Welcome to Codects, a collection of technical notes and articles researched and written by me, Sami Elsayed. Here, once or twice a month, I share deep dives into things that interest me in the fields of artificial intelligence, computer security, hardware, and even debate.
I’m a first-year student at George Mason University studying computer science, computer engineering, and mathematics. Outside of academics, I debate for the George Mason Debate Team, where I compete in policy debate tournaments across the country.
Recent posts
In the world of high-level policy debate, the air is often filled with “spread,” the practice of speaking at upwards of 300 words per minute to maximize the density of arguments. To an outsider, it sounds like a chaotic blur of rhetoric and adrenaline. However, beneath this high-velocity exterior lies a rigid, almost mechanical system of logical dependencies. A Disadvantage (sidenote: An argument brought up by the negative team highlighting the consequence resulting from the passage of the plan.
We often treat machine learning models as mathematical abstractions, pure functions that map inputs to outputs. We assume that if the math is correct, the system is secure. But models don’t exist in a vacuum; they run on imperfect hardware, rely on approximate floating-point arithmetic, and execute within physical constraints. I wanted to understand exactly how fragile these implicit assumptions are.
My goal wasn’t to build a high-performance classifier or to learn the basics of deep learning.
Artificial intelligence systems have rapidly transformed our lives, yet one critical aspect of human interaction remains largely absent in these digital creations—genuine empathy. While much attention is paid to issues like bias, transparency, and accountability, the inability of AI to truly understand and replicate human emotional nuance is rarely discussed. This “empathy gap” raises important ethical questions about how machines interact with vulnerable populations and the responsibilities of those who design and deploy these systems.