Internships and AI: Advice From Interns at Amazon, Salesforce and X
At the 2024 AI Connect K-12 Data Science Conference, interns from Amazon, Salesforce and X described their roles, free ways to learn AI, and how to apply in a tough market. They also said ChatGPT can help with resumes if students keep their own voice.
By The AI Enterprise Magazine Team4 min read
Key takeaways
- Fundamentals first. Interns pointed to math, statistics and problem solving as the base for AI and data science.
- Free learning paths. Panelists named Trailhead, Kaggle, LeetCode and online university AI courses.
- Apply widely. Suraparaju called the market a numbers game and suggested looking beyond tech industries.
- Use ChatGPT, keep your voice. It can brainstorm bullets, but identical AI cover letters blend together.
- Network personally. Khajuria advised building real relationships, not just chasing job openings.
At the 2024 AI Connect K-12 Data Science Conference, three college students with summer internships at Amazon, Salesforce and X told younger attendees how they learned AI skills, found their roles and prepared for competitive applications. Rey Deshpande, an intern at AI Connect who helped organize the conference, moderated what she called the first intern panel the event had hosted.
The panelists were Krish Suraparaju, a Carnegie Mellon University student interning at Amazon; Sanjana Khajuria, an Indiana University Kelley student interning at Salesforce; and Akash Kura, a UCLA student interning at X.
What do interns at Amazon, Salesforce and X actually do?
Suraparaju, who studies math and computer science, was a software engineering intern at Amazon. He said his work did not directly involve using AI. Instead, his team builds the cloud systems and servers behind a large data store, which he put at about 50 terabytes. The systems let field teams send data in at scale and let data scientists and AI teams use it, he said.
Khajuria, who studies information systems and informatics, was an IT product management intern at Salesforce. She described the job as building road maps, talking with business partners and software engineering teams, and planning timelines. "It's just a lot of communication," she said.
Kura, a rising junior who moved from economics and cognitive science into data science, worked on strategy and data analytics at X. He worked on the X API platform and spoke with clients about using analytics to promote their businesses.
How can students learn AI outside the classroom?
Khajuria said her classes covered the technical, social and ethical sides of AI, but she gained deeper knowledge during her internship. Before an internship, she recommended Trailhead, Salesforce's learning platform, which she said offers modules and learning paths on recent topics.
Kura said math is the foundation, naming linear algebra, pattern recognition and machine learning as concepts to learn. He recommended Kaggle and LeetCode for practice and suggested asking ChatGPT or Gemini to teach AI.
Suraparaju added that many colleges post flagship AI courses online with lectures and homework, and he pointed to his school's intro to deep learning course. Understanding how algorithms work in theory, he said, makes them easier to apply anywhere.
Does a computer science degree prepare you for AI?
Suraparaju said his degree did not give him direct AI skills. What it did give him were problem-solving skills, including breaking a complex task into simpler ones. He said those skills carry over to AI.
All three agreed that school matters less than effort. Kura said many schools offer similar knowledge and "it kind of starts with you." Suraparaju said college is a time when your only job is to learn as much as possible, and that learning continues after graduation. Khajuria encouraged joining clubs and taking leadership roles to build communication and teamwork skills.
How do you find an internship in a competitive market?
Responding to a viewer asking about data science bootcamp graduates, Kura advised practicing LeetCode, keeping a resume clear and succinct, and applying everywhere, including company websites. Suraparaju said it has become "more of a numbers game" and that students should apply to every opening they can. He also suggested looking beyond tech to healthcare, manufacturing and other industries that need data work.
Deshpande said all the panelists had sent many applications, and she told viewers it would be a hard process but that every panelist found a way to stand out.
Khajuria stressed networking, quoting the line "your network is your net worth." She advised getting to know people personally rather than going in just to get a job.
Should you use ChatGPT on resumes and cover letters?
The panelists said it can help, with limits. Khajuria advised writing quantifiable, personal bullet points tailored to each company. Kura said not to use AI to create a cover letter or resume, but it can help tighten wording.
Suraparaju said ChatGPT follows patterns, so many applicants get nearly identical letters. He pastes in a job description, asks for bullet points to consider and then picks what to include. Deshpande said every panelist raised a hand when asked if they had used ChatGPT on a resume, but told students to add their own voice.
What would the panelists tell their younger selves?
In a rapid-fire close, Khajuria wished she had started exploring careers before freshman year. Kura said to focus on math and statistics. Suraparaju agreed that math and problem solving apply in any tech role, and said students do not need to lock into a career in high school.
Explore more with AI Connect
AI Connect also runs 24 free live webinars on its 2027 schedule, in four series: the AI × Enterprise Panel Series, AI Demo Days, Agentic AI Showcases and the Plug & Play Series. See the webinars page for details. Registration for 2027 events is coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can students learn AI before an internship?
Panelists suggested Salesforce's Trailhead, Kaggle, LeetCode, free university AI courses posted online and asking ChatGPT or Gemini to teach concepts.
Do you need a computer science degree to work in AI?
Suraparaju said his degree did not give direct AI skills but built problem-solving skills that transfer. Kura said learning depends on effort more than school.
How can you stand out with ChatGPT-written applications?
Khajuria advised quantifiable, personal bullet points tailored to each company. Panelists said to use ChatGPT to brainstorm and edit, then add your own voice.
Which industries hire data scientists besides tech?
Suraparaju named healthcare and manufacturing as non-tech industries that need similar data work.
This article is based on remarks by Rey Deshpande, Intern, AI Connect (moderator); Krish Suraparaju, Software Engineering Intern, Amazon (Carnegie Mellon University); Sanjana Khajuria, IT Product Management Intern, Salesforce (Indiana University Kelley); Akash Kura, Strategy and Data Analytics Intern, X (UCLA) at AI Connect K-12 Data Science Conference 2024 on July 25, 2024. More coverage: More AI Connect Events.
Filed under: People, Culture & Leadership, AI Use Cases & Applications
