By TOI Education
Publication Date: 2026-01-04 07:23:00
When Emrick Donadei joined Google, AI was not part of his job description. His work, like that of many software engineers at the company a few years ago, had little to do with large language models or AI safety.“I wasn’t qualified for an AI role,” Donadei, now 32 and based in New York, told Business Insider. “I didn’t have the right credentials, and when I spoke with other teams, I felt a disconnect.”Today, Donadei works as a software engineer on AI safety at Google. His transition did not come from a formal degree in AI or a sudden promotion. It came from a decision to participate in a hackathon at a moment when the company itself was shifting direction.
From traditional engineering to LLMs
Donadei says the turning point came when ChatGPT’s release pushed Google to accelerate its focus on LLMs. As internal opportunities to switch roles opened up, he became curious about AI but doubted his eligibility.“Fundamentally, it’s similar to my last role,” he said,…
