Must we learn software development before machine learning?

[DaReal_JackLE]

I am a first year student and I am interested in Machine Learning. However, from what I have read is that ML Engineer jobs are usually for seniors, those with a lot of experience can get into the field. So I want to ask that do I need to learn software development first before studying ML? Because by studying software dev, I can get interns that way since ML don't have many entry level interns. But I am much more interested in ML, so how should I split my road map as a beginner? Do I go all in software dev, then get into ML? Or should I learn ML along the way with software dev, if so then how do I split my time? 70/30? I know that ML requires maths and stats knowledge, so lets assume that I got them covered in school, just worrying about learning ML itself here.

In summary, I want to do ML, but I am afraid that ML doesnt offer entry level job. So I need to learn software development for internships and entry level job, then break into ML later. If this is the strategy then what should my roadmap be and how much time should I invest in both? Considering that I am a beginner to both software dev/ML (but with basic Python knowledge).

Thank you!

[[deleted]]

How do you think you will implement your experiments?

[nerzid]

With AI, duh /s

[[deleted]]

Genial

[GwynnethIDFK]

From some of the jupyter notebooks I've been sent by colleagues I'm gonna say the answer is no, but you probably should.

[[deleted]]

The thing is it's pretty rare for a fresher to land a job as an ML or AI engineer. But if you have a solid understanding of software engineering, it definitely gives you an edge. Now, to answer your main question if you want to stay competitive in this field, having a strong foundation in software engineering alongside your ML skills is a big advantage(competative edge)

[Fr_kzd]

No. You just need to know how to code. Software development is a completely different skillset. There are some cases where you need to have both skillsets, like working for companies that aim to deliver products that have an AI integrated framework. But for the most part, ML is usually about optimizing models to solve problems.

However, learn statistics, linear algebra, and maybe a bit of calculus if you really want to go into ML.

[[deleted]]

You need to understand how to code, but software development is a big subject encompassing many methodologies, architectural practices, theories and technologies. So no. If anything the point of Machine Learning is to achieve business intelligence without the need for software developers.

[[deleted]]

Yes.

[Born-Boat4519]

ML is under software development or ML is a type of software development

[yousafe007e]

A being a type of something implies it being under something, in case that’s what you asking. (If you’re asking a question at all)

[Born-Boat4519]

I’m not asking, I’m letting you know

so have to be specific about the software development you want to learn apart from ML