Hi! I’m Alex and I worked at Intel in Summer of 2022 as a SMG Data Science intern. I worked specifically on predictive forecasting for staggered demand data. This type of data is complex and varied by customer, season, and processor line. As a part of my experience, I worked in Intel’s MAAD team (Machine learning, advanced analytics, and data) which consisted of specialists and data scientists from MIT and UC Berkeley.

My project has messy data that needed to be cleaned and distilled down before any modeling could begin. There were many points of non-quantitative data that needed to be quantified as weights so that we could logically factor them into any modeling. I also realized that even with 8gbs of RAM, my Lenovo Thinkpad couldn’t handle the millions of lines in Intel’s excel data file.

My teammate and I eventually delivered a model that was about 80% accurate at forecasting demand data for a single processor line by one month. I was sad knowing that I fell way short of target but better knowing that I still could deliver something tangible. I learned a lot of takeaways: to be realistic and set expectations, be patient with IT, and to always have enough RAM starting an internship.

I would truly say to do as many projects as you possible can and actively learn by doing. There are plenty of opportunities to learn that are better than just passively copying someone off Youtube. There are coding competitions, hackathons, and tournaments like the USACO that require you to be creative with problem solving. I’d also recommend working with more dynamic programming techniques.

In this field, people can get so mentally caught up on not being good enough or they worry about other people being better than them. I personally consider my professors and friends to be the best sources of material to learn from and I also think being better together is much better compared to constantly putting unnecessary stress and pressure on yourself. No one wants to work with negative energy, so it’s important to be compassionate and smart. GO build cool things.

Read more HERE from the New York Times.

Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.), has launched an investigation into the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices at Comcast. This scrutiny is part of a broader review of DEI practices at multiple regulated companies, with Comcast as the starting point.

Carr’s action follows his previous investigations into public broadcasters and news entities, which have been criticized as politically motivated efforts aligned with former President Trump’s agenda. Comcast has acknowledged the inquiry and expressed willingness to cooperate. Critics argue that the F.C.C.’s focus should instead be on bridging the digital divide and fostering innovation. Read more HERE from the New York Times.

Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, is laying off 3,600 employees, or 5% of its workforce, citing performance issues. These layoffs affect various global locations, although some European countries are exempt due to local laws. The company is targeting those deemed “lowest performers” and plans to refocus its hiring on critical roles like machine learning engineers. This move is part of a broader trend in Silicon Valley, with companies like Workday and Salesforce also announcing cuts. Read more HERE from Fox9.

If you’re into hackathons, then you should definitely look into Nosu, an active community of builders with engaging hackathons, networking opportunities with sponsors and participants, as well as a hackathon ideation tool.

Founded by Audrey Chen and Aidan Gollan, they both also have amazing inspirational content on their LinkedIn regarding their journey growing Nosu!

Their “Builder Persona” feature is also helpful for students to identify their strategic strengths, enhancing their creative processes, and collaborative potential. Check them out HERE!