Anthropic cofounder Tom Brown networked and self-studied his way into AI. He shared with us 5 career tips.

Tom Brown, a cofounder of Anthropic, has a remarkable story of resilience and networking in the field of artificial intelligence. Initially one of the first 20 employees at OpenAI, Brown's journey began with a less-than-stellar performance in a linear algebra course, where he scored a B-. Before making his mark in AI, he navigated through various startups, many of which received backing from the renowned accelerator Y Combinator. In an insightful exchange with Business Insider, after discussing his experiences on YC's 'Lightcone Podcast', Brown shared five essential career tips that helped shape his path in the tech industry. One of his early professional experiences was with Grouper, an app designed to facilitate group dates. Notably, Greg Brockman, OpenAI's cofounder and president, was an early supporter of Grouper, often posting about it in his social circles. This connection ultimately paved the way for Brown's entry into OpenAI. Brown emphasizes the significance of networking, stating, "Surround yourself with people you want to be like; you'll become more similar to them over time." He also highlighted the value of mentorship, advising that having a mentor or a collaborative group can make the learning process much more manageable. Before the launch of ChatGPT and the subsequent rise of AI in consumer products, Brown felt that engaging with large language models was daunting, often feeling that only top-tier talent could make a meaningful contribution. However, he realized that taking the leap to learn about AI research required courage. He dedicated six months to self-study to ensure he could contribute effectively. His advice includes knowing how to be helpful in your field. "Contact people doing the work you want to do and explain your plan for helping them," he advised. Brown also shared valuable resources from his self-study period, such as 'Linear Algebra Done Right' by Sheldon Axler and the Google DeepMind e-book 'How to Scale Your Model.' He utilized platforms like Coursera for courses and engaged with Kaggle projects to enhance his skills. After diligently working on his self-education, Brown reached out to Brockman regularly, expressing his desire to assist in any capacity at OpenAI. Despite initially starting on a gaming project, it took nearly nine months before he transitioned to machine learning tasks. In 2021, Brown left OpenAI alongside Dario Amodei and others to cofound Anthropic. Reflecting on his approach, he cautioned that the methods he employed might not be applicable in today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape. However, he encouraged aspiring AI professionals to take calculated risks and pursue projects that would impress their peers or align with an ideal version of themselves. Brown concluded with a straightforward mantra for young professionals: "The best way to get good at something is usually by doing it directly. Try it first, then identify where you need improvement." He also advised keeping personal expenses low to manage the uncertainties of a career in AI.