Nick King of Data Kinetic On the Future of Artificial Intelligence
An Interview With David Leichner
Complex Interactions: As we push the boundaries of AI, understanding how models and agents interact becomes crucial. Without a deep comprehension of these interactions, we risk unforeseen consequences and inefficiencies in our AI systems.
As a part of our series about the future of Artificial Intelligence, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nick King.
Nick is the CEO and Founder of Data Kinetic, a platform agnostic industry-focused applied AI research, development, and advisory company. At Data Kinetic, Nick, a 20-year veteran in the AI sector, is focused on driving the applied use of AI/ML with enterprise companies. Previous to Data Kinetic, Nick has worked across multiple startups and open source projects from Snowplow, to DataRobot. He has also held roles at Microsoft, Google, VMware, and Cisco focusing on applied technologies and platforms.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell our readers about the most interesting projects you are working on now?
We’re hyperfocused on leveraging the power of Applied AI to transform industries and deliver tangible value in real-world applied environments. Currently we’re working with oil and gas and healthcare focusing our research on “agents” or “chains of agents,” our approach is deeply rooted in creating AI applications tailored for real-world use cases. These applications are designed with the robustness, security, and performance required for production-grade deployment. Central to our methodology is the Declarative AI approach, which we’re extending to agents. This allows for the rapid composition of Applied AI applications, reducing time-to-market and ensuring that teams can concentrate on the final stages of application delivery.
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?
Being involved in the early development of cloud platforms like Google Cloud and Azure was a unique and impactful experience. During those foundational days, I had the opportunity to engage with visionaries and enthusiasts. Together, we brainstormed and debated the potential of cloud computing, mobility, and modern application frameworks, directly influencing the creation of many tools and services we rely on today. It’s remarkable to see how those initial discussions have shaped the current digital landscape.
There are so many leaders that gave me time when I was learning that gave their time to explain rationale in approach, Bob Muglia, Doug Leland, Eugene Saburi, Rajen Sheth, Diane Green, Jeremy Cooper, Sanjay Poonen, Robin Matlock, and many others.
What are the 5 things that most excite you about the AI industry? Why?
Real-World Impact with Agents: Our focus isn’t just on theoretical AI applications; it’s about harnessing the power of agents to bridge gaps between systems in real-world scenarios. Witnessing our AI models and agents drive change and bring tangible value to industries is genuinely exhilarating.
Rapid Deployment through Declarative AI Models: Our unique approach to Declarative AI, combined with the use of agents, allows us to compose AI applications at a record-setting pace. This not only reduces time-to-market but also ensures that our clients get efficient, interconnected solutions tailored to their needs.
Collaborative Innovation for Seamless Integration: By working closely with industry leaders and visionaries, and leveraging agents, we’re able to seamlessly integrate disparate systems. These collaborations push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI, bridging silos and creating unified solutions.
Platform-Agnostic Deployment with Guardrails: Our ability to work across various AI platforms, bolstered by agents, ensures that we’re always leveraging the best tools for the job. This flexibility, paired with built-in guardrails, ensures that we deliver top-tier AI solutions safely and efficiently.
Continuous Learning, Adaptation, and Interconnection: AI’s true potential lies in its ability to learn, adapt, and interconnect systems. Our models and agents are designed to continuously evolve, ensuring that we’re always at the cutting edge, bridging systems, and providing the best solutions to our clients.
What are the 5 things that concern you about the AI industry? Why?
Misleading Marketing & AI-Washing: The landscape is rife with companies either exaggerating their AI capabilities or ‘AI-washing’ their products — labeling them as AI-driven without substantial AI functionality. Both practices add to market confusion, set unrealistic expectations, and dilute the value of genuine AI solutions.
Complex Interactions: As we push the boundaries of AI, understanding how models and agents interact becomes crucial. Without a deep comprehension of these interactions, we risk unforeseen consequences and inefficiencies in our AI systems.
Guardrails and Transparency: The rapid growth of AI demands robust guardrails. Ensuring that AI models and agents operate within defined and ethical boundaries is paramount. Moreover, transparency in how these systems function and make decisions is essential to maintain trust and ensure they align with our values.
Exposure to Upstream Attacks: As the demand for AI solutions grows, there’s increasing pressure to rapidly update tool chains. This haste can create opportunities for third parties to infiltrate these tools, posing a significant risk. Such vulnerabilities can grant malicious actors access to critical data, undermining the security and trustworthiness of our AI systems.
Meaningful AI Education: One of the pressing challenges is ensuring that industries across the board have access to meaningful AI education. It’s vital that businesses and professionals understand how to leverage modern AI tools and technologies effectively. Without this foundational knowledge, industries risk missing out on the transformative potential of AI or misapplying it.
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?
To answer whether AI is a friend or foe, with big names like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg taking sides. Now, while everyone’s hyped about understanding data (and they should be), we’ve got to remember that data’s just the starting point. It’s what we do with it that counts. The real kicker? If we’re not careful, AI could end up being this exclusive club where only a few get the perks, leaving others out in the cold. That’s the real worry. So, instead of just geeking out on data, we need to get savvy about solutions. We’ve got to think big picture, making sure everyone gets a slice of the AI pie and that we’re all playing it safe. It’s not about being scared of AI, but more about making sure it’s cool for everyone.
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?
Accessible Education: It’s essential to make AI and tech education available to a broader audience. An informed public can maximize AI’s benefits and navigate its challenges more effectively.
Promote Open Source: Championing open-source AI tools and research ensures that innovation is not just confined to specific entities but is accessible to the wider community.
Encourage Public Discourse: An ongoing dialogue about the potential benefits and challenges of AI can help the industry and users shape a balanced future for the technology.
Prioritize Transparency: Companies should be clear about their AI applications and methodologies. Being transparent not only fosters trust but also ensures that users understand the technology they’re interacting with.
Support Community Initiatives: Backing community-driven AI projects can lead to more user-centric solutions and ensure that a diverse range of needs and voices are considered in AI’s development.
Collaborative Development: Encourage collaborations between AI developers, users, and industry experts. Such partnerships can lead to more robust and user-friendly AI solutions.
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?
Absolutely, the underrepresentation of women in the AI industry is a pressing concern, and addressing it requires a multifaceted approach:
1. Early STEM Engagement: One of the foundational steps is to introduce STEM education at an early age in schools. By making subjects like math, science, and technology engaging and accessible from the get-go, we can foster interest and passion. Tailored programs and workshops that break down complex concepts into relatable, real-world applications can make a significant difference.
2. Inclusive Curriculum: It’s crucial to ensure that the curriculum is inclusive and highlights the contributions of women and other underrepresented groups in STEM. By showcasing diverse role models, we can inspire and show young girls that they too can be pioneers in the field.
3. Mentorship Programs: Establishing mentorship programs where young women can connect with professionals in the AI and broader tech industry can provide invaluable guidance. These relationships can offer insights, advice, and encouragement, helping them navigate the challenges of the industry.
4. Scholarships and Grants: Offering scholarships and grants specifically for women pursuing AI and related fields can alleviate financial barriers and encourage more women to delve deep into the subject.
5. Continuous Learning: AI, as a field, is ever-evolving. Emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and providing resources for the same can help women stay updated and build upon their knowledge. Workshops, online courses, and seminars can be instrumental in this regard.
6. Community Building: Creating and promoting women-centric AI communities and forums can offer a supportive environment for women to share, learn, and collaborate. Such platforms can provide networking opportunities and a sense of belonging.
What is your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that had relevance to your own life?
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
This quote emphasizes the importance of perseverance and consistency. Many people face challenges and setbacks, but the key is to keep moving forward, no matter the pace. It’s a reminder that progress, no matter how slow, is still progress. There have been times where I’ve begun to doubt my own ability to deliver something, but with perseverance, and time, all problems are solvable.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share a story?
I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to hire and manage 100’s of people over my career. I’ve tried to provide transparency and provide deep understanding for people into the technologies and GTM approaches we’ve leveraged and pass on what I’ve been coached and learned along the way. My hope is that they too pass on that knowledge and understanding.
You are a person of great most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I’d love to see communities share more projects that people can collaborate on at the local level that ideally gives opportunities for everyone to build AI.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow us at
Website: www.datakinetic.com
Linkedin — https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-king/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
About The Interviewer: David Leichner is a veteran of the Israeli high-tech industry with significant experience in the areas of cyber and security, enterprise software and communications. At Cybellum, a leading provider of Product Security Lifecycle Management, David is responsible for creating and executing the marketing strategy and managing the global marketing team that forms the foundation for Cybellum’s product and market penetration. Prior to Cybellum, David was CMO at SQream and VP Sales and Marketing at endpoint protection vendor, Cynet. David is the Chairman of the Friends of Israel and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Technology College. He holds a BA in Information Systems Management and an MBA in International Business from the City University of New York.
