing sci-fi technology — a type of speculative future.