AI startup’s viral job post backfires, floods inbox with resumes

Sudarshan Kamath, the founder of Smallest AI, found himself in an unexpected predicament after his job listing on X gained massive traction. The post, which advertised a full-stack developer position with an annual salary of ₹40 lakh, emphasized that academic background and resumes held no significance. Instead, applicants were asked to share a brief 100-word introduction along with links to their work.

The response was overwhelming. Within minutes, Kamath’s inbox was inundated, receiving an astonishing five to six applications every 60 seconds. While widespread attention is usually desirable, in this case, it turned the hiring process into chaos. Struggling to sift through the avalanche of responses, Kamath announced that he would deploy a large language model (LLM) to automatically screen and shortlist suitable candidates.

His unconventional hiring approach, which prioritizes demonstrable skills over formal education, has always been the company’s philosophy. Kamath clarified that this wasn’t a publicity stunt but rather the standard way Smallest AI recruits talent. He highlighted that his team includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, including self-taught coders, former entrepreneurs, and even college dropouts.

Despite the unintended hiring challenge, Kamath’s post has sparked a wider discussion about non-traditional recruitment methods in the tech industry, proving that expertise can emerge from any background.

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