Leaving Deepmind to start his own Startup! Aleksa Gordić

The What's AI Podcast Episode 18

Good morning fellow AI enthusiast! Here's a new podcast episode with Aleksa Gordić, an ex-research engineer at DeepMind who has embarked on his own startup journey! Yes, he left Microsoft to join Google DeepMind, which he left to work on his own thing... Ortus AI, which we discuss widely in the episode.

We also quickly discussed the "is a Ph.D. worth it?" question that appears in most of my episodes. In this newsletter iteration, I wanted to have Auxane's insights on her Ph.D. in AI ethics, which I believe to be as exciting as it is important to our society. She gives us her "for and against" the Ph.D. as well as her personal experience. If you are thinking about doing a Ph.D. or simply want to see what's it like, keep reading!

We hope you enjoy this iteration!

1️⃣ Leaving Deepmind to start his own Startup! Aleksa Gordić - The What's AI Podcast Episode 18

In this captivating podcast episode, we dive into a fascinating conversation with Aleksa Gordić, an ex-research scientist at DeepMind who has embarked on his own startup journey. We explore various aspects of his professional life and delve into topics such as his current priorities, work at DeepMind, dropping out of his master's program, and landing a software engineer role in machine learning without a formal degree.

Aleksa shares his experiences and provides valuable insights for anyone interested in AI. He highlights the importance of practical experience, participating in competitions, and self-learning. He also discusses the diverse roles within companies like DeepMind and emphasizes the value of personal drive and a strong project portfolio.

Throughout the episode, we touch on topics such as Aleksa's startup, Ortus, the future of AI in video creation, productivity tips, and the benefits of physical training. This episode is packed with valuable knowledge and inspiring stories.

To gain a deeper understanding of Aleksa's journey and explore the world of AI, I invite you to listen to the full podcast episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Tune in and be inspired by Aleksa's insights and experiences in the AI field!

2️⃣ AI Ethics with Auxane

Hey there, dear readers!

In today's super-fast world of artificial intelligence, there's this really important field called AI ethics. It's all about making sure we use AI technologies responsibly and ethically. As someone who's doing her PhD in AI Ethics, I wanted to share some thoughts on the upsides and downsides of diving into this fascinating field. 

Let's start with the good stuff!

Imagine being in a PhD program in AI Ethics. It's like being in an intellectual wonderland! You get to think critically, be creative, and explore all these complex ethical issues where AI and society meet. It's a chance to have mind-blowing debates and contribute to creating ethical guidelines for how we use AI. The conversations with colleagues and peers are really engaging, it feels like we’re doing something important! 

And here's the really cool part: with a PhD in AI Ethics, you can make a real impact! You'll get to tackle real-world ethical challenges that come with AI technologies. By doing rigorous research, you'll have the power to (hopefully) shape policies, influence how industries work, and even help create societal norms. You'll make sure that AI systems are built and used in a way that respects human values, is fair, transparent, and accountable. This is the goal anyway, but I think we need to believe this is what we can achieve to keep the motivation up! 

And that's not all! AI Ethics is a field where you get to work with all sorts of experts from different backgrounds. You'll collaborate with folks who are into computer science, philosophy, law, sociology, and psychology. That means you'll get to broaden your horizons and look at complex ethical problems from all these different perspectives. It's like putting together a dream team! In the meantime, you’ll also learn to communicate your ideas in different ways, to reshape your language for it to be accessible to all, etc. This is a skill you’ll keep for your entire life and that will be useful anywhere you go! 

And guess what? There's a rising demand for people who know their stuff in AI Ethics. Industries, governments, and research institutions are realising the need for ethical oversight when it comes to developing and using AI. So, if you have a PhD in AI Ethics, you should have plenty of exciting career options. You could go into academia, work in industry research labs, join think tanks, policy organisations, or even consulting firms. The world will be your oyster!

Now, let's talk about the flip side of the coin, because there is always a flip side to that coin…

Doing a PhD is no walk in the park. It's a long and tough journey that'll require you to put in several years of dedicated research, coursework, and academic writing. It's a big-time commitment that calls for loads of patience, persistence, and time. So, before diving in, make sure you're ready for the long haul. Also, if you’re currently doing your PhD and feeling this real hard, hang in there and reach out to your peers. We’ve all been there, it gets better, and you can do it! It’s all about endurance! 

Also, AI Ethics is still a relatively new field. That means resources, research frameworks, and established methodologies might be limited compared to more well-established fields. As a PhD candidate, you might run into some challenges, like finding the right data, collaborating with industry partners, or getting mentorship from established researchers. So, you'll need to be self-motivated and adaptable to navigate these hurdles.

And finally, the career path after getting your PhD in AI Ethics might not be as clear-cut as in some other fields. AI Ethics is still evolving, and job opportunities can vary depending on where you are and what industry you're in. So, you'll need to be prepared for some uncertainty and be open to adapting to emerging opportunities.

So, there you have it—some things to consider when deciding whether to embark on a PhD in AI Ethics. It's all about weighing your passion, long-term career goals, and being aware of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This field offers exciting prospects for personal growth and making a positive impact on society, but it also requires grit and an open mind to tackle the ethical issues that AI brings to the table.

On a more personal note, I don’t regret taking this road at all. It gave me all the opportunities to grow, develop my interests, be the hyper curious person I am. I also want to highlight the community aspect to it. If you decide your PhD doesn’t have to be a solo road, then it won’t be - from my experience. I write papers with a lot of friends, and have the chance to grow from their teachings. We also have a lot of fun on the topics we address. And of course, I have the hope to make this world a better place through our research, but also through the teaching I have the chance to do, and each of my other smaller or bigger activities. I work hand in hand with companies, discussing with them real life issues, and finding solutions. And of course, you see me write here fairly often to talk about ethics stuff, and that’s always a pleasure! 

I hope this gives you a glimpse into what it's like to pursue a PhD in AI Ethics. Remember, no matter what path you choose, the world needs passionate individuals like you who are dedicated to making sure technologies are developed and used in a way that's ethical and responsible.

Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors! 

Until next time, keep exploring the frontiers of AI, and have a fantastic weekend! 

- Auxane Boch (TUM IEAI research associate, freelancer).

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Thank you for reading, and we wish you a fantastic week! Be sure to have enough rest and sleep!

Louis