Humans of AI: Presented by WRITER

Learn how Melisa Russak, lead research scientist at WRITER, stumbled upon fundamental machine learning algorithms, completely unaware of existing research — twice. Her story reveals the power of approaching problems with fresh eyes and the innovative breakthroughs that can occur when constraints become catalysts for creativity.

Melisa explores the intersection of curiosity-driven research, accidental discovery, and systematic innova...

Paul Dyrwal, a 23-year veteran in the AI field, shares his journey from early voice recognition software to his current role leading generative AI at Marriott International. With a diverse background in tech, including roles at a design agency, Amazon, and Ancestry.com, Paul brings a unique blend of UX design, product management, and research expertise. He highlights the transformative impact of AI on human creativity and connectio...

Dive into Ranjan Roy’s incredible journey from high school debate to revolutionizing the retail industry with AI. As a strategic leader at apparel brand Adore Me, Ranjan first found the power of generative AI by automating product descriptions, freeing his team to focus on more creative tasks. Now, as retail industry lead at WRITER, Ranjan is pushing the boundaries of hyper-personalization, ensuring AI enhances human creativity and...

Zayed Yasin, WRITER's healthcare industry leader and emergency room physician, explores the transformative potential of AI in healthcare and life sciences. Zayed shares his unique perspective on how AI can enhance the healthcare system without replacing the human touch. He emphasizes the importance of integrating AI to make healthcare professionals' jobs easier and more efficient, allowing them to focus more on patient ca...

Dilshoda's journey from Uzbekistan to the forefront of AI in financial services is a story of resilience and innovation. After leaving her home country to study in the US, she graduated from Harvard. She went on to work at top hedge funds and financial management firms, including Wellington Management, Bridgewater Associates, and State Street Global Advisors. She then joined WRITER, focusing on personalization at scale, invest...

Kushala Silva shares his journey from P&G, Coca-Cola, and Amazon Private Brands to becoming the consumer packaged goods (CPG) lead at WRITER, where he's helping transform the industry through AI. With nearly 20 years of experience, he reveals how CPG companies are using AI for personalized experiences, omnichannel optimization, and operational efficiency — and why waiting isn't an option. From leading Coca-Cola's...

Paul Martin, COO of the investment business at Willis Towers Watson, didn’t start as an AI enthusiast — in fact, he describes himself as a technophobe. Which is precisely why Paul’s insights and ideas are crucial to the success of his company’s emerging AI strategy. Join Paul’s journey from AI skeptic to AI leadership as he reveals the importance of understanding business processes, educating employees, and setting a clear vision t...

Writer CEO May Habib sat down with Gavin Patterson, former president and chief revenue officer at Salesforce and CEO at BT Group, at Writer’s exclusive AI Leaders Forum event in London. Today, we bring you into that conversation. May and Gavin discuss the minds of CEOs and CROs navigating the disruptive wave of generative AI. Gavin shares his philosophy on identifying transformative opportunities in the face of rapid innovation. An...

Jason Baer, a senior Group Manager of Digital Strategy and Global AI Enablement at Adobe, explores the transformative impact of AI for the Adobe sales team. Jason shares his journey from telecom to Adobe, highlighting his pivotal role in driving AI adoption within the company. He also emphasizes the importance of continuous education, a strong professional network, and an open mind while working in tech. Learn from Jason about how ...

Jacque Reardon, who leads the US marketing team at Franklin Templeton, takes us into the world of financial services and AI. She highlights how AI has transformed her firm, improving processes and enhancing client engagement. Jacque shares her journey from AI skeptic to advocate within such a highly regulated industry. And she highlights how AI is essential to meeting clients in this moment of hyper-personalization as they envision...

As we kick off Season 3 of Humans of AI, we meet Emily Fontaine, who leads capital and AI venture at IBM, where she’s been at the forefront of business technology for the past 15 years.  Emily shares her firsthand experience of AI's transformation from a niche technology to a powerful force shaping industries worldwide. Emily discusses the growing trend of corporate venture capital in AI and the importance of smaller, open-sou...

In our season 2 finale, we listen in on a fireside chat with Writer’s CEO and co-founder, May Habib, and Writer CMO Diego Lomanto. May and Diego discuss Writer’s journey from AI upstart to generative AI powerhouse, how AI is becoming the backbone of mission-critical enterprise workflows, and May shares her perspective on Writer’s goal of developing intelligent, accurate, and trustworthy AI systems with a focus on human-centered des...

In this episode, we hear from JD Sanchez, the AI-driven claims transformation lead at CSAA Insurance Group. From his initial skepticism to becoming a proponent of AI, JD shares how artificial intelligence enhances efficiency and the human experience within the insurance sector. He discusses integrating AI into routine tasks like email management and Structured Query Language (SQL) queries as well as creating personas to help design...

Kate Agena is the VP of Content Design at SAP and founder of the Content Design Leaders community. She shares her transition from technical writing to content design,  emphasizing the critical role of language in software interfaces and the impact of AI on content creation. Kate highlights the importance of integrating content designers in the software development lifecycle and explores how AI can personalize content while preservi...

Waseem AlShikh recounts his inspiring journey from Syria to becoming the CTO and co-founder of Writer, emphasizing his early challenges with language and his passion for computer science. He shares insights about his initial forays into developing summarization tools and underscores the importance of resilience and dedication in his professional success. Waseem also discusses his approach to AI development, focusing on practical, c...

Umar Jamil is a machine learning researcher at Writer, known for his popular YouTube channel where he simplifies complex machine learning concepts. Umar breaks down some of the complex work he does, like with stable diffusion and multimodal language models. He shows us how hard work, passion, and deep commitment can lead to falling in love, learning new languages, and becoming an expert and leader in transformational technology.  

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Chantal Forster is the AI Strategy Resident for the Annenberg Foundation and former executive director of the Technology Association of Grantmakers. From her roots in Chicago's industrial sector to leading AI initiatives in philanthropy, Chantal discusses the integration of AI into mission-driven organizations and the critical need for a resilient culture. She talks abouthow AI will change grant applications and the broader ph...

In this episode of Humans of AI, Greg Shove, CEO of Section and founder of Machine and Partners, joins Alaura Weaver. Greg shares his unique perspective on integrating AI into both personal and professional realms, especially as a seasoned leader with decades of experience. He discusses how AI has become a crucial thought partner for him, helping to maintain his mental acuity and providing valuable insights. He highlights the minds...

In this episode of Humans of AI, Alaura Weaver is joined by Mary Ellen Slayter, CEO and Founder of Rep Cap and publisher of Managing Editor Magazine. Mary Ellen talks about  her transition from journalism to content marketing and her pioneering use of generative AI. She discusses the profound effects of AI on content creation, highlighting why it's crucial to maintain human elements like empathy and curiosity. Mary Ellen also ...