Free Lesson

Build Your Own LLM From Scratch (Actually Understand AI)

Hosted by Priyanka Vergadia

Thu, Sep 3, 2026

5:30 PM UTC (1 hour)

Virtual (Zoom)

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114 students

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Build Real AI Applications in 5 Weeks
Priyanka Vergadia
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What you'll learn

How a transformer actually makes a prediction

See the exact mechanics behind every LLM output, so "black box" AI becomes a system you can reason about.

Build the attention mechanism that powers every LLM

Write self-attention yourself. Once you've built it, you stop guessing what the model's doing and start knowing.

Apply LLM internals to real business decisions

Walk out knowing what to tweak, why, and when, instead of hoping the output looks right.

Why this topic matters

Every company's throwing money at LLMs right now, but most teams still can't tell you why the model did what it did. Build one from scratch and that changes. You stop treating it like a black box and start knowing exactly what to tweak, why, and when so you're actually solving business problems instead of crossing your fingers and hoping the output looks right

You'll learn from

Priyanka Vergadia

AI & Cloud leader ex-Google | Visual Storyteller | TED Speaker

I've spent 15 years at the frontier of AI and Cloud leading product launches at Google and Microsoft that shaped how companies build with technology.

At Google, I led Developer Advocacy for North America and launched Gemini Code Assist alongside the CEO at Google Cloud Next. At Microsoft, I advise C-suite executives on AI transformation across GitHub Copilot and Azure.

I'm a TED speaker, Wharton faculty, and author of 2 bestselling books on Cloud and Generative AI.

But what sets me apart is storytelling. I built one of tech's most recognized visual education brands turning complex AI and Cloud concepts into content that has reached millions.

I teach what I live every day at the world's most innovative companies.

Previously at

Google
Microsoft
The Wharton School
Intel
Akamai
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