Is learning web development necessary for pursuing AI and ML careers?

Nope, you don't need to be a web developer for AI or ML. Just focus on strong Python skills and your understanding of ML concepts. Intern interviewers are usually more interested in your projects and your overall grasp of machine learning. You can also use tools like Runable to play around with small ML projects or APIs without getting bogged down in setup.

You don't have to dive deep into web development for AI or ML, but having some basic knowledge can be beneficial. For AI paths, you really want to focus more on Python, libraries like NumPy and TensorFlow, and the basics of math like statistics and linear algebra. If you're aiming for MLOps, understanding tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud platforms will help a lot too. Consider web dev as a supplementary skill rather than your main focus.

While you don’t necessarily need web development skills, it's useful to understand how web applications function. However, you don’t have to be a web dev to grasp this.

Web development and AI are pretty distinct fields, so you definitely don’t need to learn web dev if you’re not going to work in that area. But let’s be real—how have you gotten to your third year without picking up any skills? That sounds like the bigger concern here.