Bringing emotional intelligence to AI
Charis Loveland (she/her) has spent over two decades in tech. She’s worked at places like Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. She’s built machine learning teams, led AI initiatives, and co-founded a startup. But here’s the plot twist: she’s also deeply human. And that’s exactly what makes her the perfect AI instructor for our upcoming workshop, AI for Product Managers.
Currently a Senior Innovation Specialist at AWS, Charis brings together hard technical skills with deep emotional intelligence—and she doesn’t shy away from nuance. “It’s not just about AI that performs,” she says. “I’m talking about AI that enables humans to care better—about each other, about their work, about the bigger picture.”
We’re lucky to have her teaching our AI Academy workshops and helping students—like you—navigate the fast-changing world of generative AI.
Why Charis teaches AI—and what she wants her students to know
Charis didn’t start in AI to build cool tech for cool tech’s sake. She’s here for impact. The kind that helps people lead better, connect better, and design better systems. “With the right people, training data, and ethical guardrails, we’re building machines that can make us more human,” she says.
And her top warning to anyone learning AI? Don’t confuse capability with purpose. “The model’s output isn’t objective truth. It’s a reflection of the data we feed it—biases, blind spots, and all.”
As an AI instructor, Charis wants students to get curious, stay skeptical, and keep asking hard questions: Who is this helping? Who might it be hurting?
How she uses AI IRL (and what she thinks is most exciting)
Charis uses large language models for everything from summarizing research to exploring edge cases. Her secret weapon? Treating AI like an intern with endless energy and zero need for coffee.
“It’s like rubber ducking on steroids,” she jokes. “I use it to test ideas, stress-test scenarios, and even simulate emotionally intelligent conversations.”
But what really excites her? The next generation of models that understand human nuance. Think intention, emotion, and context—not just output. The future, in her view, isn’t robots pretending to care. It’s AI tools that help humans care better.
Her favorite AI prompt
Charis once received a prompt from a colleague that gave her chills. It asked the model to analyze someone’s cognition, blind spots, and psychological trajectory—all formatted like a forensic dossier.
The model delivered. Structured headers. Sharp insights. Strategic emojis.
“It was so insightful, it was a bit creepy,” she admits. But it’s also a reminder of how powerful prompting can be when done well—and why she’s so passionate about teaching others how to do it ethically and effectively.
What makes teaching at GA different
When asked what she loves most about teaching at General Assembly, Charis doesn’t miss a beat. It’s the “a-ha” moments—when mental fog lifts, and clarity clicks into place.
“Teaching, at its best, is alchemy,” she says. “You turn confusion into confidence. Complexity into simplicity. Information into power.”
But it’s not just about the content—it’s about the transformation. Helping learners remember who they are. Helping them rediscover purpose. That’s what drives her.
Final thoughts from your new AI instructor
If you’re nervous about learning AI, Charis has one piece of advice: “Don’t be afraid of AI. Embrace an adaptable mindset, tune into your curiosity, and learn something new today.”
Whether you’re a leader navigating new tech, a beginner testing the waters, or someone who’s just curious what all the hype is about—Charis has the experience, empathy, and perspective to guide you. Check out her workshop, AI for Product Managers
Explore our AI Academy offerings and meet more instructors like Charis who are shaping the future of work—one ethically-trained AI enthusiast at a time.