Generative AI Curriculum for Worldwide Developers and DevOps

Courses offered in 125 countries in 13 spoken languages


SITUATION

In early 2023, Generative AI powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) from OpenAI and others dominated public discourse. AWS faced growing perceptions that it lagged behind competitors in this critical space. To address this, Project Prometheus was launched as a multi-organizational initiative to elevate AWS’s public image and reassure B2B customers and investors. Training and Certification (T&C) was tasked with creating impactful curriculum to showcase AWS’s GenAI capabilities.


COMPLICATIONS

  • AWS’s AI innovations were primarily behind the scenes, unlike the highly visible tools from competitors like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google.
  • Annual roadmaps were finalized just weeks before Project Prometheus, leaving no additional funding or personnel to support the initiative.
  • Cross-functional teams, operating with significant autonomy, had to align on tight schedules to inject GenAI content into existing and new courses.
  • Developers were already using GenAI tools from competitors, making AWS’s offering late to market.

APPROACH

  • Aligned with executive objectives to maximize impressions of AWS’s GenAI capabilities within months of public release.
  • Identified key personnel, assets, and pre-release knowledge to scope fundamental and intermediate-level course coverage.
  • Prioritized high-consumption courses from the T&C portfolio to inject GenAI content for maximum reach.
  • Organized resources, largely on a volunteer basis, to accelerate production and integrate GenAI content across teams and modalities.

EXECUTION

  • Leveraged my existing roadmap for Amazon CodeWhisperer (later renamed Amazon Q Developer) to fast-track new course development while expanding GenAI content into 40+ existing courses.
  • Collaborated with SMEs, developer evangelists, and the head of data science curricula to align content strategies and ensure comprehensive coverage of GenAI topics.
  • Authored a Product Requirements Document (PRD) for new courses and a project plan for cross-functional teams to integrate GenAI content into their curricula.
  • Directed my team to produce the first online course, “Introduction to Amazon CodeWhisperer,” in just seven weeks—less than half the typical production time—despite working with an unfinished product undergoing functional changes.
  • Reported weekly progress to the Project Prometheus coordinator, ensuring alignment with executive goals.

RESULTS

  • Achieved 450,000+ impressions in 90 days, with nearly half coming from cloud application builders who directly benefited from CodeWhisperer.
  • Delivered GenAI content to cross-functional teams for inclusion in their online and classroom curricula, tailored to their unique publication processes.
  • Released the “Introduction to Amazon CodeWhisperer” course on AWS SkillBuilder in record time, showcasing AWS’s GenAI capabilities to a global audience.

LESSONS AND TAKEAWAYS

  1. Identified inefficiencies in standard workflows and handoffs that slowed content production, these insights informed future process improvements.
  2. Highlighted the friction caused by centralized curriculum development teams lacking technical expertise, emphasizing the need for closer SME collaboration.
  3. Demonstrated the value of agility and cross-functional alignment in responding to high-priority, time-sensitive initiatives.