I use GPT-4 every day, with a few exceptions, since it became available to me. I live in a small Finnish town and have a bachelor’s degree in computer networking. However, I didn’t have enough knowledge to get the job I wanted or to implement the complex projects I dreamed of. There was always the option of self-studying, but the speed at which I studied wasn’t sufficient. The slow progress wasn’t motivating, and initially, I wasn’t even considering studying anymore and was looking for a job. However, all that changed this year. Not only do I study much faster now, but the progress I make and the things I can now do further motivate me. I also feel like nothing is impossible. Knowing the limitations of GPT-4 and combining it with books and documentation, thoughtful prompt engineering produces good results. I can almost understand everything, just at a slower pace. I broaden field of my studies to a huge extend, I even code on C++ now! And… it is fun! I also tried non-IT topics and noticed the performance isn’t as good there, so I understand why the world isn’t recognizing its potential. But in IT… Good education costs about $60,000 (okay, there’s a broad range, but on average), so why would I pay that when I can learn all of it by myself? I’m using ChatGPT and also a third-party GPT-4 product. Other AIs aren’t as advanced; they show similar performance, but even the slightest increase in error rate can produce critically bad results for education. GPT-4 also makes errors, but its slightly lower error rate is invaluable in practice. I work with it so much that I can often sense when something’s off and I need to refer to the docs. The only thing I’m concerned about now is that with education becoming so available, its value will decrease, and I might not achieve my financial goals or might even struggle. But predicting the future is hard, so we’ll see. Anyway, what did I want to say? I guess I just wanted to speak out. Thank you for such a great product!
As a self-taught programmer with only a high school degree, I will tell you “because people won’t take you seriously for a very long time”. You have to put in like 10 times more work than someone with a degree of any sort to be honest.
So, yes, you can teach yourself, but people aren’t looking for unverifiable smart people, they are looking for verifiable competent people. I’d say people should still get a good education but use AI to help you. To be honest, other than a learning disability, if you have AI, there should be no reason not to get all As.
Wow, so you
I feel like you haven’t read my message.
I think you have misunderstood or I haven’t been clear. The “10 times harder” is in reference to the actual work you do compared to the work and capabilities of say a PhD with no real-world experience.
If I apply to a company as someone with 4 years of experience but no degree, I’ll have worse chances getting a job compared to the guy who has a bachelor but no experience. You have to work a lot of free hours and a second job to break into the industry. That’s the 10 times harder I’m referencing.
It comes down to “Who is going to hire me with no proof of my capability?”.
At my old job I was running circles around PhDs fresh off the press, but the only reason I was even considered was because I had 15 years of experience.
I agree with what you are saying, but in the end, the prestigious paper and the verification of basic competence is what companies are actually looking for. It’s slowly changing, but if I had to do it all over again, I would have just gone to school and took the debt. Or better yet, the coding bootcamps that now exist.
But yeah, I have a lot of hope for AI tutoring, especially considering the route I chose to take. You’re talking Ivy League level tutoring across the planet for hardly anything. But I worry about gate keeping and the necessity of a piece of paper for verification. If anything, I suspect there will be even more gate keeping as higher educated individuals feel threatened and the institutions that pump them out figure out how to stay relevant.
Let me assure you, at current level, my diploma didn’t feel like golden ticket compared to those who didn’t have it.
Also, I’m no expert in education, but Ivy league “feels” like 60k + huge amount of governmental subsidy, so we’re technically not talking about that level.
To be scientifically correct, we also need to evaluate other forms of gatekeeping, like connections and networking and so on.
From the field of applied sciences there is also a lot of benefit from the ability to build huge things that work, and while individual lacks of prestige of higher education, he gains ability to build spectacular systems that work and, potentially, make money. I, for example just opened form of business and doing some freelance.
Finally (im’copying chatGPT style right now) there is Pearson vue, which allows you to take exams online (they check your room with Webcam and monitor you through entire process). I already passed 3 fundamental Microsoft exams, and about 60% through Az-104 certification. If I would to buy that training in Helsinki, that would be a 1830€ for training, 4 days in workday time, let’s assume that is free, because I have to study anyway, 163€ in trawel time (I could work these hours instead), 135€ in fuel that totals 2128€ for cert and I 'm about to get 5 of them(4 cost exactly the same). So here are my numbers.
You need to demonstrate why someone should invest time and money into you, you do that either by building a useful, well received and used product, or you can do that via a University. Doing both if possible will get even more attention. From an investment in you perspective, you need to stand out from those around you and going for the same positions or investments.
Sure, it’s expensive but so is the time it would take to build a world class product, both will have similar results, one may be more preferable than the other, depending on the role/investment in question.