Why System1 Employees Are Upgrading Their AI Skills

When is the right time to embrace AI in the workplace?

The arrival of accessible, everyday AI technology has sparked worldwide apprehension about the seemingly inevitable integration of AI into the workplace. Many employees worry whether AI could provide a cheap replacement for their role or completely restructure the way daily work is done.

With artificial intelligence tools here to stay, it may be time to face these fears directly, embracing the reality that AI could have a lasting impact on the technology industry in many ways, both large and small.

According to a report from CNBC, while four out of five workers say they want to learn more about AI and its practical workplace uses, only 38 percent of U.S. executives are currently helping workers become more AI fluent - despite making AI a top investment priority.

System1, which provides an AI-powered responsive acquisition marketing platform, has made continuous learning part of its employee benefits program. Built In Los Angeles spoke with Lead Product Manager Kenan Yates to learn about the benefits of AI-focused training and the ways training has made a positive impact on his career.

What employer-sponsored support have you leveraged to deepen your understanding of AI?

At System1, I've been fortunate to receive exceptional support for professional development, particularly in the realms of data science, machine learning and AI. Since 2019, I've leveraged the company's generous educational benefits to enroll in a variety of courses and certifications. This journey began with obtaining a data science certification from UCLA, which laid a solid foundation for my AI pursuits. I then advanced my knowledge through an MIT course on developing AI applications, gaining insights into practical AI implementation.

To stay at the forefront of AI advancements, I've completed numerous courses and certifications on Coursera, covering various aspects of AI and machine learning. Additionally, my active membership in DeepLearning.AI has been instrumental in keeping up with cutting-edge AI developments, technologies and applications. This continuous learning approach, made possible by System1's support, has deepened my understanding of AI and empowered me to apply these insights in my professional role, driving innovation and efficiency in our projects.

How has System1 encouraged you to apply AI at work?

System1 has fully embraced AI and machine learning as core technologies driving our business operations. Over the past year, we've undertaken a comprehensive rebuild of our platform to optimize AI integration. This strategic move has transformed our processes and yielded remarkable results, enabling us to scale our performance advertising output by nearly 20 times.

The company actively encourages us to apply AI across all business processes to foster a culture of innovation that aims to automate, optimize and enhance productivity at every level. This approach has revolutionized our operations and significantly boosted our overall efficiency.

On a personal level, we're given the freedom to explore and incorporate AI tools into our daily workflows. This autonomy has been transformative for my productivity. By leveraging large language models and LLM-based tools, I've streamlined various aspects of my work, from crafting tickets and product requirements to assisting in conducting data analysis, writing SQL queries and developing basic Python code.

How has a stronger understanding of AI helped you grow as a tech professional?

Deepening my understanding of AI has been a catalyst for significant professional growth, propelling my career from an entry-level data analyst to now leading AI and machine learning product development at System1. This journey has been transformative; it has allowed me to gain crucial subject matter expertise in the technical foundations of AI and machine learning systems.

By understanding these technologies and principles, I've been able to apply them directly to my work, driving innovation and efficiency in our products. This knowledge has been instrumental in my ability to conceptualize, develop and implement AI-driven solutions that address complex business challenges and create value for our organization.

Moreover, my enhanced understanding of AI's capabilities has dramatically scaled my productivity. I leverage AI tools to optimize my daily tasks, from data analysis and coding to project management and decision-making processes. This efficiency boost has improved my performance and allowed me to take on more strategic responsibilities, contributing to my professional development and success.