Here are my questions:
1. Do you think people need to get a PhD degree to become useful research scientist in AI industry?
2. Do you think people need to get a PhD degree to become Member of Technical Staff (Machine Learning) in Open AI?
Thank you.
As far as formally completing a degree (i.e. getting a printed piece of paper that says Ph.D. next to my name) I find it practically irrelevant for either getting hired in the industry or being useful once hired. My 2c.
1. Not at all. You need to develop a consistent work schedule that will consist of researching papers, applying the knowledge, and writing your own. There is a lot of theory and practice. Very exciting time to be in AI.
What you need is time and the interest in doing it. Feel free to email me if you have questions (not a sales pitch, just being friendly).
This is similar to the state of physics in the 18th century. Significant discoveries were made by gentlemen researchers.
Today it is very difficult to advance the boundaries of older, more well-established scientific disciplines like physics or biology without a high level of training--if not a doctorate specifically, its equivalent in education and training. AI will get there eventually as well.
IMO software in general is in its infancy. We still build important computer programs the same way gunsmiths made guns in the 18th century--by hand, using intuition and art as much as science.
2. Definitely not!
I personally think these same skills can be found outside of PhDs.