Why Confer

Confer has three definitions, to share views, to consult together, to bestow something on another. This is a humanistic view of AI- that we can benefit when we trust that the intelligence and knowledge captured in AI can help us do what we do best. That requires trust, a trust that is learned through experience, not blind trust. A trust that recognizes that technology isn't the goal but preserving and even expanding the reach of what makes the company special to their customers. And this is probably a bit lofty a goal, but actual share our wisdom judgment and humanity in a way that improves AI and helps the folks developing these resources.

What's your origin story

Right now this is just a one person show though I am hoping that changes to a we. It was never my desire to create something like this. I had avoided AI for the most part in the early days because I didn't see how it fit the work I was doing and some of the news of the companies questionable ethical decisions had me concerned. I tried an early ChatGPT interation and the area I was researching had few websites or articles or research. That iteration of AI and my poor prompting gave me back a terrible outcome. Later a family member was hosting a "learn about AI" through a community group. As I watched it, along with the handful or two of others, I had the feeling this was different and could be really impactful. I started reaching out to non-profits seeing how I could help. Along the way I realized how impactful the clients context was to how useful it was to them. That led me on a journey to see how I could capture and use that context to produce greater benefit for them. I got more interested in how could AI be used as a resource to help people learn to work with AI. Slowly I started to question how could I develop an approach that relies primarily on AI to generate the assessment and opportunities.

What's the hope

At it's simplest it's to help businesses continue to serve their communities and stay competitive in a rapidly changing environment. That any client, that matches our current capabilities, would be able to learn to use this new technology in a way that helps not only advance the company but make the employees more secure in their tasks or helps them become more employable if changes are necessary. I would hope that the immense opportunity of this moment leaves no-one behind, regardless of background.

How am I qualified to do this

In a conventional sense, certificates and direct job experience implementing AI, I'm not. But in some ways my background makes me exactly the right person to be working on this. I was employed as a mechanical engineer for a number of years. All during this time and in my following job areas I was involved in integrating new technology into my businesses workflow. Whether that was using computer aided engineer to design and pre-test components, using data analysis to predict test results, or working with databases.

I made a pretty major shift from engineering more into the human services area. At first that involved teaching in Sub-Saharan Africa with the Peace Corps. One crucial lesson I learned there is understanding what the client wants and why is the most important part. I may think a group needed computers but if their heart was on a soccer pitch, starting with what they desired was what often led to success and other opportunites.

When I returned home I started working in a variety of fields, often seeming disconnected, from working with marginalized youths, to ministry through my church, to working outreach for a nonprofit, to serving as a chaplain in the military, I was finding the importance of the impact when thought changes. Not leading people to something I wanted but supporting their own journey. During this time I also had jobs that embraced technology like database management, or at least integrated it.

I still have a lot to learn but I think its in holding those two things together, the appreciation of technology that helps people thrive and the recognition of what is of true value and helping people change without loosing sight of that, that I have something to offer here.

And probably of most important to my doing this is all of the support I have gotten in learning how to do what I have done so far. From training videos and newsletters, to talking and engaging with consultants and normal people about what they are learning, and significant also is the wisdom and judgement already captured in the models that I have worked with.

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