Disrupting Systems Research with AI

Course Description

For decades, a primary contribution in systems research—spanning networking, databases, and operating systems—has been the meticulous, human-driven design of novel algorithms to improve performance. We are now at the beginning of a significant shift, where a new class of AI tools can autonomously generate algorithms that match and sometimes exceed the best human-designed solutions. While this trend is still in its early stages, it is beginning to challenge and redefine what constitutes a core research contribution.

This course explores the frontiers of this new methodology, examining the future role of the researcher as a "strategic advisor" who guides powerful AI assistants rather than manually engineering solutions. Coursework is highly interactive, featuring student-led paper presentations on the latest breakthroughs, hands-on labs for applying OpenEvolve-like tools, and a substantial final class project. For their project, students will have the opportunity to push the boundaries of this nascent field by either leveraging these tools to accelerate their own research or by directly improving the AI discovery systems themselves.

Course Schedule

Note: This syllabus is tentative and subject to change. Please check back regularly for updates.

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