I'll note that my MS was hugely useful and didn't result in publications directly. The mileage of your MS or PhD is dependent on many factors.
OpenAI and Google Brain, like most other more research driven deep learning institutions, are more interested in the results you can produce rather than the accreditation you hold. Publications obviously count but well used or written deep learning projects / packages would too. Many PhDs who come out having spent many years in academia still wouldn't get an offer from these places and many of the talented people I know in these places don't have a PhD either.
To the parent of this post, I'd also look into what I'd refer to as "Masters in industry" i.e. Google Brain Residency[1] and other similar opportunities. From their page, "The residency program is similar to spending a year in a Master's or Ph.D. program in deep learning. Residents are expected to read papers, work on research projects, and publish their work in top tier venues. By the end of the program, residents are expected to gain significant research experience in deep learning.". This is likely an even more direct path than most institutions would provide. Though obviously the competition is fierce, many of my friends who participated in this ended up with a paper in a top tier conference by the end of the.
OpenAI and Google Brain, like most other more research driven deep learning institutions, are more interested in the results you can produce rather than the accreditation you hold. Publications obviously count but well used or written deep learning projects / packages would too. Many PhDs who come out having spent many years in academia still wouldn't get an offer from these places and many of the talented people I know in these places don't have a PhD either.
To the parent of this post, I'd also look into what I'd refer to as "Masters in industry" i.e. Google Brain Residency[1] and other similar opportunities. From their page, "The residency program is similar to spending a year in a Master's or Ph.D. program in deep learning. Residents are expected to read papers, work on research projects, and publish their work in top tier venues. By the end of the program, residents are expected to gain significant research experience in deep learning.". This is likely an even more direct path than most institutions would provide. Though obviously the competition is fierce, many of my friends who participated in this ended up with a paper in a top tier conference by the end of the.
[1]: https://www.google.com/about/careers/search#!t=jo&jid=147545...