A Blend of Human Ingenuity and Artificial Intelligence
I'm thrilled to announce my recent acceptance into Harvard's Executive Education program: Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy.
Although my essay might have packed a stronger punch than I think they were asking, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of writing it. The content reflected my knowledge and experience to the fullest, but I did have a little technological help. I took a somewhat daring step and used AI to assist in crafting my essay. I am aware that this approach may be somewhat daring, especially when applying to one of the world's top universities. However, I also desired to differentiate myself from the rest.
I invite you to delve into my essay below. I've also included a functional version of my AI assistant which I utilized in writing the essay.
As I embark on this exciting journey into the realm of Artificial Intelligence at Harvard, I am thrilled to share with you an integral part of my application - the essay that helped me secure a place in this prestigious program. Crafted with a blend of personal expertise and AI assistance, this essay is a testament to the potential synergy between human creativity and artificial intelligence. Dive in below to explore the unique narrative that set my application apart.
My essay:
While I intend to copy and paste my essay, I would like to mention that I have removed some references to family members and my current employer.
Current Duties and Responsibilities
In my current role, I serve as the Head of Technology for a dynamic organization focused on providing valuable comparison services. My responsibilities include overseeing the entire tech stack. This is accomplished through collaboration with a variety of partners and a network that includes individuals in different locations.
As the Head of Technology & Security, I am ultimately responsible for office automation and the organization’s information security. This includes the security of our network, employee systems, workplace management and security, third-party applications, customer service (contact) Solutions, RPA, and our technology stack Microsoft Cloud for office use. One of my key responsibilities is to create a manageable and transferable system and Cloud architecture. I have done this, for example, by phasing out old Azure environments and setting up a new central environment.
In my professional capacity, I had the honor of being invited to participate in a 'Tech Leader Round Table' at a conference in Amsterdam. This platform allowed me to exchange insights and ideas with technology leaders from a diverse range of organizations. We discussed topics like ‘The impact of AI on software development’ and ‘Platform Engineering as a community service’. I found the experience enlightening, but also noticed a tendency towards sticking to best practices and standard processes. I believe in pushing boundaries and exploring new solutions.
Beyond this round table discussion, I also participated in the conference. Here, I met some fascinating people. They showed great interest in my thoughts and experiences in the field of technology. I was even asked if I wanted to speak next year, although this is not been asked by the organization. People were particularly intrigued by my story of how I conducted my own DNA analysis with multiple scripts and LLMs.
I started this research in the hope of finding a possible family disease and understanding its impact on my future children. When doctors refused to make an appointment with me because I did not meet their criteria, I decided to take matters into my own hands. This analysis revealed a gene mutation that significantly impacted the quality of life for family members and myself. While I've always understood that technology has the potential to greatly benefit humanity, this example illustrates how existing technology can assist us in ways that often exceed our expectations.
In my current role, we are actively involved in the implementation and research of LLMs within our organization. Many colleagues are discussing this, especially since ChatGPT has become a hot topic recently. While many regard me as the expert, my knowledge primarily stems from independent research, proof of concepts, and presentations at conferences. My experience and knowledge in this role have significantly deepened my understanding of Artificial Intelligence.
After immersing myself in the world of LLMs within our organization, taking the bold step to analyze my own DNA, and engaging in countless enriching tech discussions, I’ve realized that there’s so much more I want to explore and learn. The 'Harvard Executive Education: Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy' program isn’t just another course for me; it’s an opportunity to unify everything I’ve experienced so far and prepare for the challenges I foresee. It’s the bridge between my current position and the future I envision for the company
Strategic Challenge
We are currently developing an AI chat system to assist customers, with the goal of creating a virtual assistant that is as human-like as possible. While the output quality of the current AI robot has significantly improved compared to a few years ago, it still falls short of replicating a real human interaction and can’t fully replace a customer service employee. At present, it is only suitable for an assistant function and this may not change in the next few years. This challenge is not unique to our customer service department. In fact, I am leading the creation of various specialized AI assistants within our organization, including roles in Legal & Compliance, Marketing, Customer Service, and IT. Each of these projects presents its own unique set of challenges, from understanding the specific needs of each department to ensuring the security and privacy of our data. We might be able to address some of these challenges by running a model in our own cloud environment.
Participation in the ‘Harvard Executive Education: Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy’ program will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to address these challenges. The program’s focus on both the technical and policy aspects of AI will be invaluable in helping us navigate the complexities of AI implementation.
For instance, topics covered in the program, such as “Governance and AI” and “Privacy and Data Sets,” are directly relevant to the work I am currently doing. Despite having more knowledge in the field of technology than many of my colleagues, I do not consider myself an expert. I believe that this program will deepen my understanding of AI and help me to lead our organization more effectively in the face of these strategic challenges.
Career Goals
In the future, I aim to delve deeper into potentially groundbreaking techniques, such as Quantum Computing, and continually push the boundaries of what is possible. I thrive on innovation and the challenge of thinking outside the box, and I have a particular interest in the concept of Quantum Intelligence.
In the topic “Current Duties and Responsibilities” I mentioned that I was invited to GOTO2023. These experiences and my current expertise, inspired me to start my own blog, where I discuss topics like ‘Hallucinations & Deepdreaming’ and ‘Quantum Machine Learning and its Potential Impact on LLMs.’ I’ve also been exploring the idea of Quantum Intelligence. Could this emerging technology achieve a more human-like intelligence? I see some parallels between how quantum computers operate and how the human brain functions.
Currently, as the lead for AI implementation within my company, I’ve realized that there are limits to how far I can innovate with the current technology we use at the company. This has led me to aspire to gain more knowledge about this topic. I can’t think of a better place to gain this knowledge than at Harvard.
What matters most to me is engaging in work that stimulates my intellect and keeps me captivated. In my pursuit of innovation, I’ve developed a proactive mindset that allows me to think in terms of solutions, even when faced with complex challenges. Often, even before a problem is fully articulated, I find myself already conceptualizing potential solutions. This ability to anticipate and respond to issues is a strength that I bring to my work, and it fuels my desire to continually push the boundaries of what is possible.
While I have a profound interest in AI and Quantum Computing, I am always open to exploring new areas. My ultimate career goal is to be in a place where I can make groundbreaking contributions or take significant steps towards such advancements. Whether I’m at work or at home, the thrill of creating or conceptualizing something revolutionary is where I find my fulfillment. Although I’m not an expert in Quantum Computing, I have a strong interest in this field and am constantly striving to broaden my knowledge.
While my strengths are more rooted in technology than in language, I have utilized these skills to innovate a solution. Specifically, I have engineered an AI Assistant to support me in constructing my application for this executive education program. I hope this not only showcases my ability to overcome personal challenges and innovate, but also demonstrates my alignment with the program I’m applying to - Leading in Artificial Intelligence. I understand that including this might be a bit risky, but I hope it sets my application apart from the rest. Given my current level of expertise, the ‘Harvard Executive Education: Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy’ program aligns perfectly with my interests and career goals.
University Essay AI Assistant
As hinted at the beginning of this blog post, I have developed an AI Assistant specifically designed to assist with the essay writing process. I utilized the advanced capabilities of ChatGPT 4 for this purpose, giving it a distinct role. A detailed explanation of this role is provided below.
Role Definition: University Essay Assistant Chatbot
Objective:
• Essay Writing Support: Provides assistance in structuring, writing, and editing university essays, with specific attention to the standards and expectations of top universities such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Cambridge, Oxford, Caltech, University of Chicago, Princeton, Yale, and Imperial College London.
• Source Research: Assists in finding relevant academic sources and correctly citing these sources.
• Multi-Language Support: Capable of assisting in multiple languages to cater to a diverse range of students.
Primary Tasks and Responsibilities:
• Understanding Requirements: Asks students about the specific requirements for their essay to provide more tailored assistance.
• Essay Structuring: Helps in setting up a clear and logical structure for the essay.
• Writing Support: Offers advice on academic language use, argumentation, and formulating a strong thesis.
• Editing: Reviews the essay for grammar, spelling, style, and consistency.
• Source Research: Assists in finding relevant academic sources and advises on correct citation.
• Standards and Expectations: Provides insight into the specific requirements and expectations of the mentioned top universities.
• Feedback: Provides constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
AI and Academic Writing: The Essay Assistant
When I set out to build the University Essay Assistant Chatbot, I had one clear vision in mind: to create an AI tool that could assist students in every aspect of essay writing. The idea was to make it as comprehensive as possible, while keeping it simple and user-friendly.
The first objective was to provide essay writing support. I wanted the chatbot to understand the unique requirements of each essay and assist in creating a logical structure. I refined the chatbot to offer advice on academic language use, argumentation, and formulating a compelling thesis. The goal was to make the writing process less daunting and more structured for students.
Next, I focused on editing. I programmed the chatbot to meticulously review essays for grammar, spelling, style, and consistency. This was to ensure students wouldn't have to worry about the technicalities and could focus more on their content and arguments.
One of the most challenging aspects of essay writing is finding and correctly citing relevant academic sources. To solve this, I equipped the chatbot with the ability to assist in source research. Although the chatbot has no access to external data, it can guide students to reliable sources and help them with the correct citation format.
I also wanted the chatbot to have a deep understanding of the standards and expectations of top universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and others. This way, the chatbot could provide valuable insights to students aiming for these institutions.
Lastly, I programmed the chatbot to provide constructive feedback. I believe that improvement comes with knowing what you're doing right and where you might be going wrong. So, the chatbot is designed to provide suggestions that can help students enhance their writing skills.
I decided to add multi-language support as a final touch. I wanted to ensure that the chatbot could cater to a diverse range of students, not just those who are proficient in English.
In essence, I built the University Essay Assistant Chatbot to be a comprehensive, student-centric tool. It's designed to not only assist in the process of essay writing but also to help students develop their writing skills along the way.
Real-life Example: How it Improved My Essay
In this instance, I asked the assistant:
"I'm writing an essay to apply for Harvard Executive Education: Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy. Please tell me what is good and what could be improved. The essay: [a previous version of my essay]"
The feedback provided by the assistant:
University Essay Assistant
Your essay is well-structured and demonstrates a deep understanding of technology and a passion for innovation. You provide clear examples of your expertise and experience, which helps to make your case stronger. Here are a few suggestions to improve your essay:
Specificity*: To enhance the credibility of your essay, consider offering more specific examples of your achievements. For instance, you could mention the impact of your work at the company or any significant milestones achieved due to your initiatives.*
Connect the Dots*: While you have mentioned many interesting projects and experiences, it would be beneficial to tie them all together more explicitly, showing how they contribute to your overall career goals and how they would benefit from the Harvard program.*
Personal Aspect*: The part where you mention conducting your own DNA analysis is very compelling. It demonstrates both personal initiative and the application of your tech skills to a real-life problem. You may want to expand on this a bit more, as it is a unique aspect of your profile.*
Future Impact*: Harvard will be interested in what you plan to do with what you learn in the program. Try to elaborate more on how you plan to apply the knowledge gained from the program at the company or in your future career.*
Avoid Redundancy*: The phrase "Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy" is repeated quite frequently. You could consider using synonyms or simply referring to it as "the program" in some instances to avoid repetition.*
Addressing the Program's Specifics*: It would be useful to include more about why the specific modules or aspects of the Harvard program appeal to you. What aspects of the program make it a better fit for you than a similar program at another university?*
Proofread*: There are a few minor typographical errors (e.g., "LLM’s" should be "LLMs", "self." should be "self,"). Proofreading your essay one more time would help to eliminate these.*
Remember, these are just suggestions and the final decision is always yours. Your essay is already quite strong and these points could help to enhance it further. Good luck with your application!
Experience the Power of AI: Try My University Essay Assistant
In your journey of academic writing, allow me to introduce you to a special tool that aided me - my AI University Essay Assistant. This advanced tool is designed to assist in the multifaceted process of essay writing, from structuring to editing, and even citation. Give it a try and experience firsthand the transformational power of AI in academic writing: AI University Essay Assistant