Better.sg’s AI/ML Mentorship Programme has officially launched!

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After months of preparation, Better.sg’s second run of AIML Mentorship Programme is officially underway! Our first virtual session took place on 20 Aug, where 76 participants tuned in to hear from mentors Weilie and Wei Jing. 

Pivoting into AI/ML, Is It Really Possible?

Weilie’s journey is proof that the answer is yes. Graduated with a degree in sociology, he led Schemes.sg with Better.sg’s volunteers before moving into Gen AI prototype development at the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). (Schemes.sg is currently led by another volunteer Eugene Kim.)

His talk, “Pivoting from Social Science to AI/ML” reminded us that not every AI/ML professional starts with a technical background. He left us with three key takeaways:

1. A pivot builds on what you already have. Your background isn’t a baggage — it’s what makes you stand out. Think of it as being a “two-for-one package” for future employers.

2. No single course covers it all. He likened structured learning to an investment portfolio — balance time, cost, and quality across different experiences to build a strong foundation.

3. Stay the course. Consistent practice compounds like returns. Projects you enjoy and share with others turn learning into a habit — one that pays “programming dividends.” 

Getting Started with Your AI/ML Portfolio

Our next mentor, Wei Jing, shared practical tips for building an AI/ML portfolio aligned with your role of interest. He recommended projects and competitions, and highlighted useful resources you can leverage on. 

Notable examples are 

• Hugging Face — open-source models and learning materials
• Google Colab — project development with cloud resources
• Github — version control, integration and deployment. 

What resources have been most helpful in your own AI/ML journey? Share your recommendations in the comments of our LI post! 

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning. This programme runs bi-weekly, bringing on mentors to explore different aspects of AI/ML. 

📅 Next session: 3 Sep, 7pm-8pm, on Zoom

🔗 Sign up

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🙏 Special thanks to Weilie and Wei Jing for kickstarting the first session with such insightful sharing, and for letting us include parts of their decks in this recap!