‘Zero prior AI experience’: Elon Musk is hiring for SpaceX, and the internet has the best response

While Meta’s layoffs are raising eyebrows, Elon Musk has announced that he is hiring for SpaceX. ‘Zero prior AI experience’ is all it took for the internet to sit up and take notice.On Thursday, 21 May, Elon Musk made a big announcement on X that he is actively hiring world-class engineers and physicists for SpaceX AI, and they do not care if you have never worked in AI before. Yes, that’s right. AI experience is not required. But there is a catch: you need to convince them you are ‘exceptionally able’ by sending three bullet points. While tech giants are letting go of seasoned professionals who do not fit into the AI upgrade, Elon’s company is sticking with the basics. They are looking for pure problem-solving capabilities and telling candidates to learn AI on the fly.“SpaceX is actively hiring world-class engineers/physicists for SpaceX AI, even if you have zero prior experience in AI. Smart humans figure it out fast. Please send an email with ~3 bullet points demonstrating evidence of exceptional ability to ai_eng@spacex.com,” the Tesla and SpaceX boss said in an X post. Elon Musk may have opened the floodgates for a new wave of talent, and the internet, unsurprisingly, could not help but go into a frenzy.As soon as Elon Musk announced the hiring, the internet erupted. What happened next was pure comedy gold. Let’s take a look at some of the reactions.Since the aerospace and artificial intelligence company mentioned ‘evidence of exceptional ability’, one X user decided to show Musk exactly what an ‘exceptional ability’ résumé looks like when you take him at his word:“I would love to come and work there!Here’s my résumé:DM me if interested in more info!” One user brought some practical reality to the table and suggested, “You may want to put up a recruitment booth at the Walmart checkout lines because I keep seeing all these viral videos of potential astronaut candidates fighting each other for job applications! Low-hanging fruit, sorry, bud!”A third appreciated the straightforwardness of the approach. The X user lauded Musk for not fixating on prior experience at a time when even small firms are obsessed with it. “It’s interesting how easy the process looks, even without prior experience! Other small firms will ask for a résumé, a cover letter, blah blah, and ask for 20 years of work experience.”Another user cut to the heart of what they believe makes a SpaceX AI engineer. “The only three bullets demonstrating exceptional ability: Beyond the obvious jokes and sarcasm, some thoughtful observers raised genuine questions about what SpaceX is really looking for. “SpaceX AI hiring engineers with zero AI experience. What skills do you think will be most important here? I’m betting on maths/physics intuition!”In this season of layoffs, remember: if you have got three killer bullet points showcasing your exceptional ability, the door is apparently open!