Building LinkedIn's GenAI Platform — Xiaofeng Wang
Apr 16, 2025 · 17:53
Xiaofeng Wang, manager of LinkedIn's GenAI Foundation, explains the evolution of LinkedIn's GenAI platform from simple prompt-in string-out applications to a multi-agent system for LinkedIn Hire Assistant, arguing that a unified platform is critical for bridging the gap between AI and product engineers in the era of compound AI systems. He details the platform's four-layer architecture—orchestration, prompt engineering, tools/skills invocation, and memory management—and key investments like a Python SDK, centralized skill registry, experiential memory across working, long-term, and collective layers, and observability built on OpenTelemetry. Wang discusses hiring philosophy: prioritize strong software engineers over AI expertise, hire for potential, and build diverse teams integrating full-stack engineers, data scientists, and AI engineers. He recommends solving immediate needs first, leveraging existing scalable infrastructure like messaging systems for memory, and focusing on developer experience to drive adoption.
