In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining the boundaries of possibility, the intersection of AI and career development presents unprecedented opportunities and challenges. My personal journey, from the finance sector, to AI at Handshake, embodies the transformative potential of AI to not only transform industries but also to profoundly impact individual career trajectories.
After earning my Bachelor's degree in China Asia Pacific Studies from Cornell, I ventured into finance in Shenzhen, China, as an Investment Banker. Despite valuing the experience, I was drawn to more intellectually stimulating challenges and joined a Caltech startup in accelerating the internet with novel TCP congestion control algorithms. There, I was introduced to systems engineering and machine learning, which sparked my interest due to its broad potential applications.
My interest led me to pursue a Master's in Computer Science at UCLA, focusing on machine learning and AI, with research in stroke prediction as well as Computer Vision. I chose to join Google after my Master's, concentrating on text and natural language processing (NLP), working on Ads Quality, Content Understanding, and Fairness/Bias. However, I sought work with deeper impact, leading me to a private NLP research lab at DiDi, where I explored voice interfaces in self-driving cars, semantic map navigation, and unsupervised machine translation. While my time at DiDi allowed me to contribute significantly to cutting edge research, it lacked a mission-driven culture. This led me to Handshake, where I apply my expertise in machine learning and natural language processing to help students navigate their personal career paths, aligning with my professional goals and personal values.
The advent of tools like ChatGPT signifies a major advancement in AI, making information more accessible and levelling the playing field. Whereas previously a minority were able to afford additional tutoring or help with admissions letters, securing themselves a competitive advantage early on in their education journey, now this support is more easily available. These tools can not only streamline workflows but can also promote inclusivity, allowing people from diverse backgrounds to harness AI for a multitude of purposes, from academic assistance to decision-making at work.
A leading machine learning engineer on my team noted that his use of AI tools as a code co-pilot and technical sounding board boosted his productivity two fold, demonstrating AI's role as a catalyst for efficiency and creativity. Whether using AI tools to find recipes or brainstorm an idea, the same core principle applies, view AI tools as a sounding board for further exploration, not the final output.
Contrary to the notion that AI might supplant human roles, my experience has underscored its potential to enhance human creativity and insight. By automating routine tasks and providing an accessible expert sounding board, AI enhances individuals and groups capacity to engage in more complex, creative problem-solving, thereby enriching education and workplace environments with innovative ideas and discourse.
While AI generates considerable hype, it's essential to remember that the old paradigm that products need to deliver meaningful user engagement to be able to provide unique value, still remains. Tools like Chat GPT can not deliver that kind of personalised value on their own. At Handshake, we are excited about combining AI, with a product that is deeply engaging and provides opportunities for users to interact with each other, with real people, to deliver meaningful value for each individual user at scale.
AI's potential in automating tasks, generating content, and innovating products is immense. Presenting a significant opportunity to tackle a number of the complexities and challenges associated with hiring and getting hired, that have remained unchanged for decades. New AI technologies could be used to more effectively communicate to students why they are a good match for certain roles, industries and employers. Creating more transparency and easier information exchange throughout the hiring process. This involves not only automating existing processes but also pioneering new ways to personalize career exploration and hiring, thereby broadening horizons for students and employers alike. Facilitating more meaningful and fulfilling first steps in an individual's career journey.
As we explore AI's transformative potential in career development and recruitment, our commitment is to empower individuals to pursue their ideal path, regardless of their background, in a people-powered platform, fostering a more inclusive and equitable professional landscape.
