Alexander Vasylenko, a financial analyst for a major steel producer and an AI trainer, is navigating a rapidly evolving landscape in finance, shaped by advancements in artificial intelligence. Originally from Ukraine and now residing in New York, Vasylenko began his career as a stock trader before transitioning to work at CIBC in Canada. His recent foray into AI training has significantly altered his professional trajectory, as he adapts to the increasing integration of AI in financial analysis.
Vasylenko’s perspective highlights a seismic shift in the financial sector over the past two years. “Two years ago, I would have had to walk an AI model through every single step and input to have a large language model calculate free cash flow,” he explained. “Now, I can provide five PDF files, reference three outside sources, and ask the model to use these assumptions to calculate free cash flow.” This progression, while impressive, has prompted him to consider how his relevance might be affected as AI capabilities continue to expand.
His journey into AI training began in 2023, during a challenging job search for roles related to equity valuation. Despite multiple interviews yielding no offers, a recruiter contacted him via LinkedIn regarding a position to train AI models with financial expertise. Initially skeptical, he soon found enjoyment in the work, realizing it allowed him to leverage his background while contributing to a transformative technology.
Vasylenko’s current work schedule is demanding; he spends his weekdays as a financial analyst until 5 PM, then dedicates his evenings to AI training until 9 PM, often working on Saturdays and occasionally Sundays. This rigorous routine has granted him firsthand experience in how AI models are improving in financial analysis, to the point where crafting prompts that can challenge these models requires significant effort, sometimes up to a full day’s work.
His dual roles have proven lucrative and fulfilling, as he contributes to a technology that is increasingly poised to influence various industries, including finance. “By understanding how this works and will impact my job, I’ll be better prepared when the changes come,” he noted. Vasylenko’s professional background includes a stint as a stock trader in Ukraine and an analyst role at CIBC before he moved to New York, where he currently analyzes economic impacts on his company’s performance.
While Vasylenko initially earned $30 an hour with his first AI training job, he quickly learned that this rate was below industry standards. His current projects, undertaken mostly during weekends and after hours, net him between $50 and $70 an hour for prompt writing, with reviewers earning even higher rates, reflecting the ongoing need for human expertise in AI development. “The growth in pay suggests that AI is still dependent on humans,” he stated, underscoring the current demand for skilled professionals in this domain.
In his AI training role, Vasylenko focuses on creating challenging prompts for large language models. His work requires crafting tasks that are complex enough to stump the AI, all while ensuring clarity in the instructions provided. The process of writing such prompts has become increasingly time-consuming, taking between three to eight hours, with the potential for even longer durations as the complexity of tasks grows.
Looking ahead, Vasylenko is optimistic about the intersection of finance and AI. He believes that professionals who can effectively integrate their domain knowledge with AI will thrive in the future landscape. “The people who will evolve in this environment are those who know their subject matter well and those who know how to combine their knowledge with AI,” he said. As financial analysts increasingly collaborate with AI tools, the landscape of the industry is set for substantial transformation, with those prepared for these changes likely to excel.
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