About
I work where AI, search, design, and engineering meet, turning complex technology into things people enjoy using.
Made in Shanghai, China 🇨🇳. 17 years back home, 19 in the U.S. Trilingual: Shanghainese, Mandarin, and English.
- a technologist passionate about AI and Search
- a seeker with an abundance of curiosity
- a multidisciplinary designer with a few accolades
- a writer with a zest for demystifying complex technologies and explaining them in layman's terms
- a leader with an uncanny ability to listen
- a generative creator (Buddy) and AI educator
For most of my career, engineering, product, and design were three separate crafts, and I had to pick a lane for every task. AI collapsed the lines between them. For the first time I can move fluently across all three at once, from first prototype to shipped product. That convergence is where I do my best work.
With the advent of LLMs, I firmly believe we're standing at the forefront of a revolution in how we create, ideate, and innovate. Tools powered by AI are no longer just for programmers or specialists. They're for everyone who dares to experiment and dream. This has inspired me to share my learning journey on LinkedIn, to spark curiosity and empower others to:
- Experiment with AI in their daily workflows
- Reimagine the boundaries of what's possible
- Always bring AI to the table, and be the human in the loop
AI isn't a future concept. It's a present reality, waiting to be embraced by those willing to take the leap. How are you bringing AI into your work and life? Let's explore the possibilities together.
With more than a decade of experience in technology consulting, Steven has driven impactful outcomes for clients across industries. A strategic influencer with a proven track record of acquiring and growing key accounts; skillful in cultivating high-performing teams and balancing stakeholder needs while maximizing business value. Proficient in making data-driven decisions and coaching an agile mindset, adept at creating structure from ambiguity and driving operational excellence under constraints. An expert in user-centric design and crafting minimal loveable products (MLP).
Financial Services
Capital Group · Invesco · KPMG Audit · Scottrade · AssetMark · IGM Financial · Zions National Bank
Technology · Media · Telecom
SAP · Calix · Resideo | SnapOne
Healthcare, Life Sciences & Med Device
Cardinal Health · Mount Sinai · Rochester Regional Health · Baylor College of Medicine · Solventum · Agilent
Insurance
Travelers · MassMutual · Guy Carpenter · GEICO
Automotive
Daimler
Utility
Con Edison
Who is Steven Jieli Wu?
Steven (Jieli) Wu is a Generative AI Solutions Architect, AI educator, and award-winning designer. Born in Shanghai and based in the United States, he specializes in Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), enterprise search, and agentic AI, and has advised Fortune 500 leaders for over a decade.
What does Steven Jieli Wu do?
He designs and ships generative-AI systems, teaches AI fluency, and builds open-source tools. His work sits where engineering, product, and design converge, from first prototype to production. He also writes the Tiny AI Wins newsletter and created Learn AI Fluency.
What is Steven Wu known for?
He is a two-time Coveo AI Search MVP and a GDUSA American Graphic Design Award winner, and the author of "What on earth is RAG?" for the MLOps Community. He created Buddy, an open-source AI companion with 98+ GitHub stars, and meetily, a privacy-first local AI meeting assistant.
What is Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)?
Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) grounds a large language model's answers in external, retrieved documents instead of relying only on its training data. It improves accuracy and lets AI cite current, private, or domain-specific sources. Steven Wu specializes in RAG and enterprise search.
How can I contact Steven Wu?
You can reach Steven at [email protected] or through the "Work with me" form on this site. He is open to consulting, speaking, teaching, and collaboration on AI, RAG, enterprise search, and design.