Welcome to another COO Wisdom Pod. We have David Colleen with us, the CEO of Sapient X, who's building the next generation of AI voice assistants using conversational characters to reinforce brands. This pod is presented to you by Pod.com. If you want to start or scale a podcast, go to Pod.com.
David Colleen shares his journey of over 20 years, from working with the earliest 3D on the internet to developing AI-powered synthetic characters for the US government. Initially, the focus was on creating a virtual Saddam Hussein for security purposes post-9/11. Though early tools were inadequate, the experience paved the way for creating sophisticated, AI-powered conversational characters.
In 2008, David's team started working on AI assistants for automotive navigation, launching Sage in 2010—the same year Siri and Google Assistant appeared. The work with automotive giants like BMW, Volvo, and Mitsubishi evolved, with AI characters integrated into car dashboards for various controls.
The chip shortage and COVID-19 led to a pivot: instead of auto R&D, they focused on AI characters for public interfaces, like vending machines. Their first customer was Amazon, where the system dispensed COVID supplies. The "Great Resignation" also opened new markets. With 2 million unfilled jobs in hospitality and healthcare, AI characters moved into roles such as hotel check-ins and healthcare clerical tasks, effectively becoming a digital staffing agency.
David's top goals as CEO include: raising funds on WeFunder to reach $ 1 million in revenue this year. Meeting this milestone can attract Series A investors. Current major customers are providing a strong basis for achieving this goal.
David studied architecture at Cornell, where he was inspired by the work in computer graphics. This led to using digital tools in architecture and eventually creating virtual San Francisco, the first 3D city on the internet in 1995. Since then, he has transitioned into software development, with a focus on AI and delightful conversational characters, inspired by pioneers like Walt Disney and Steve Jobs.
David is concerned about deep fakes and the ethics of AI. Sapient X is implementing transparency measures, such as stickers on all AI applications indicating AI interaction and explaining data usage. He argues for industry self-regulation to be proactive before political regulations stifle innovation.
Sapient X uses a hybrid system combining symbolic reasoning with GPT models, targeting 99% conversational accuracy. David criticizes the overhyped claims of companies using large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. He believes in responsible AI development, blending different AI types for optimal results.
The competition among AI giants like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft is healthy, though David advises caution regarding overhyped claims. He sees the future in hybrid systems, similar to how different brain lobes serve different functions.
For more information, visit Sapient X's website. You can also find them on social media or invest via WeFunder.
David Colleen remains committed to ethics, transparency, and delivering high-accuracy AI voice assistants that enhance user experiences.
Q: Who is David Colleen? A: David Colleen is the CEO of Sapient X, specializing in AI voice assistants with conversational characters.
Q: What is Sapient X known for? A: Sapient X is known for developing AI-powered conversational characters used in various industries like automotive, hospitality, and healthcare.
Q: How has Sapient X pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic? A: The company shifted focus from automotive R&D to creating AI interfaces for public spaces, addressing the high demand due to labor shortages.
Q: What are Sapient X's goals for the year? A: The primary goal is to raise funds on WeFunder and achieve $ 1 million in revenue to attract Series A investors.
Q: How does Sapient X ensure ethical AI practices? A: They implement transparency measures, such as stickers indicating AI interaction and data usage, and advocate for industry self-regulation.
Q: What makes Sapient X's AI system unique? A: They use a hybrid AI system combining symbolic reasoning with GPT models, targeting 99% accuracy in conversational tasks.
Q: How does David Colleen view the future competition in AI? A: He believes in healthy competition but advises against overhyping capabilities. He supports a blend of AI technologies for optimal results.
Q: Where can I find more information about Sapient X? A: Visit Sapient X's website or their WeFunder page to learn more.
In addition to the incredible tools mentioned above, for those looking to elevate their video creation process even further, Topview.ai stands out as a revolutionary online AI video editor.
TopView.ai provides two powerful tools to help you make ads video in one click.
Materials to Video: you can upload your raw footage or pictures, TopView.ai will edit video based on media you uploaded for you.
Link to Video: you can paste an E-Commerce product link, TopView.ai will generate a video for you.