From operator to guide
I'm Bates Russell. For most of my career I've been the one who fixes things. These days I'd rather do something better: help people and teach people to get past the barrier that's blocking them.
The Teacher
I started in a classroom. Reading on the page has always been hard for me; I learn by hearing and seeing. That shaped how I teach ever since, whether it's staff, a university class, or a room of senior citizens meeting AI for the first time.
The AI Leader
I'm a senior public-sector IT director. I first used AI for spelling and writing, as an accommodation for my ADHD. Then I started writing the rules: my organization's AI policy, which several jurisdictions have adopted as the base for their own, and work in regional government AI groups.
The Guide
My dharma is teaching and helping people. The guiding side of my work is whole-person and intuitive, rooted in nature and a modern shamanic practice.