How a Remote Company Builds AI Fluency — Em Shreve, Automattic

OK. Hello everyone. Can OK. Hello everyone. Can you hear me? A. you hear me? A. you hear me? A. Okay. So, my Okay. So, my Okay. So, my name is M. Shrive, and I name is M. Shrive, and I name is M. Shrive, and I work at Automattic. If work at Automattic. If work at Automattic. If you don't know what you don't know what you don't know what Automattic is, it's the company Automattic is, it's the company Automattic is, it's the company behind wordpress.com, behind wordpress.com, behind wordpress.com, Tumblr, and a number of other Tumblr, and a number of other Tumblr, and a number of other projects. We are a fully projects. We are a fully projects. We are a fully distributed company with distributed company with over 1,400 over 1,400 over 1,400 people in 82 countries around people in 82 countries around people in 82 countries around the world. Today I the world. Today I the world. Today I want to talk about want to talk about want to talk about our approach to our approach to our approach to implementing AI and implementing AI and upskilling our upskilling our organization to organization to organization to use all of use all of use all of these new tools these new tools these new tools and ways of working. We and ways of working. We and ways of working. We believe that it is believe that it is believe that it is impossible to get impossible to get impossible to get quality training or quality training or quality training or results by simply results by simply results by simply handing out handing out handing out tools to people. They tools to people. They tools to people. They need to be given need to be given need to be given real time to real time to real time to learn and learn and learn and experiment. So we experiment. So we experiment. So we run two-week run two-week run two-week training programs training programs training programs where we bring where we bring where we bring people together in person for a people together in person for a people together in person for a two-week two-week two-week immersion. We do immersion. We do immersion. We do this by dedicating 50% of our this by dedicating 50% of our time to guided time to guided time to guided learning. Through learning. Through learning. Through our our our Learning and Development team Learning and Development team Learning and Development team and and and AI Implementation team, we AI Implementation team, we AI Implementation team, we bring in leading bring in leading bring in leading experts from across the company experts from across the company experts from across the company to deliver

to deliver to deliver seminars and seminars and seminars and hands-on training. hands-on training. We'll take a closer look at what take a closer look at what this this this curriculum looks like soon. And the curriculum looks like soon. And the curriculum looks like soon. And the other 50% of the time other 50% of the time other 50% of the time is dedicated to is dedicated to is dedicated to actual project actual project actual project work. We ask work. We ask work. We ask employees employees employees to bring real to bring real to bring real tasks they tasks they tasks they want to accomplish, or want to accomplish, or want to accomplish, or tools or tools or tools or dashboards dashboards dashboards that will help them in their that will help them in their that will help them in their daily work. It daily work. It daily work. It could also be could also be could also be creating new creating new creating new skills or MCPs so skills or MCPs so skills or MCPs so they can work they can work they can work faster outside of the faster outside of the faster outside of the program. Another program. Another program. Another important part is important part is important part is encouraging the exchange of encouraging the exchange of encouraging the exchange of experiences between experiences between experiences between colleagues. They colleagues. They colleagues. They share their share their share their workflows workflows workflows to show what to show what to show what can be done, and can be done, and can be done, and for two weeks for two weeks for two weeks we also hold we also hold project demonstrations at the end of project demonstrations at the end of each day. We have already each day. We have already each day. We have already implemented three implemented three implemented three formats of this formats of this formats of this training. The main one is training. The main one is for engineers, where we for engineers, where we dive much deeper into dive much deeper into applied AI. We've applied AI. We've applied AI. We've also also also experimented with experimented with experimented with cross-functional cross-functional cross-functional programs where programs where programs where product, product, product, engineering, and design professionals engineering, and design professionals engineering, and design professionals come together to come together to come together to discuss the future of discuss the future of discuss the future of our our our collaboration with these new collaboration with these new collaboration with these new tools.

tools. tools. We have also extended this We have also extended this We have also extended this to non-technical to non-technical to non-technical teams and are conducting teams and are conducting teams and are conducting workshops for our workshops for our workshops for our finance department, finance department, finance department, management, and management, and management, and other departments. other departments. So, our engineering So, our engineering curriculum curriculum curriculum starts with the first starts with the first starts with the first few days, uh, few days, uh, few days, uh, covering the basics, the covering the basics, the covering the basics, the skills, and how to skills, and how to skills, and how to build them; um, build them; um, build them; um, learning how to learning how to learning how to use MCP and use MCP and spec-based development, um, and spec-based development, um, and also kind of a also kind of a also kind of a foundation of how to foundation of how to foundation of how to use AI use AI use AI responsibly and how to, responsibly and how to, responsibly and how to, um, apply um, apply um, apply it consciously. Um, and it consciously. Um, and it consciously. Um, and then we start to then we start to then we start to delve into delve into delve into more complex topics, uh more complex topics, uh , creating MCP um for , creating MCP um for , creating MCP um for new new new functionality, functionality, functionality, diving into the diving into the diving into the Codex and Claude hook system, and Codex and Claude hook system, and Codex and Claude hook system, and being able to being able to being able to extend extend extend the toolkit in that the toolkit in that the toolkit in that way. Um, right down to uh way. Um, right down to uh way. Um, right down to uh autonomous agents autonomous agents autonomous agents and executing and executing and executing procedures and procedures and procedures and stuff like that in the background stuff like that in the background stuff like that in the background . Um, and then we . Um, and then we . Um, and then we wrap up with wrap up with wrap up with some other some other some other applied topics. Um, so again applied topics. Um, so again applied topics. Um, so again , , , Automattic is behind Automattic is behind Automattic is behind wordpress.com. So uh we wordpress.com. So uh we wordpress.com. So uh we usually do a usually do a usually do a workshop on workshop on workshop on applied AI in applied AI in applied AI in WordPress um and some of the WordPress um and some of the WordPress um and some of the cool features that are cool features that are cool features that are in the WordPress core uh in the WordPress core uh in the WordPress core uh around AI. And also the around AI. And also the opportunity opportunity opportunity to create your own to create your own to create your own personal personal personal assistant. So we're assistant. So we're assistant. So we're really trying to really trying to really trying to take people's minds from the take people's minds from the take people's minds from the basics to the uh, basics to the uh, basics to the uh, ability to start ability to start ability to start creating these new

creating these new creating these new things on their own. And things on their own. And things on their own. And one thing we one thing we one thing we found out is that you can't found out is that you can't found out is that you can't just just just write this write this write this curriculum curriculum curriculum once. As we all once. As we all once. As we all know, AI is constantly know, AI is constantly know, AI is constantly changing from day to changing from day to changing from day to day, week to day, week to day, week to week. The best week. The best week. The best model may be model may be model may be different depending on the different depending on the different depending on the latest release. Um latest release. Um , so we constantly , so we constantly , so we constantly need to update the need to update the need to update the curriculum curriculum curriculum and stay and stay and stay relevant to relevant to relevant to make sure that when make sure that when make sure that when we run these we run these we run these programs, we're teaching the programs, we're teaching the programs, we're teaching the right things and right things and right things and not something that's 6 months out of date not something that's 6 months out of date not something that's 6 months out of date . Um, . Um, . Um, another interesting part another interesting part another interesting part I'd like to I'd like to I'd like to highlight here is that highlight here is that highlight here is that we have our own uh we have our own uh we have our own uh internal uh MCP internal uh MCP server called server called server called Context Automattic. And this Context Automattic. And this Context Automattic. And this allows us to allows us to allows us to quickly add new quickly add new quickly add new toolkits toolkits toolkits to MCP that may to MCP that may to MCP that may not exist or that we not exist or that we not exist or that we don't want to build our don't want to build our don't want to build our own on, such as own on, such as own on, such as layers of governance and layers of governance and layers of governance and observability. observability.

Um, and one of the cool Um, and one of the cool things that I'll things that I'll things that I'll highlight soon is highlight soon is highlight soon is some of the projects that are some of the projects that are some of the projects that are coming out of these cohorts coming out of these cohorts that are expanding these that are expanding these that are expanding these capabilities. So when capabilities. So when capabilities. So when people are people are people are trained, their trained, their trained, their capabilities capabilities capabilities accumulate, and accumulate, and accumulate, and because of that, we as a because of that, we as a because of that, we as a company can company can company can do more. do more. do more. Another main focus of Another main focus of Another main focus of our program our program our program is that it's is that it's is that it's not just the number of not just the number of not just the number of people we people we people we send to send to send to study. We also study. We also study. We also want every want every want every person we person we person we send to be a send to be a send to be a multiplier within the multiplier within the multiplier within the company and company and company and expand our expand our expand our impact to those impact to those impact to those we can't yet reach. we can't yet reach. So, to date So, to date this year, we have conducted this year, we have conducted this year, we have conducted seven such cohort groups of seven such cohort groups of seven such cohort groups of approximately 45 people each. And approximately 45 people each. And approximately 45 people each. And we aim to have we aim to have we aim to have about 600 people about 600 people about 600 people go through these go through these go through these programs by the end of the programs by the end of the programs by the end of the year. That's about year. That's about year. That's about two-thirds of our two-thirds of our two-thirds of our engineers, as well as engineers, as well as engineers, as well as some of those other some of those other some of those other focus areas focus areas focus areas that I highlighted at the that I highlighted at the that I highlighted at the beginning. And we want to beginning. And we want to beginning. And we want to give all these people give all these people give all these people the opportunity to share the opportunity to share the opportunity to share their knowledge and their knowledge and their knowledge and once again once again once again expand our expand our expand our reach. So, we reach. So, we reach. So, we approached this in approached this in approached this in a few different a few different a few different ways. We are ways. We are ways. We are launching a launching a launching a guide program, or guide program, or guide program, or as it is called in as it is called in as it is called in other companies, a other companies, a other companies, a champion program. And

champion program. And champion program. And we want to expand the we want to expand the we want to expand the reach of our reach of our reach of our team into other areas so team into other areas so that these, uh, top that these, uh, top that these, uh, top experts that we've experts that we've experts that we've identified within the company identified within the company identified within the company can help us can help us can help us and continue to and continue to and continue to spread knowledge. spread knowledge. Since we work in a Since we work in a distributed manner, we have also distributed manner, we have also distributed manner, we have also started holding started holding started holding local AI meetings. local AI meetings. So people who have completed So people who have completed this program can this program can this program can hold such hold such hold such small events in small events in small events in their regions, their regions, their regions, organize organize organize seminars, and we seminars, and we seminars, and we will also help with will also help with will also help with this. We have already held this. We have already held this. We have already held about 10 such about 10 such about 10 such events in different events in different events in different parts of the world. It was parts of the world. It was parts of the world. It was really interesting really interesting really interesting to see what to see what to see what some of these people who some of these people who some of these people who went through the program went through the program went through the program did and what they did and what they did and what they learned. We also learned. We also learned. We also organize what we organize what we organize what we call AI coaching—these are call AI coaching—these are call AI coaching—these are small workshops small workshops small workshops that we run where that we run where that we run where we just show you we just show you we just show you how to work and how to how to work and how to how to work and how to use different use different use different tools. Because we've tools. Because we've tools. Because we've noticed that seeing noticed that seeing noticed that seeing someone in a similar someone in a similar someone in a similar position or with a similar position or with a similar position or with a similar job, seeing how job, seeing how job, seeing how they they they use it, is use it, is use it, is much easier to much easier to much easier to understand than just understand than just understand than just talking about talking about talking about concepts. And we are also concepts. And we are also concepts. And we are also trying to create a trying to create a trying to create a common common skills infrastructure and MCP. Again

skills infrastructure and MCP. Again , the same , the same , the same contextual help system contextual help system that I mentioned, and that I mentioned, and that I mentioned, and also encouraging also encouraging also encouraging people to create and people to create and people to create and share share share skills and skills and skills and build on build on build on each other's work so that we're each other's work so that we're each other's work so that we're all building a unified all building a unified all building a unified platform. Additionally, platform. Additionally, platform. Additionally, we have a permanent we have a permanent help channel on Slack, where we help channel on Slack, where we also ask also ask also ask program alumni to program alumni to program alumni to help others, so that help others, so that help others, so that newcomers have somewhere to newcomers have somewhere to newcomers have somewhere to turn and turn and turn and ask questions ask questions ask questions at any time of the day. at any time of the day. So I'll share So I'll share a few metrics a few metrics we're tracking we're tracking we're tracking and the progress we're and the progress we're and the progress we're seeing seeing seeing throughout the program. throughout the program. One of them is One of them is purposefulness, purposefulness, purposefulness, which is applying AI which is applying AI which is applying AI to your work in a more to your work in a more to your work in a more thoughtful way. thoughtful way. Maybe initially these Maybe initially these people were people were people were just using it as a chatbot just using it as a chatbot just using it as a chatbot or, you know, not or, you know, not or, you know, not fully implementing the fully implementing the fully implementing the agent agent agent workflow. So we want workflow. So we want workflow. So we want people to be more people to be more people to be more conscious about conscious about conscious about how and when they how and when they how and when they use AI. Flow use AI. Flow , i.e. how , i.e. how , i.e. how well they can well they can well they can integrate AI into their integrate AI into their integrate AI into their workflows. Do workflows. Do workflows. Do people feel like people feel like people feel like they can they can they can use it use it use it in a way that makes in a way that makes in a way that makes sense to them, not just for sense to them, not just for sense to them, not just for the sake of using the sake of using the sake of using AI. Also, the

AI. Also, the AI. Also, the sharing part is very sharing part is very sharing part is very important for us so that important for us so that important for us so that we can continue to we can continue to we can continue to reach out to other reach out to other reach out to other people in the company and people in the company and people in the company and make everyone a make everyone a make everyone a teacher and expert teacher and expert teacher and expert on these topics. We also on these topics. We also on these topics. We also track track track individual individual individual metrics like metrics like metrics like skills and skills and skills and user user user commands, how commands, how commands, how confident they confident they confident they feel feel feel using MCP, and using MCP, and using MCP, and other topics like other topics like other topics like context management context management . And this is what we . And this is what we . And this is what we saw through saw through saw through various surveys various surveys various surveys after the program was completed after the program was completed after the program was completed . We . We . We conduct surveys conduct surveys conduct surveys 72 hours, 72 hours, 72 hours, 30 days, and 90 days 30 days, and 90 days 30 days, and 90 days after training. People after training. People after training. People continue continue continue to develop during to develop during to develop during these 90 days, and are these 90 days, and are these 90 days, and are able to able to able to apply the apply the apply the knowledge they have gained more, knowledge they have gained more, knowledge they have gained more, experiment, and experiment, and experiment, and try new things. try new things.

So we see that people So we see that people gain gain gain confidence and experience confidence and experience confidence and experience even after even after even after finishing the program. finishing the program. I would like to highlight I would like to highlight just a few projects just a few projects just a few projects that participants that participants that participants created in just created in just created in just two weeks of the program. two weeks of the program. One of them is an One of them is an agent-based analytical agent-based analytical agent-based analytical system. WordPress has the system. WordPress has the WooCommerce e-commerce plugin, and some of WooCommerce e-commerce plugin, and some of our our our program members have created an program members have created an program members have created an agent system to agent system to agent system to ask questions ask questions ask questions about the store and about the store and about the store and get answers get answers . Many people are creating . Many people are creating . Many people are creating solutions based on Context solutions based on Context solutions based on Context A.I.C. One of our A.I.C. One of our A.I.C. One of our early threads wanted early threads wanted early threads wanted to use these to use these to use these tools for tools for tools for support and created a support and created a support and created a Zendesk connector, which we have Zendesk connector, which we have Zendesk connector, which we have now implemented across now implemented across now implemented across various teams in the various teams in the various teams in the company. We created company. We created company. We created other providers for other providers for other providers for those systems where there is no those systems where there is no those systems where there is no native MCP, or because native MCP, or because native MCP, or because we wanted to add we wanted to add we wanted to add additional additional additional surveillance capabilities. We surveillance capabilities. We surveillance capabilities. We are developing our own are developing our own are developing our own skills catalog for skills catalog for skills catalog for agents. We do not agents. We do not agents. We do not impose one impose one impose one tool, so tool, so tool, so participants can participants can participants can use Codex, use Codex, use Codex, Claude or any other

Claude or any other open source tools, etc. We wanted to build We wanted to build the catalog in a way that would be the catalog in a way that would be the catalog in a way that would be suitable for everyone. By suitable for everyone. By suitable for everyone. By the way, the idea of ​​a the way, the idea of ​​a the way, the idea of ​​a skills catalog also skills catalog also skills catalog also emerged as a project in emerged as a project in emerged as a project in one of our one of our one of our streams. Finally, streams. Finally, streams. Finally, another project I would another project I would another project I would like to highlight is like to highlight is administration support with administration support with prompts. During a prompts. During a prompts. During a help session, help session, help session, let's say you want let's say you want let's say you want to show someone to show someone to show someone exactly where something exactly where something exactly where something is located in the is located in the is located in the control panel. control panel. They created a They created a tool tool tool using block code using block code using block code that allows you to that allows you to that allows you to control the session and control the session and control the session and highlight different highlight different highlight different parts of the screen. This parts of the screen. This parts of the screen. This tool was tool was tool was not created by an engineer, but by one of not created by an engineer, but by one of not created by an engineer, but by one of our our our support specialists who support specialists who support specialists who felt more confident felt more confident felt more confident after going through after going through after going through our program. And this is the our program. And this is the our program. And this is the end of my end of my end of my presentation, but the presentation, but the presentation, but the main point I main point I main point I wanted to get across is: give wanted to get across is: give wanted to get across is: give people real time to people real time to people real time to experiment and experiment and experiment and learn. You can't learn. You can't learn. You can't just give them a just give them a just give them a bunch of tools and bunch of tools and bunch of tools and expect their expect their expect their approach to work to approach to work to approach to work to change. You need to change. You need to change. You need to create a space and create a space and create a space and environment for environment for environment for learning and make learning and make learning and make it the foundation of your it the foundation of your it the foundation of your educational program. I'll

educational program. I'll educational program. I'll be available to be available to be available to answer answer answer questions at questions at questions at our booth—that's the our booth—that's the our booth—that's the Automattic booth on the other Automattic booth on the other Automattic booth on the other side, next to the stage side, next to the stage side, next to the stage and the and the and the gift-giving area. So I’ll be gift-giving area. So I’ll be gift-giving area. So I’ll be there for a while after there for a while after there for a while after the talk if you the talk if you the talk if you want to discuss want to discuss want to discuss what you heard or learn what you heard or learn what you heard or learn more about how more about how more about how WordPress.com and WooCommerce WordPress.com and WooCommerce WordPress.com and WooCommerce are implementing AI are implementing AI are implementing AI through our through our through our official connections official connections official connections and MCP. So come visit and MCP. So come visit and MCP. So come visit our booth, and our booth, and our booth, and yes, thank you. yes, thank you.