Machine unlearning: Nicolas’ experience at Telecom SudParis
On March 25 2026
AI in a new light: a deep dive into Nicolas' innovative internship
“I wanted to understand how artificial intelligence really works. At Telecom SudParis, I had the opportunity to do just that... while contributing to a cutting-edge research topic.”
For Nicolas Renout, a student engineer in his 3rd year, research is not merely an abstract concept. It is an integral part of his training. As early as his 2nd year at Telecom SudParis, he joined the SAMOVAR Laboratory, one of the most active research centers in digital technology. His research topic is machine unlearning, an emerging theme in artificial intelligence, the goal of which is to make a model “forget” certain sensitive data.
Immersing himself in a real research lab for the first time
During his academic internship, Nicolas discovered what it means to work alongside faculty members, take part in research meetings, code, experiment, have doubts at times — but also make progress. He reprogrammed an LSTM neural network (an AI model for sequential data), then tested relearning methods. He drew an astonishing conclusion: “Retraining a poorly calibrated model with only 0.5% iterations achieves the same performance as training it fully with corrected data.”
These results were promising enough to be presented at a major international conference, IEEE ICC 2025.
Learning differently: through practice and encounters
Nicolas didn't find this project in a class. He launched it himself, by exchanging ideas with his teachers. “Don't hesitate to reach out to teachers. They often have topics in mind, and they like to see motivated students.”
Telecom SudParis actively encourages this autonomy. Teachers are available, laboratories are open and ideas are welcome. For Nicolas, it was a transformative experience, which enabled him to increase his skills, scientific rigor and confidence.
A busy routine, between engineering school and Master's
Alongside his studies at Telecom SudParis, Nicolas is taking a Master's at Institut Polytechnique de Paris, as part of a dual degree program. This takes a lot of organization, but it’s worth it: “It's a real bonus for deepening your knowledge in a specific field, while developing a profile that stands out from the crowd.”
Research as a personal adventure
Over the months, Nicolas has discovered that research is not just for experts or PhD students. It is accessible, dynamic and educational. It teaches you to ask the right questions, solve complex problems and push the limits.
His story is a perfect illustration of what Telecom SudParis offers its students: a demanding but people-oriented training program, based on curiosity, autonomy and openness.
“At Telecom SudParis, I realized that doing research doesn't mean waiting. It means daring.” – Nicolas
