Rakshith Thuraga spent his summer at GM doing what he loves: building, learning, and racing go karts. A USC senior studying computational math and computer science, he’s interning with the Commercial Software team in Mountain View, where he’s helping develop an AI-powered assistant to help GM fleet managers.
From tackling real-world engineering challenges to racing go-karts with his mentors, Rakshith brings curiosity, collaboration, and a drive to grow — and he made the most of his time here.
Where are you going to school and what are you studying?
I’m at the University of Southern California (USC), majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science. I’ll be starting my senior year this fall.
What got you interested in that field?
Both my parents are software engineers, so I grew up around computer science and naturally developed an interest in it.
I chose Applied and Computational Mathematics as my major to keep the door open for pursuing machine learning in the future.
What sparked your interest in GM specifically?
GM’s mission of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion really stood out to me. The ambition behind it made me feel like working here would always bring new challenges and opportunities to make a real impact.
I also wanted to be part of a team that pushes for progress and never settles.
What do you do in your internship role?
I’m a software engineer intern on the data platform team, focusing on AI.
My main project is helping build an application that lets fleet managers analyze and gain insights from their data through a chat-based interface.
What’s been your favorite part about interning at GM so far?
Work-wise, definitely the AI project I mentioned – it’s the most exciting thing I’ve ever worked on. It combines my passion for AI and full-stack development.
Outside of that, the go-karting event with other interns was probably the most fun I’ve had here. And yes, the Mountain View office snacks are a nice perk, too.
Rakshith has an enlightening moment in a quiet corner of GM’s Mountain View office location.
How was the go karting event? Sounds fun.
The event was organized by our intern manager, Erica Hammett, and brought together interns from both the Mountain View and Sunnyvale offices. I even got to race alongside one of my mentors, Chris Latko.
The first round was a qualifier, and the second was structured like an F1 race. It was a blast, even if overtaking was tough.
What challenges did you face during your internship, and how did they help you grow?
The usual challenges of software engineering — debugging, documentation, and making sure my pull requests met the team’s standards — pushed me to grow.
I also had to adapt to shifting priorities, which taught me how to write better production code and stay flexible.
Most importantly, I learned a lot from my mentors and manager, who brought deep experience and guidance to every step.
Do you have a favorite GM brand or vehicle?
I’ve really enjoyed seeing the F1 concept car on display at the Mountain View office, especially with GM entering F1 in 2026. But if I had to pick, I’d say Corvettes. They’re just incredible sports cars.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
I like bowling, karting, basketball, pickleball, and hiking. While in Mountain View, I also got into playing board and card games with my roommates, which has been a lot of fun.
What kind of board games do you like?
I really enjoy social deception games like Avalon or Fakin’ It, where you’re trying to figure out who’s on the other team. Jackbox and Codenames are also favorites.
What’s your favorite AI platform and why?
Probably ChatGPT. It’s useful for everything from emailing and debugging to even stock and options trading.
Rakshith sits down for a photo opportunity at the GM Tech Center in Mountain View, CA.
What lessons have you learned at GM that will help you grow, personally and professionally?
I’ve learned that communication is just as important as code, especially when collaborating with other engineers on the same project.
I’ve also grown a lot as a developer thanks to my manager and mentors, who have helped me sharpen my coding skills and engineering mindset.
Would you like to give a shout out to your mentors?
Definitely — Chris Latko, Edison Chen, and my manager, Sid Feygin.
Chris guided me on the data engineering side, while Edison focused more on AI. They made the whole process fun, challenging, and rewarding. Plus, they’ve always been approachable and easy to talk to.
If you return to GM, what areas would you like to work in?
I’d love to return to the data platform team I’m on now and continue working on AI initiatives across GM, especially those connected to data.
What attracted you to AI in general?
The rapid pace of advancement really drew me in, especially since the first version of GPT came out. It’s been motivating to see how quickly AI is being adopted and making a difference across industries.
From your point of view, how does GM fit in the current landscape of AI?
I think GM is very well-positioned.
Backed by one of the world’s largest vehicle fleets, GM can validate AI models against real-world conditions at scale. What stood out to me is GM’s emphasis on safety and trust — not just speed — in developing reliable solutions.
How so?
GM integrates AI across the organization, making innovations practical and impactful, while also staying competitive through strong partnerships with top tech companies.
On a personal level, I’ve seen my mentors and manager actively encourage new AI projects, which makes the work even more exciting.
On the final day of his internship, Rakshith enjoys the sights of GM’s Mountain View Tech Center after meeting with his mentors.
How has the culture at GM’s Mountain View office been, besides the snacks?
Very welcoming. Everyone’s supportive and approachable, and I often get lunch with my coworkers. It’s also fast-paced, with projects moving quickly, so there’s always something new to learn. Overall, it’s a great environment to be part of.
What’s your advice for anyone who’s interning at GM?
Set up regular check-ins with your manager and mentors to make sure you’re on the right track.
Don’t dive all-in on an idea without first getting feedback — especially on bigger tasks. Communicating your approach early helps you build better solutions and learn faster.
Last question: how does GM's culture create a thriving environment for emerging engineers?
A few things stand out. First, GM provides strong documentation that helps you sharpen your skills as an engineer.
Second, the culture is highly collaborative. At the Mountain View office, the open desk setup makes it easy to ask questions or get feedback from teammates and mentors. Slack has also been a big help for staying connected and sharing ideas.
Finally, there are weekly syncs like software architecture reviews where everyone is encouraged to contribute thoughts or even propose new approaches. That kind of collaboration really helps emerging engineers grow and reach the next level in their careers.
Overall, GM fosters an environment where new engineers can learn, contribute, and thrive.
Rakshith completed his internship at GM in August 2025. As of the time of this writing, he is finishing his degree at USC.
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