We believe that by providing up-to-date knowledge we can ensure our students' competitiveness in the labor market. That's why, during our courses, leading developers and recognized experts share their practical experiences with our students on several occasions, including Levente Szabados, an artificial intelligence expert.
Levente Szabados, who graduated as a programmer in the 90s, is a pioneering deep tech (scientific technology) leader with extensive experience in artificial intelligence, deep learning, data science, and cognitive sciences. He is the co-founder and scientific advisor of Neuron Solutions, a company that provides AI-related consulting, training, and customized system development services. He is also a respected academic, currently a lecturer at SRH Hochschule in Heidelberg, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, and a guest lecturer at Aivancity in Paris. True to his motto, "The mind is my profession," Levente combines his professional aspirations with his interest in Buddhist teachings and cognitive sciences.
You will have the opportunity to meet him in our upcoming course, where he will provide a closer look into the world of AI and share insights about his personal career journey.
I got my first computer in the 80s, and I was captivated by the world of computing from an early age. I decided back then that this would be my life's path. Although I briefly explored other directions, AI ultimately drew me back into the field of IT. For me, the study of the human mind is the most exciting, and artificial intelligence applications aim to model this.
From a practical standpoint, one only needs to look at how extensively digital tools are integrated into the operations of companies and organizations across industries. For instance, agriculture, which might not be immediately associated with technology, is reliant on an astonishing array of digital tools, including AI applications, for precise spraying and irrigation support. If artificial intelligence systems can play such a significant role even in a potato field, it is easy to imagine how important it is, for example, in the financial or energy sectors. The world simply could not move forward without computer scientists.
Moreover, beyond practical reasons, I find this field incredibly fascinating. Alan Turing once said that in programming, we model human thinking and try to transfer it to machines. This applies not only to AI but to programming in general. Examining the human mind is a wonderful thing, so programming is also an excellent field for self-improvement. During algorithmization, we break down a problem into elementary steps and seek solutions based on some mental strategy.
I took part in a research to help diagnose the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. By studying the brainwaves of mice and rats, we tried to identify patterns that could predict the development of the disease. Certain chemical interventions could produce Alzheimer's-like symptoms in these animals, and we investigated whether we could detect these signs of change in the functioning of the nervous system. It was fascinating to create a tool that treated patterns in the functioning of the nervous system as a predictive task, while also revealing connections that researchers could not even think of before.
The most valuable hard skill, in my opinion, is understanding a specific language or software not just at the surface level but also from the point of view of how the inventors of the system thought. This is often a secondary skill that isn't explicitly taught, but I believe it greatly aids in understanding why certain dialects exist in a language.
In terms of soft skills, the most important one is the ability to quickly adapt and gain a foothold in a new area. The tech world is constantly evolving, so developers also need to adapt over time. Success doesn't come from what we already know but from our ability to learn quickly.
AI is no longer the future; it is the present. The emergence of large language models not only affects how we create content, it clearly affects how we write code, as well as how we view the role of software development. Greater autonomy of software agents based on language models can bring a paradigm shift to software development, and it is very important to be a part of it.
Do, do, do. Learning to program in theory is a painful and slow process. You truly understand a system when you interact with it and make mistakes a few times. The difference between an experienced programmer and a less experienced one isn't that the former doesn't make mistakes, but that they wear a helmet when they do.
I would give the same advice for learning: you have to take action, try out ideas, and experiment. What's also important is not to stop at the point where something works. Learn why it works. I often tell data scientists, „Our work is interesting in two situations. One is when something doesn't work, and you need to understand why. The other is when something works, and you need to understand why."
There is a huge shortage of IT professionals on the market, which I also observe, and surveys support this claim. Companies often find themselves unable to start an IT project because they lack the necessary talent. We can only fill this gap with education.
Additionally, I believe that knowledge is not something that exists solely in one person's mind. It is maintained through dialogue and reflection among many people. If people stop talking about a particular technology, it essentially dies out. A prime example of this is the Fortran language: there is practically no conversation about it, which is why there are very few professionals willing to maintain systems written in Fortran, even though they are still running critical banking transaction systems today. We can prevent this phenomenon by involving new people in the conversation, and the best way to do that is through teaching.
A rugalmasság mára megkerülhetetlen szerepet kapott a vállalati működésben. Akár növekedés előtt álló üzletágról, akár új technológiai igényről van szó, az időben meghozott döntés hosszú távú versenyelőnyt jelenthet. Ilyen esetre hatékony megoldás egy speciális, vállalati képzés elindítása.
The demand for tailor-made software has perhaps never been higher. There is now an app for almost everything, for any aspect of our personal or professional life. Yet, companies and users are always looking for more and more, and new ideas are being created and implemented.
He studied to be a lawyer and became a dental technician. Then he realized that due to the incredible advancements in technology, there would be an ever-decreasing demand for human work. Richárd Szabó completed the Green Fox course and has been working as a junior developer for the past one year. He managed to fully realize his plan to start working in his new career before he turns 30.
In cooperation with our corporate partner, Morgan Stanley Budapest, we are launching an exceptional scholarship program in April 2022. Within the framework of Java Academy corporate boot camp, we are choosing 15 talented students interested in Java and server-side programming and giving them the chance to restart their careers as back-end developers – for free.
Green Fox has become a strong international company and is building a regional IT talent pool. We have international courses and provide international opportunities for our students and corporate partners. We continue to build our market-leading role in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The rapid change in development needs and technologies, a shortage of quality workforce, and the difficulty of retaining colleagues with valuable professional skills are major challenges for companies worldwide. How to give a unique answer to a global problem? Who is responsible for the management of this problem, and where should you start? We discussed all these questions with Anita Fachs, who is the managing director in charge of corporate services at Green Fox.