Matthew Discusses his Software Engineering Internship Working with AI
Matthew Chimitt | Undergraduate Intern | Texas, United States
Originally Published: July 26, 2024
My name is Matthew Chimitt. I go to the University of Texas at Dallas and am a computer science major. I run cross country and track there, and I like spending time in nature.
I’m a returning software engineering intern working on refreshing a project called Dell Chat. Most employees have seen the first edition, but we’re working on a second that’s more tailored towards customization. Dell Chat is an internal Dell tool that acts as a chat bot for Dell employees to increase productivity in their work. It offers the ability to create customized assistants that can be tailored to an employee’s specific business unit or use case and provides various features such as the capability of asking the assistant to access and utilize Dell documents, like those found on SharePoint, Confluence and more. There is already a version of Dell Chat available, however, what I have described is Dell Chat V2, which will be fully released relatively soon to all employees and has all of the features mentioned.
It’s been a really great experience. Traditionally, intern projects are solo, but a group of us are working alongside full-time employees. They treat us like we are a true part of the team. So far, the biggest takeaway is getting to see how real-world software engineering practices work, especially in a team that is looking at implementing technology that is constantly evolving and has a heavy focus right now.
Were you interested in AI before this role?
I’ve taken a few classes before at school related to AI. Ultimately, I’m not entirely sure of where I want to be in terms of a specialization, but getting AI experience is helpful and I like working with it, especially since it’s so new and is changing all the time. I really like learning, and it seems like it’s the place to be right now.
What’s something you’ve learned so far from your internship?
The biggest thing I’ve learned is working with other people. The group that I’m in is considered a dojo. They do extreme programming and everything is in a pair, so you’re always working with someone. It’s nice because you get to see what other people do. I’m learning how to work with others better and learning from those people, whether it’s big or little things. I learn a new technique to de-bug my code every week.
What was the transition like from life as a college student to working as an intern?
College, at least for computer science, is a lot more theoretical. As an intern, it’s a lot of learning as you go, whereas at school, someone is handfeeding you the information and what you need to learn. You don’t know what to expect day to day while you’re working.
What advice do you have for college students who might be interested in interning at Dell?
Asking questions is the biggest thing, even in the employment process. Recruiters are very willing to answer questions, and asking those questions shows interest. Asking questions during an internship is the most crucial thing you can do because you’re there to learn. That’s the ultimate goal.
How would you describe Dell’s culture?
A group of people who want to see you succeed. I don’t think I’ve met someone here who hasn’t tried to give me some sort of advice to be better or tried to encourage me. Everyone is incredibly helpful. They want to see all us interns do well and come back. It’s a culture where people try to uplift each other, which I really appreciate about the company.
Next, read about Lauren's experience as a finance intern.
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