From Academia to AI: Mas Abdi’s Journey with Easy Apply | Ep 174 | DevReady Podcast

In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis is joined by Mas Abdi, Founder of Easy Apply and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. Mas shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, providing insights into his work with generative AI, specifically focusing on variational autoencoders and GANs. He discusses the evolution of AI, particularly how large models have advanced AI capabilities. Additionally, Mas touches on the risks associated with AI-generated misinformation and introduces his startup Easy Apply, which uses AI to help job seekers tailor resumes and cover letters.

Mas explains how his background in AI and data science helped him identify opportunities for automating the resume creation process. Through his work developing AI-based products, he realised the need for a tool that simplifies resume customisation for job seekers. This led to the creation of Easy Apply, a platform that allows users to upload and tailor their resumes quickly to various job applications. By using AI to adjust resumes based on specific job descriptions, Easy Apply helps improve the chances of success for job seekers. Mas also introduces TalentRun, another AI platform aimed at helping recruiters filter through applications more efficiently.

As Easy Apply evolves, Mas shares how the platform began as a browser extension to simplify LinkedIn applications but has now grown to offer fully tailored resumes and cover letters. While the platform is seeing significant engagement, it is still in the testing phase for recruiter-side integration. He reflects on the competitive landscape of recruitment technology, acknowledging that many companies are already leveraging advanced tools such as AI-powered interviews and scheduling features.

Mas and Anthony discuss the importance of customer feedback in building a successful product, noting that while gathering user insights is crucial, startup founders must also trust their intuition to innovate effectively. They discuss how disruptive companies like Uber and Airbnb transformed their industries by staying true to their visions. Mas shares his experience with Easy Apply, emphasising that balancing feedback with intuition can lead to groundbreaking solutions in recruitment technology.

The conversation concludes with a discussion about the future of work and the role AI will play in reshaping job roles. Mas envisions a shift towards managing AI agents for various tasks, making multidisciplinary roles more prominent. Easy Apply is already helping job seekers tailor resumes, and Mas outlines future plans to expand its capabilities to include other document types. Both Mas and Anthony agree that while AI can handle many tasks, human oversight and interaction will remain essential for maintaining trust and adding nuance in the workplace.