Comment by mattfrommars
15 days ago
I'm just curious for folks who have read through the material OP suggested as well as, the book linked in this HN thread, are your guys primary motivation to understand and fill in that curiosity part of your head vs making a career out of this?
Is it reasonable to think that if one grinds to the book suggested here and background in web/dev SWE, one can break into ML/AI role?
Most ML/AI roles have requirements for a strong mathematical background (at least what I have seen in germany).
If you can show off some skills I still wouldnt completely rule it out. Reading a single book cover to cover wont cut it though imo.
If you have an undergraduate’s understanding of calculus and linear algebra, you’re as or more advanced than the legion of ML PhD candidates I see graduating all the time. A field like that is running on hype, and has no quality control at all. I’ve seen people get hired into Ivy League tenure track jobs without knowing how linear algebra really works.
I know ML PhD candidates with a very strong understanding of mathematics and statistic, but it might depend on where you are.