Patryk and Antoni have been interning in the AI department for a month now. Today, we've discovered their internship expectations and surprises 

Patryk, AI Intern

Hi, my name is Patryk, and I'm a recent graduate in computer science from the Opole University of Technology. So far, I've mainly focused on web development topics in my studies. However, when the opportunity arose, I decided to try my hand in the field of AI. I've been on an internship for about a month now.  

Expectations

At the beginning, when I started my internship in the AI department, I had a certain level of knowledge about AI. However, I wasn't sure about the exact nature of my role and what would be expected of me. I hoped to have a chance to learn and develop my skills, but I wasn't certain about the specific projects that awaited me. 

Reality 

In reality, working as an intern in the AI department turned out to be not only an opportunity for learning but also an intense teamwork. Collaborating with other AI specialists has become an integral part of my daily work. Meetings, discussions, and solving problems together are the foundation of our work. This allows us to gain experience, share knowledge, and learn the importance of communication within a team. 

Expectations

I assumed that my main tasks would involve coding and creating models. 

Reality

Apart from coding, I also have the opportunity to work on data collection and processing, as well as result analysis. Another significant aspect is research to find the most suitable solutions. 

Expectations

I thought I would mainly work on deep learning and neural network projects. 

Reality 

In reality, it’s actually more interesting than I expected. Working in the AI department can cover various areas. These include natural language processing, image analysis, recommendation systems, and many, MANY others. 

Expectations

I didn't expect to have direct control over every aspect of a project. 

Reality

We have a lot of flexibility when it comes to the project and technology we want to use. We can provide our input, propose solutions, and also test them. 

Expectations

I didn't anticipate that I would be creating articles. 

Reality

Already within the first month, I had the opportunity to assist in creating several articles and sections of a larger report. 

Antoni, AI Intern

Hi, my name is Antoni, and I'm an intern in the Artificial Intelligence department in the role of a Machine Learning Engineer. I joined BCF after completing two years of studies when I was looking for my first job in the IT industry. Currently, I'm working with large language models (such as GPT), exploring their potential, and keeping up with the latest advancements in this field. My goal is to apply these tools to simplify some tasks performed by humans. 

Expectation

As an intern, I expected to receive mundane and uninteresting tasks. 

Reality

After two weeks of onboarding, I was assigned to a project where we, as interns, have the opportunity to independently explore new technologies and experiment with their applications. We use solutions that have emerged in recent months during the AI research wave, which don't have many available case studies. It's definitely not boring work, and I have the chance to grow. 

Expectation

I thought I would primarily work with code and documentation. 

Reality

Communication, both with other team members and software users, is crucial and is a part of my daily work. Additionally, working in AI involves spending time on data acquisition and processing. I also occasionally get tasks to write text for reports or marketing materials. 

Expectation

I believed I would only "write code" without creative tasks and would work with rigidly defined, proven technologies and tools. 

Reality

Part of my tasks is to search for technologies (libraries, language models) suitable for the project. Our supervisor ensures that the project is heading in the right direction but doesn't impose specific solutions or methods. 

Expectation

I expected a hierarchical and rigidly regulated work environment. 

Reality

BCF has a friendly atmosphere, which made me quickly feel like a member of the team and the company. The flat organizational structure positively influences communication, and the flexible approach to work organization turned out to be more than just a slogan.