Here's how you can boost your IT Operations career with artificial intelligence and automation.

By embracing AI, you can supercharge IT operations by tapping into smart analytics and automation to make data-driven decisions that cut costs and ramp up efficiency. AI's ability to sift through mountains of data and spot trends or issues before they blow up means fewer surprises and more proactive management. Imagine your systems catching a glitch and fixing it before it even becomes a hiccup in your day-to-day operations—that's AI at work.

In my experience, AI has significantly streamlined IT operations. For instance, at my previous job, we implemented machine learning algorithms to predict server failures before they happened, reducing downtime by 30%. Natural language processing enabled our help desk chatbot to resolve 40% of user queries without human intervention. Additionally, using robotic process automation, we automated routine data entry tasks, freeing up our team to focus on more strategic projects. Understanding these AI applications allowed me to contribute to higher efficiency and innovation, making our operations more resilient and responsive.

Drawing from my experience at Atlas Copco, I've seen how AI can automate routine tasks like license management, saving us substantial costs annually. AI-driven tools streamline processes and ensure accuracy across global regions. I've personally made tens of small automations utilizing AI that have greatly improved not only efficiency but also ease of work. AI isn't just about automation; it's about empowering teams to achieve more with less effort, ultimately transforming how we operate.

In my role as a systems administrator, I used Python to automate routine server maintenance tasks. For example, I wrote scripts to monitor disk usage and automatically archive logs, reducing manual checks by 50%. Additionally, I leveraged PowerShell to manage user accounts and permissions in Active Directory, cutting down administrative time by 40%. Exploring workflow automation platforms like Ansible, I was able to streamline patch management across multiple servers, enhancing our security posture. These automation efforts not only improved efficiency but allowed me to focus on strategic projects like network optimization.

Something I think is still being underappreciated is GenAI's ability to work as a sounding board and instructor. Sometimes, especially with highly technical work, you need a back and forth to really grasp how to accomplish what you'd like - if it doesn't make sense to the GenAI you might not have explained it well. I consistently leverage this to upskill in specific technical areas where I lack expertise. Something I commonly use it for is finding where the gaps in my knowledge are and having it gather the right certifications, courses, etc to form a roadmap moving forward. Training an agent on all you can related to you, your past, and your future plans (accounting for data security) can be a real asset in this way.

To stay current, I regularly take online courses and earn certifications. Completing a course on AI-driven IT service management tools allowed me to implement predictive analytics for incident management, reducing response times by 20%. I also became proficient in Ansible, automating configuration management for our servers. This expertise proved invaluable during a major system migration, ensuring smooth transitions with minimal downtime. Continuous learning not only kept me competitive but also empowered me to tackle evolving IT operations challenges effectively.

GenAI given your resume, experiences, and a thorough conversation with it can drastically cutdown on figuring out your next direction. Meaning, where to go to school, work, live, etc based on your preferences, current ability, etc. I think GenAI is still being underutilized when it comes to these Macro decisions, even as we increasingly leverage it in specific and technical tasks.