Aditya Challapally teaches an online course at Stanford on generative AI for professionals who are adjacent to tech. He shares paths for enhancing technical skills or becoming an AI domain expert. Using AI tools like ChatGPT can also aid in grasping AI concepts. This essay, from a conversation with the 30-year-old Microsoft employee, has been edited for clarity. Challapally’s journey in AI began a decade ago as a data science intern at Uber, then AI consulting at McKinsey, and now at Microsoft, where he works on Copilot. Four years ago, he started teaching at Stanford and co-created "Mastering Generative AI for Product Innovation, " a course on Stanford Online, launched in August 2024. It draws insights from interacting with over 300 users and 50 executives. The course targets tech-adjacent roles like customer support reps or product managers, helping them better understand generative AI. It consists of three modules: an introduction to Gen AI and its opportunities, characteristics of successful Gen AI products, and strategies for building such products. Challapally outlines two main paths: 1.

**Skill Up Technically**: This involves becoming technically literate to bridge business and technical needs, essential for professionals in Fortune 500 companies. Beginning with prompt engineering, progressing to system design, and advancing to either learning coding or understanding system architecture. 2. **Become an AI Expert for Your Industry**: Involves applying gen AI specifically within one's industry, understanding how AI can be leveraged while adhering to legal regulations. This expertise commands high compensation, as seen in a former bank operations manager now advising on gen AI product launches. Learning gen AI tools can vastly improve one’s competency. Frequent use of tools like ChatGPT helps in understanding AI’s limitations and refining prompt skills. While beginners may ask for simple outputs, experts demand varied responses, leveraging gen AI for diverse applications, from planning to communication. Using AI as a thought partner reveals its utility beyond personal interactions.