The pursuit of AI education—past, present, and future

Meet Sylvia Christie, our schooling partnerships supervisor who’s performed a number one function in increasing our scholarship programme, which has simply celebrated its five-year anniversary.

What was your path to DeepMind?

Earlier than DeepMind, I labored for a social goal startup that elevated entry to psychological healthcare. Then I received a job at a college alongside lecturers and college students. At that time, I realised I used to be in search of a ‘Goldilocks’ function that introduced collectively every part I cherished about these totally different environments – the velocity and pleasure of a tech startup, impact-focussed targets, and the fascination of working with good researchers. It appeared unattainable to mix all these items. Then, enter stage left: DeepMind.

Through the interview course of, I used to be shocked by how a lot the interviewers needed to get to know me and the way I associated to the tradition DeepMind was constructing. Individuals from all totally different backgrounds, disciplines, and approaches discover their technique to DeepMind, and having such an open dialogue in regards to the setting I’d be part of as a brand new worker made me really feel at house.

What drew you to the schooling workforce?

I imagine in guaranteeing that folks from all walks of life, and particularly these from underrepresented communities and backgrounds, are in a position to contribute to the event of AI. I’ve had the prospect to work on some actually particular tasks at DeepMind, however the scholarships programme is – by far – probably the most personally rewarding programme I’ve ever been concerned in. Each tutorial yr, we get to see the brand new crop of proficient AI students develop into a part of a global neighborhood of scholars and mentors. It’s an extremely particular second – and I can’t wait to see what all of them obtain sooner or later!

How would you describe the scholarship programme in a single sentence?

The DeepMind scholarship programme goals to take away limitations for college students from underrepresented backgrounds who need to pursue postgraduate research in synthetic intelligence (AI) and associated fields.

What’s your typical day like? And your workforce?

My days are at all times a combination. I wish to have a little bit of focus time each day to advance project-based or planning work, however the remainder of the time will be full of conferences, workforce catch-ups, or talking to college students and our companions at universities around the globe. It’s tremendous different, and by no means boring.

We’re a comparatively new workforce, so we’ve had the chance to create our group tradition from the beginning. Personally, I discover the schooling partnerships workforce to be considerate, respectful, and enjoyable! We’ve grown loads too. Within the final yr, we’ve welcomed workforce members to assist launch six new partnerships and increase our schooling programmes.

What’s the largest problem your workforce faces?

Discovering the precise methods for DeepMind to make a constructive influence is a very powerful problem. We have to be sure that our work drives actual change within the wider neighborhood and for AI schooling extra usually. It’s a very good problem to have as a result of it’s a possibility as effectively.

How did you have a good time the five-year anniversary?

We held a Students Summit. It’s a digital celebration of the programme, and the superb mentors, college students, and alumni. It was an amazing week with incredible panel discussions with DeepMinders and trade and tutorial audio system.

We additionally launched our AI By You film series, the place a few of our students shared their concepts and insights on what AI means to them. The collection additionally contains the brief cinematic movie under as a brand new manner of talking to audiences in regards to the scholarship programme in a artistic manner. I’m so pleased with the students concerned and the superb work of our workforce. Watch all six movies at deepmind.com/scholarships.

What’re your greatest learnings now that the scholarship programme is 5 years previous?

How essential collaboration is. The Scholarships programme wouldn’t be potential with out our superb college companions around the globe, plus contributions from folks throughout DeepMind – together with those that initiated the programme in 2017 and the mentors who volunteer every year. And naturally, the exhausting work of the students themselves.

To this point, we’ve had over 335 students come by our programme. This tutorial yr, we’ll be welcoming as much as 115 new students at 26 tutorial establishments in 13 nations, so it’s actually thrilling to see the programme going from power to power every year.

Any recommendation to college students excited by making use of for a DeepMind Scholarship? Or a task at DeepMind?

Potential students – preserve checking our website! The scholarship software course of and deadlines differ, college by college, so our web site is the most effective place to remain up to date.

To these in search of a task at DeepMind – don’t depend your self out. I usually hear from individuals who say it feels intimidating. The imposter syndrome is actual, and it’s for me as effectively, to this present day. However when you care in regards to the mission, and are keen about your work, go for it!