In the tech world, diplomas are beginning to be replaced by talent and results. Gabriel Petersson, a high school dropout, managed to become an OpenAI engineer solely through ChatGPT. Having self-taught complex doctoral-level AI knowledge, he now plays a critical role on the company’s Sora video production model.

The Secret of a Young OpenAI Engineer with ChatGPT

A guest on the podcast “Extraordinary,” Petersson argues that universities no longer have a monopoly on fundamental knowledge. He believes you can acquire all the fundamental knowledge you need from AI tools. Petersson, who learned coding out of necessity after dropping out of high school in Sweden, joined OpenAI in December after experiencing Midjourney and Dataland.

Problem-Focused Learning Method
The young engineer describes his approach to learning as “top-down.” Instead of starting with theory as in traditional training, he first defines a project and then writes the code into ChatGPT. He resolves any errors he encounters, again with the help of the model, while understanding the underlying logic of the system piece by piece. Petersson emphasizes that companies are now looking less at a degree and more at how you can make money and whether you can code.

This success story is actually part of a new trend in the industry. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated last month that he envies 20-year-old school dropouts and entrepreneurs. Similarly, Palantir CEO Alex Karp and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz argue that we are in a time where talent and results are more important than degrees.

So, what are your thoughts on this success story? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!