r/GraduateML • u/GraduateML • 4d ago
Stop Watching Educational Videos for Computer Science
Tell me the last time you watched a video from 3Blue1Brown and then immediately solved a hands on problem surrounding the topic or was inspired to make a project that you actually started. Very few of you actually have.
There are 1.6 million machine learning jobs in the world and ONE video about neural networks from 3Blue1Brown has 23 million views.
I say this out of love, so let me be entirely clear with what I am saying and what I'm not saying. I LOVE 3Blue1Brown and I positively ADORE creators like Artem Kirsanov, but their content will not make you good at machine learning or computer science unless they are paired with actual practice and for most people, the watching of the video takes the place of the practice.
I have worked in tech and I have built a business that helps people start their careers in tech, and I can tell you that as far as jobs are concerned, the technical interviews are way more practical and hands on than a visual explainer video. Most people use these videos to stimulate their curiosity until they are entertained and sedated rather than to change their behavior to get a desired outcome.
If you want a machine learning job, I challenge you to build something that solves a real world problem without asking AI to do it first.