Introducing Our AI Ambassadors User Group!

[dariot]

Hi Airtable Community,

We're thrilled to introduce a new addition to our community: the AI Ambassadors User Group! This group is tailor-made for individuals who are passionate about Airtable AI and its endless possibilities. Joining our AI Ambassadors User Group isn't just about networking and learning; it's about expanding your skills, knowledge, and connecting with fellow enthusiasts. As an AI Ambassador, you'll enjoy:

• Enhancing Your Personal Brand: Showcase your expertise in Airtable AI and stand out in the community and beyond
• Boosting Your Resume: Active participation demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning and professional development to accelerate your career
• Connecting with Industry Experts: This user group will be your go-to way to share best practices, and collaborate on innovative AI projects!

We're also on the lookout for volunteer user group leaders to ensure the success of AI Ambassadors. If you're passionate about Airtable AI and eager to contribute to the community, consider applying for a leadership position. As an AI Ambassador Leader, you'll play a vital role in fostering engagement, organizing events, and creating a supportive environment for group members.

To be eligible for a user group leader position, you must:

• Be an active Airtable user on a Team plan or above
• Be willing to moderate group discussions on the Airtable Community forum
• Plan and host quarterly virtual events to provide value to group members
• Follow our community code of conduct and guidelines

If you're enthusiastic about Airtable AI and have the desire to empower and connect with fellow users, we encourage you to apply here. It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase your leadership skills, expand your network, and make a meaningful impact within the Airtable community.

As we think through expanding our User Group Programs even more throughout this year, we want to hear your feedback. For example, if you’d like a specific group for Admins, or if you’d like to see a revamp of our Marketing and Product Operations groups, comment below to let us know! This is your community, and your voice is important as we continue to shape our programs.

PS: If you haven't already, check out our Enterprise Network User Group, which is a closed space specifically for Enterprise customers for private events, latest and greatest product updates, and more. 💫

Warm regards,
Dario
Airtable Community Team 

[kuovonne]

Thank you for telling is about this new user group. Is this group only for AI Ambassadors to talk to each other, or do you expect other users to participate in this group?

Being an AI Ambassador looks like a lot of work.

Can you share a little more about the benefits of being an official AI Ambassador?

• For example, will AI Ambassadors get a special badge on the forums?
• Will AI Ambassadors get additional AI credits (or Airtable credits, or cash)?
• Will Ambassadors get special previews of upcoming features not available to the general public?
• Will Ambassadors get priority support for AI features?
• Will Ambassadors have a say in what new features are prioritized?

[MaddieJ]

Hey @kuovonne thanks for chiming in on this! 

As the group is open to everyone, conversations in the group aren’t limited to just group members so anyone from the community can participate in the discussions! Also note that there’s no prerequisite to joining the group. It’s a place for anyone who is interested in learning more about AI, attending AI events, and hearing more from our product team! Think of it as your go-to place to engage with the community about all things Airtable AI. 

Volunteer Leaders of the group would have the opportunity to shape the group, help plan events and content, and in general present themselves as a thought leader in the AI space.

We do have more Community badges in the works including some for this group so stay tuned! I’ve taken note of your other ideas for benefits for joining the group.

Hope to see you in our future AI Ambassador group events!  

[kuovonne]

@MaddieJ Thanks for the reply.

It is good to hear that the group is open to everyone.

The responsibilities of volunteer leaders sounds like a lot of work. Planning events, moderating discussions, providing content, and shaping a group take work. Given the requirement to be a member of a Teams plan, candidates probably already have full time jobs, I wonder how many people want to take on these additional tasks for little to no tangible compensation.

Presenting oneself as a thought leader is possible without being an official volunteer. Historically, there have been various thought leaders on these community forums by people who simply posted great content. For example, W_VAN_HALL was an amazing thought leader who influenced people on the community forum long after he stopped posting. Other people have become thought leaders related to Airtable by posting content on other platforms, such as YouTube.

I also find it curious that Airtable wants volunteers to plan events, especially with no reference to budget or resources. Why not have an official Airtable employee plan and host events? I remember when there used to be events on the old community forum that were well received. There were AMA sessions with Airtable Staff, scripting competitions that were judged by Airtable Staff, polls about Extensions, interface designer contests, poster give-aways, live Table Talk sessions, etc. These events all benefited from having direct access to Airtable staff and presumably a budget.

[MaddieJ]

When I think about the Airtable community overall, I immediately think of how amazing it is to see the collaboration and passion everyone here has for Airtable (we have over 65,000 members here)! So every program that we launch is really created with the goal to help these like minded folks connect, learn, and share their Airtable wins and ideas.

These groups are meant to inspire, and we wouldn’t want participation to be seen as daunting. Rest assured, that @dariot and I are committed to supporting our volunteer user group leaders, and note that other teams here at Airtable are excited to get involved as well by presenting at our events and jumping into the forums. We know we have work to do here in the community, and we’re working hard to keep making this a fun and engaging place for everyone.

We’ve actually had quite a few people share that they’re stoked to be leaders so no worries if it’s not for you @kuovonne! We’d love to have you in the group, especially so you can see how the first few events go to give you a better sense of what you can expect. It’s going to be a fun place to be!

And for other folks out there who may be interested, let us know and we’ll share more. Yay for user groups!

[kuovonne]

I’m all for helping community members connect, share, and learn. I have learned so much from the Airtable community, and there is always more to learn. I look forward to seeing what you and your volunteer leaders come up with. It is good to hear that there will be participation by Airtable teams. 

[MaddieJ]

@kuovonne amazing! I'm right there with you, I feel like there's so much knowledge in this community and I'm so excited to tap into more of it with more community programs 🎉