OpenAI has selected a group of experienced software developers to participate in its OpenAI Scholars program. The first class of scholars is currently undergoing training, with the goal of transitioning from software development to machine learning practice. The program allows participants to work on real-world projects and receive mentorship from OpenAI engineers. --- Why it matters: This matters because it demonstrates a growing effort to bridge the gap between software development and AI research, which can lead to more practical applications of machine learning in industry. Source: https://openai.com/index/openai-scholars-2018-meet-our-scholars