Changing the Diversity Game with Slack's Leslie Miley

TL;DR

A conversation with Leslie Miley, a senior developer at Slack, discussing the challenges of diversity in tech and the importance of creating a level playing field for hiring.

Transcript

this is the best intro music ever this is amazing thank you I'm in love I want to do this all the time this should be the soundtrack to my life ha we have so much to talk about first of all thank you for being here I thank you for having me also that was kind of a tepid response can we can we can raise the roof I mean come on we're about to head in... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 Slack is working on implementing threaded conversations, but it requires time and effort to solve the problem.
• 🤖 Bots are a technology that Slack wants users to get used to, and they plan to roll out new features involving bots in the near future.
• 🇰🇼 AI is not yet advanced enough for full utilization, and Slack will wait until it becomes more reliable before integrating it into their platform.
• 👻 Miley believes in creating a level playing field for hiring instead of implementing quotas, as it allows for diversity and inclusion without compromising on talent.
• 🖤 The lack of diversity in Silicon Valley is a problem that needs to be addressed, and there are opportunities for startups to consider locations outside of the Valley.
• 💨 VC funding is often biased towards certain demographics, and it's important for successful entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities to pave the way for future generations.
• 💦 Silicon Valley needs to change its mindset and actively work towards creating a more inclusive environment for underrepresented groups.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why can't I do threaded conversations on Slack?

Threaded conversations in Slack are a complex problem to solve, requiring craftsmanship, time, and effort. The Slack team is actively working on it, but there is no specific timeline for its release.

Q: What role will bots play within Slack?

Bots are a technology that Slack likes to use. They have done experiments and found that users are accepting of suggestions and questions from bots. Slack plans to continue experimenting with bots and might roll out new features in the near future.

Q: When will AI be fully functional and how will Slack utilize it?

Miley believes that AI is not yet advanced enough for full utilization. Slack will use AI when it becomes more reliable, as they don't want to unleash something like Skynet. However, they are open to exploring AI's potential in the future.

Q: Where can great AI engineers be found?

Miley suggests looking for AI engineers in places where this type of work is being done. It is not limited to prestigious schools like MIT or Stanford but can be found in unexpected places like Detroit, Richmond, and Washington DC.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Leslie Miley talks about the challenges of implementing threaded conversations on Slack and explains that it is a complex problem that requires time and effort to solve.

• He discusses the role of bots in Slack and how they can be used to enhance user experience and provide suggestions and information.

• Miley shares his thoughts on AI, stating that it is not yet advanced enough to be fully utilized, and highlights the importance of avoiding a future where AI takes over human control.