From Software Engineer to AI Researcher: The Story of 413 'No's'
Meta
Mistral AI
A software engineer shares their journey from outsourcing in Voronezh to AI research at Meta and Mistral AI, involving a second master's at Skoltech and numerous rejections before success. The story highlights the challenges and growth in the field.
The author, based in Voronezh, began in web development and outsourcing, then moved to London to work at Meta on infrastructure and open-source projects. Seeking deeper expertise, they returned to Moscow to pursue a second master's at Skoltech, leading to their first publications. Eventually, they went back to London to work at Mistral AI and Revolut, focusing on industrial AI research. Throughout, they grappled with constant feelings of inadequacy but remained excited about future adventures, documenting their path as a tale of perseverance against numerous rejections.
Source: Habr — хаб ML —
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