I am reminded of Thomas Wolf’s essay on the ‘Einstein model’ in AI, where he argues that breakthrough discoveries often come from people who think outside established frameworks, yet our field tends to filter for conventional technical skills.
I’m new to AI safety, but I’ve noticed this tension in fellowship applications too. The MATS program (at least Neel’s track) allows non-programmers like me to contribute using existing skillsets, focusing on thoughtful research questions rather than just coding ability. In contrast, Anthropic Fellows requires strong programming skills and technical backgrounds upfront.
While I may not make it to later stages, the inclusive MATS process has been immensely fulfilling and lets me explore meaningful questions. If we believe paradigm shifts come from diverse perspectives, maybe Anthropic should consider similar flexibility in future editions, unless I’ve misunderstood the program’s purpose.
I am reminded of Thomas Wolf’s essay on the ‘Einstein model’ in AI, where he argues that breakthrough discoveries often come from people who think outside established frameworks, yet our field tends to filter for conventional technical skills.
I’m new to AI safety, but I’ve noticed this tension in fellowship applications too. The MATS program (at least Neel’s track) allows non-programmers like me to contribute using existing skillsets, focusing on thoughtful research questions rather than just coding ability. In contrast, Anthropic Fellows requires strong programming skills and technical backgrounds upfront.
While I may not make it to later stages, the inclusive MATS process has been immensely fulfilling and lets me explore meaningful questions. If we believe paradigm shifts come from diverse perspectives, maybe Anthropic should consider similar flexibility in future editions, unless I’ve misunderstood the program’s purpose.