Creating the Previously Unimagined in Artificial Intelligence

Copyright © 2022 Chris J. Benevich. All Rights Reserved.

What I planned and committed to two years ago renders my future, which is now my today.

While I do have a few of my career innovation achievements posted in a portfolio pinned to the top of my LinkedIn profile, I always argued a person's work portfolio and work samples don't predict their future success. They only demonstrate past performance.

Specifically, how can past performance predict ability to innovate? The whole point of innovation is to be in uncharted territory and create the previously unimagined.

(Please, someone dispute me on this with some white papers. I'm not interested in debate for debate's sake, AKA a devil's advocate, but if you can cite research proving me wrong, I want to see it!)

Two years ago, I decided I wanted to innovate in AI. My research indicated I would be blocked from the field without additional formal education. I looked at Master's degree programs ... and, after winning a scholarship, instead entered my aggressive 7-month bootcamp.

I've seen posts challenging what can people actually learn at tech bootcamps and, while mine was for data science (not just tech), I thought I'd share a few insights I had during my time at bootcamp:

I rediscovered my wonder and amazement at the beauty of mathematics underpinning this construction of reality we look at every day.

I saw how AI, ML, prediction, forecasting -- statistics underpins it all.

Despite the language used at the enterprise level to create a "single source of truth" with data governance and BI COEs, I came to think there exists no single source of data truth. Truth is determined by the person creating the model.

Model creation is driven by my ability to feature select, which is driven by signals I have about potential correlations, which is driven by my deep cross-functional and cross-industry domain experience.

While I didn't imagine I'd have insights this meaningful to me by going back to school, I did envision, plan and execute on creating the professional opportunities I have in play today.

While I did and do envision making an impact in the AI industry with my track record of innovation, I don't know what that will look like.

I do know my grit, drive, and integrative big picture mindset is ready for a big, meaty, "no one else has solved this" challenge!

How do you empower yourself to innovate?