In this episode of the Plain Sight Podcast, Sam Shew, Partner and Vice President of Training, Learning, and Development at Invisible Technologies, discusses the unique approach to human and AI training. Utilizing a framework of general skills, Invisible Technologies aims to drive efficiency and productivity by training employees to be more versatile across multiple use cases. Sam emphasizes the importance of identifying and applying a specific set of skills relevant to a particular task or operation. He also highlights the contrast between training AI and humans, the former being much more straightforward, while the latter requires considering emotional aspects and multiple learning styles. Sam contends that Invisible Technologies, by offering expansive learning opportunities, is shaping what he believes to be the talent marketplace of the 21st century.

00:02 Introduction and Guest Presentation

00:30 The Art of Training a Team of Contrarians

03:00 Training Methods in Large Organizations vs Startups

10:18 The Role of AI in Training and Learning

11:08 The Importance of Actionable Training

12:37 The Evolution of Knowledge and Learning

13:37 The Application of Training in Different Environments

16:31 The Future of AI Training

21:46 The Differences Between Training AI and Humans

29:16 The Secret Sauce of Invisible Technologies

34:38 The Process of Creating Training Courses

39:13 Conclusion and Contact Information

Key Concepts

1. 
   

   Training a Team of Contrarians: The challenge of training and developing a team that thrives on contrarian thinking and pushing boundaries. Emphasis on structuring thinking in a productive way while allowing for creative and unconventional ideas.

   
   


2. 
   

   Differences in Training Approaches: Comparing training methods in large organizations versus startups. In large companies, training often involves broad content that may lack effectiveness, while startups focus on more pointed and specific training due to limited resources.

   
   


3. 
   

   Role of Technology and AI in Training: Discussion on how advancements in AI, such as ChatGPT, are changing the landscape of training and development. Emphasis on the availability of information and content at one's fingertips and the evolving nature of knowledge acquisition.

   
   


4. 
   

   Training for Effectiveness and Efficiency: Focus on making training actionable and relevant to the job or task at hand. The concept of developing general skills that can be applied broadly, then honing in on specific niche skills for particular tasks or roles.

   
   


5. 
   

   Application of Training in Operations: How training is integrated into the operations of a company, with a focus on identifying necessary skills and developing them in a structured yet flexible manner.

   
   


6. 
   

   Training AI Models vs. Humans: Exploring the similarities and differences between training AI models and human beings. Discusses the nuances of training AI to be as human-like as possible and the challenges involved.

   
   


7. 
   

   The Role of Emotions and Human Interaction in Training: Acknowledges the emotional and psychological aspects of training humans, as opposed to the more technical and factual approach used in AI training.

   
   


8. 
   

   Invisible Technologies’ Unique Approach: The podcast guest talks about the unique approach of Invisible Technologies in scaling generalism and solving a wide range of problems, highlighting the company's ability to adapt and innovate in various scenarios.

   
   


9. 
   

   Future of Training and Development: Speculation on the future trajectory of training and development, especially considering the rapid advancements in technology and AI.

   
   


10. 
    

    Personal Invitation for Connection and Further Discussion: Sam Shu invites listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn for further discussions and insights on the topics discussed.

    
    

Questions and Answers 

1. 
   

   Question: What is the essential element of training a team of contrarians to work together effectively?

   
   
   • Answer: Training a team of contrarians involves structuring their thinking in a productive way while allowing room for creative and unconventional ideas. It's like corralling cats in an organized manner, where training and development have undefined edges, and the aim is to channel contrarian thinking productively.
   
   
   
   


2. 
   

   Question: How do normal training methods differ at Invisible Technologies compared to other companies?

   
   
   • Answer: In large organizations, training often involves a wide array of content that may not be effective or specific to individual needs, acting more as a retention play than truly impactful learning. In contrast, startups focus on more specific and lean training methods due to limited resources. At Invisible Technologies, training is not confined to conventional methods and embraces diverse learning options.
   
   
   
   


3. 
   

   Question: How does training contribute to teaching employees the specific skills a company excels at?

   
   
   • Answer: Effective training requires understanding the audience and making the training actionable. Knowledge needs to be applicable to real-world scenarios, focusing on general skills applicable to a variety of tasks, supplemented by specific niche training.
   
   
   
   


4. 
   

   Question: What are the similarities and differences between training an AI model and training a human?

   
   
   • Answer: Training an AI model aims to make it as close to human interpretation as possible. It involves dissecting text and identifying errors or inaccuracies. Training humans, however, involves dealing with emotions and psychological aspects, focusing on how to apply knowledge and think critically. AI training is more tactical, while human training is more diverse and interactive.
   
   
   
   


5. 
   

   Question: How does Invisible Technologies innovate solutions for various client problems?

   
   
   • Answer: Invisible Technologies' secret sauce is its horizontal approach, allowing it to solve a wide range of problems. This approach is different from the narrow focus of most companies, enabling Invisible to provide value across various market segments with a unique blend of human and automated solutions.
   
   
   
   


6. 
   

   Question: How does Invisible Technologies develop its training courses and identify the skills needed?

   
   
   • Answer: The process involves a blend of centralized structure and decentralized input from various team members. It's about identifying foundational skills that apply broadly and then augmenting them with more specific skills as needed. This method ensures training is up-to-date, relevant, and actionable.
   
   
   
   


7. 
   

   Question: How can people learn more about Sam Shew's work?

   
   
   • Answer: Sam Shew invites listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn for further discussions and insights on the topics discussed in the podcast.