Course Description: Visual recognition and language understanding are two challenging tasks in AI. In this course we will study and acquire the skills to build machine learning and deep learning models that can reason about images and text for generating image descriptions, visual question answering, image retrieval, and other tasks involving both text and images. On the technical side we will leverage models such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and transformer networks (e.g. BERT), among others.

Learning Objectives: (a) Develop intuitions about the connections between language and vision, (b) Understanding foundational concepts in representation learning for both images and text, (c) Become familiar with state-of-the-art models for tasks in vision and language, (d) Obtain practical experience in the implementation of these models.

Prerrequisites: There are no formal pre-requisities for this class. However a basic command of machine learning, deep learning or computer vision will be useful when taking this class. Students should have knowledge of linear algebra, differential calculus, and basic statistics and probability. Moreover students are expected to have attained some level of proficiency in Python programming or be willing to learn Python programming. Students are encouraged to complete the following activity before the first lecture: [Primer on Image Processing].

Grading: Assignments: 30% (3 assignments), Class Project: 50%, Quiz: 10%, Class Participation: 10%.

Disclaimer: The professor reserves to right to make changes to the syllabus, including assignment due dates. These changes will be announced as early as possible.

COVID-19 Notice: As we continue another year under the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and new variants of the virus causing this disease, there might be changes that affect the delivery or requirements of this class. As of the writing of this, the university has declared that classes with more than 50 students such as this one should be virtual during the first two weeks of class. Please pay close attention to university officials and the instructor regarding modifications to course delivery or content due to the pandemic. If a student is personally affected by the pandemic course staff will also make special considerations on a case-by-case basis as allowed -- students however should first follow any guidance put forward by official university channels of communication.

Late Submission Policy: No late assignments will be accepted in this class. Unless the student has procured special accommodations for warranted circumstances -- or due to exceptional personal situations. If you consider this might be your case please contact the instructor directly.

Honor Code and Academic Integrity: "In this course, all students will be held to the standards of the Rice Honor Code, a code that you pledged to honor when you matriculated at this institution. If you are unfamiliar with the details of this code and how it is administered, you should consult the Honor System Handbook at http://honor.rice.edu/honor-system-handbook/. This handbook outlines the University's expectations for the integrity of your academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process." For this class: If assignments are individual then no collaboration is expected, no two students should submit the same source code. Regardless of circumstances I will assume that any source code, text, or images submitted alongside reports or projects are of the authorship of the students unless otherwise explicitly stated through appropriate means. Any missing information regarding sources will be regarded potentially as a failure to abide by the academic integrity statement even if that was not the intent. Please be careful about citing sources and clearly stating what is your original work and what is not in all assignments and projects. Especially avoid vague statements such as "we built our model based on X", instead be explicit e.g. "we downloaded X and modified the encoder so that it can work with videos instead of images by adding three more layers". Avoid vague statements that make it difficult to understand what you did from what was done by others.

Title IX Support: Rice University cares about your wellbeing and safety. Rice encourages any student who has experienced an incident of harassment, pregnancy discrimination or gender discrimination or relationship, sexual, or other forms interpersonal violence to seek support through The SAFE Office. Students should be aware when seeking support on campus that most employees, including myself, as the instructor/TA, are required by Title IX to disclose all incidents of non-consensual interpersonal behaviors to Title IX professionals on campus who can act to support that student and meet their needs. For more information, please visit safe.rice.edu or email titleixsupport@rice.edu.

Disability Resource Center: "If you have a documented disability or other condition that may affect academic performance you should: 1) make sure this documentation is on file with the Disability Resource Center (Allen Center, Room 111 / adarice@rice.edu / x5841) to determine the accommodations you need; and 2) talk with me to discuss your accommodation needs."