Stanford CS336 – Language Modeling from Scratch (2025) (cs336.stanford.edu)

Stanford University has announced the launch of CS336, a rigorous course titled "Language Modeling from Scratch," starting in 2025. This course aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of language model development—a cornerstone of modern natural language processing (NLP). Drawing parallels to existing operating systems classes, CS336 emphasizes building language models from the ground up, covering essential processes such as data preparation, transformer architecture construction, and deployment strategies. It incorporates hands-on assignments that require substantial coding in Python and familiarity with deep learning frameworks like PyTorch, reinforced with optimization practices for GPU computing. The significance of CS336 lies in its focus on practical, implementation-heavy learning at a time when language models are reshaping AI applications across various sectors. With a curriculum designed for those proficient in Python and familiar with system optimization concepts, the course addresses the increasing demand for well-versed engineers in AI/ML. Key assignments include optimizing attention mechanisms, data cleaning from raw sources, and applying reinforcement learning techniques for alignment and reasoning tasks. Supported by Together AI for computational resources, the course aspires to deepen students’ understanding of language models within the rapidly evolving AI landscape.