An Interview With David Leichner, CMO at Cybellum – Published in Authority Magazine – November 4, 2024
AI as a Chief of Staff: With AI, we can finally have a “Chief of Staff” that takes over repetitive, mundane tasks, freeing up more time for creative and strategic thinking.
Aspart of our series about the future of Artificial Intelligence, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin Collins — CEO and Co-Founder of Charli AI.
Kevin Collins, Founder and CEO of Charli AI, has over 30 years of experience in AI and technology innovation. Before Charli AI, he co-founded Bit Stew Systems, where he spearheaded the development of AI applications for industrial IoT. His expertise in digital twins and scalable AI models is central to Charli AI’s mission to create solutions for complex tasks.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you share with us the ‘backstory” of how you decided to pursue this career path in AI?
From an early age, I’ve been fascinated by the potential of AI, a passion that began roughly 30 to 40 years ago. While the technology at the time was far less advanced, the core concepts were captivating — especially the idea of expert systems replicating human decision-making. This curiosity led me to focus my studies on AI and expert systems. As my career progressed, I dove into more sophisticated technologies, particularly during my time at Bit Stew Systems, where we explored machine learning and digital twin technology. My journey has been one of constant evolution, starting from foundational AI concepts aimed at simplifying complex human tasks. Now at Charli AI, we continue to build on that foundation, pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve.
What lessons can others learn from your story?
One key lesson is not to get caught up in the hype surrounding AI. It’s essential to focus on the fundamentals and critically think about the complexities of AI. Many people, including scientists, often overlook the importance of understanding the underlying principles and methods. AI is not magic; it’s a science that requires a deep understanding of various approaches and techniques. Practitioners need to eliminate the noise and concentrate on what truly matters.
Can you tell our readers about the most interesting projects you are working on now?
At Charli AI, we are working on a project that involves critical thinking in the complex problem space of finance. We’re developing systems that analyze complex, broad-market scenarios — something current language models struggle with. Our aim is to have AI think critically, considering multiple “what-if” scenarios across a vast spectrum of data, such as geopolitical and market information. We’ve already hit some key milestones, and it’s fascinating to watch the technology evolve from mimicking human thought to actually engaging in it.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
One of the most influential mentors in my career was Mike Battistel during my time at Motorola. As a young, somewhat cocky college graduate, Mike provided invaluable coaching on execution and business strategy. His guidance helped shape my perspective and set me on a path to running my own business. His mentorship was a game-changer, teaching me the importance of execution and strategic thinking.
What are the 5 things that most excite you about the AI industry? Why?
AI as a Chief of Staff: With AI, we can finally have a “Chief of Staff” that takes over repetitive, mundane tasks, freeing up more time for creative and strategic thinking.
Healthcare: AI’s ability to diagnose and monitor health can democratize healthcare access globally.
Government Efficiency: I see AI helping streamline government processes, reducing paperwork, and increasing productivity.
Fire-and-Forget Automation: The future of AI lies in automating tasks where humans can “fire and forget,” trusting AI to handle it.
Augmenting Human Abilities: I’m still fascinated by how AI is becoming more intelligent, moving beyond data crunching to actual assist and augment decision-making.
What are the 5 things that concern you about the AI industry? Why?
Abuse of Technology: I don’t trust people to use AI responsibly. There’s always a risk of people using AI for financial or personal gain.
Loss of Critical Thinking: People may become too dependent on AI, losing their ability to think critically and question information.
Homogeneous Perspectives: AI models, like ChatGPT, can create a single, homogenized view of the world, which is dangerous for diversity.
Authenticity Loss: As AI becomes more widespread, we’re losing authenticity in how we communicate, as everything starts sounding the same.
Energy Consumption: Some AI designs are unsustainable, consuming enormous amounts of energy, which we need to address urgently.
As you know, there is an ongoing debate between prominent scientists, (personified as a debate between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg,) about whether advanced AI poses an existential danger to humanity. What is your position about this?
I fully agree that AI can pose an existential danger to humanity. If we become overly dependent on AI, we risk losing the ability to think critically — a skill that is essential for survival. AI has the potential to be misused, and if we allow it to make too many decisions for us, we could lose the capability to make informed decisions ourselves and become very susceptible to the influences of AI.
What can be done to prevent such concerns from materializing? And what can be done to assure the public that there is nothing to be concerned about?
Regulations are necessary to ensure the responsible development and use of AI. Additionally, fostering competition in the AI market can prevent monopolies and promote diverse solutions. It’s crucial to design AI systems that are sustainable and do not consume excessive energy. We need to go back to the drawing board and come up with better designs that are both efficient, effective, diverse, observable, and responsible.
As you know, there are not that many women in your industry. Can you advise what is needed to engage more women into the AI industry?
We need to promote diversity and inclusion in the AI industry. This involves supporting women in STEM fields and ensuring they have opportunities to lead. One of the best scientists I’ve worked with is a woman from Iran, Dr. Alipour, who has an exceptional ability to apply science pragmatically and build an exceptional team. Her skills in AI are unmatched, and that’s precisely the kind of talent we need more of in this industry. At Charli, our Board of Advisors on the technology are predominantly women in STEM and this has allowed our company to succeed where others have struggled.
It’s important to recognize and promote the contributions of women in AI, providing them with the support and opportunities to succeed. Companies need to promote women in lead roles and provide them with the platform to be seen as leaders, not just contributors. The diversity of thought and approach that women bring to AI is critical for developing more innovative and sustainable designs.
What is your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that had relevance to your own life?
I have two favorite life lesson quotes. The first is, “Shit happens.” It may sound a bit blunt, but it’s a reality in business. Things rarely go as planned, and resilience is key to overcoming challenges.
The second is from Henry Ford: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” This has been especially relevant in my entrepreneurial journey. To create something innovative, you need to step outside of your comfort zone and do things differently. When we founded Bit Stew Systems, we knew we couldn’t just follow the established path. We had to innovate and push the boundaries, which eventually led to a successful acquisition.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share a story?
One of the lessons I learned after the successful exit of Bit Stew Systems is that money doesn’t fundamentally change who you are. For me, it became about reinvesting that success into the people around me — family, friends, and colleagues. I’ve always believed in success breeding success.
At Charli AI, I want to create an environment where others can thrive, just like Dr. Alipour, whom I mentioned earlier and have the upmost respect. My goal is to give talented individuals the opportunity to build their own companies and achieve their own successes. It’s about creating a positive cycle of growth and opportunity for everyone involved.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Post-Charli, I’m fascinated by the potential of sustainable agriculture, especially vertical farming. Agriculture is a major contributor to climate change, and I believe we can revolutionize the industry by investing in more sustainable methods and changing regulations to ensure innovation in this field can thrive. Vertical farming, for example, reduces land and water use while providing fresh food to more people, especially in urban areas. I’d love to start a movement that focuses on making sustainable agriculture a global priority, as it directly impacts climate change, food security, and health.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can follow my work on LinkedIn — (1) Kevin Collins | LinkedIn, through Charli AI’s website — Charli AI. Here you can find the latest updates on our latest projects and insights into the AI industry.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!