#214: Building useful AI - from classroom to real business impact
Thu Feb 05 2026
In this episode, Julian is joined by Asif, a recent computer science graduate and Advanced Python teaching assistant at Northern Arizona University, to talk about building AI that actually delivers real-world value. Asif shares how an early curiosity for automation grew into a passion for machine learning, AI agents, and end-to-end systems that solve real business problems. We explore the gap between training models and deploying useful solutions, including how Asif builds privacy-aware AI agents for things like chatbots, summaries, and business insights that non-technical users can actually understand and use.
The conversation goes deep into what it really takes to move from classroom learning to production-ready AI: failing fast, grinding through technical barriers, thinking about deployment and data privacy early, and focusing on projects that recruiters and businesses can clearly see the value in.
Reach out to Asif on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asif-p-056530232/
Check out Asif's Portfolio (it's super cool!): https://asifflix.vercel.app/
Follow Asif on Github: https://github.com/Asif-0209
Books mentioned:
The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck -https://pybitesbooks.com/books/yng_CwAAQBAJ
Hope in Action - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/4XZEEQAAQBAJ
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In this episode, Julian is joined by Asif, a recent computer science graduate and Advanced Python teaching assistant at Northern Arizona University, to talk about building AI that actually delivers real-world value. Asif shares how an early curiosity for automation grew into a passion for machine learning, AI agents, and end-to-end systems that solve real business problems. We explore the gap between training models and deploying useful solutions, including how Asif builds privacy-aware AI agents for things like chatbots, summaries, and business insights that non-technical users can actually understand and use. The conversation goes deep into what it really takes to move from classroom learning to production-ready AI: failing fast, grinding through technical barriers, thinking about deployment and data privacy early, and focusing on projects that recruiters and businesses can clearly see the value in. Reach out to Asif on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asif-p-056530232/ Check out Asif's Portfolio (it's super cool!): https://asifflix.vercel.app/ Follow Asif on Github: https://github.com/Asif-0209 Books mentioned: The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck -https://pybitesbooks.com/books/yng_CwAAQBAJ Hope in Action - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/4XZEEQAAQBAJ ___ 💡🧑💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/ ___ If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us! Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es