An Interview With Chad Silverstein
Turning Data into Actionable Knowledge. Companies are inundated with massive amounts of data, be it structured or unstructured, across a multitude of systems. AI can ‘talk to’ these systems to de-silo the data, analyze it, contextualize it, and then create actionable insights from it. We’ve seen businesses of all sizes utilizing Mindbreeze InSpire to unify all types of data — everything from customer emails to product manuals — to make critical knowledge available instantly across teams.
In today’s tech-driven world, artificial intelligence has become a key enabler of business success. But the question remains — how can businesses effectively harness AI to address their unique challenges while staying true to ethical principles? To explore this topic further, we are interviewing Daniel Fallmann.
Fallmann has led Mindbreeze with a commitment to building a product-first organization. His focus on delivering out-of-the-box solutions that work seamlessly without the need for heavy professional services has set Mindbreeze apart in the AI-driven technology landscape. Under his leadership, the company has prioritized hiring top talent in every area, ensuring the product is robust and able to meet the needs of customers right from the start. Daniel’s hands-on approach and deep understanding of the product reflect his dedication to creating value that delivers beyond initial expectations.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better…Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path in AI?
Although my background comes from the computer science and mathematics space, I’ve always carried a deep passion for creating products that can deliver real insights based on information. My time working with enterprise data shone a light on the fact that companies need help getting real insights from their data, because enterprise data is typically a huge and convoluted database with different silos and types of data. This led my focus on AI, which started over 20 years ago.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started working with artificial intelligence?
It’s a story we often see here at Mindbreeze, but when these large enterprises are able to unlock critical data that they would’ve never pieced together before. These key data points were alive and well within their data sets, but due to the sheer size and difficulty of accessing them, they had no idea it existed. One company, in particular, was able to find connections between product issues and field reports across continents simply because our AI understood the semantics of the information, not just keywords. To me, this is the real impact of AI, taking convoluted data piles and reshaping them into actionable business insights.
You are a successful leader in the AI space. Which three characters traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
The first trait that comes to mind is curiosity. From the very beginning of my business journey, I’ve asked myself, “How can we teach machines to truly understand information?”. It’s from this question that Mindbreeze was born, and it’s because of this question that we continue to push the boundaries of innovation today.
The next that comes to mind is a particular mindset we carry here at Mindbreeze: measure — learn — improve. What makes AI incredible is just how many possibilities it can unlock due to how dynamic it is. On the flip side of that, it can be challenging to keep up with innovations if your processes aren’t dynamic enough to match. One example of this that comes to mind is we did a release for a new semantic search feature. While it looked promising on paper, customer usage data told a different story. We took that feedback, worked closely with users, and iterated quickly — turning it into one of our most impactful features.
Lastly, but certainly not least, is to have empathy at top of mind in all our work. Our customers are at the core of what we do, so understanding their needs and roadblocks is vital to us. The way in which we designed our product, Mindbreeze InSpire, is a reflection of my time sitting in with customers and learning about their processes.
Let’s jump to the primary focus of our interview… Can you share a specific example of how you or your organization used AI to solve a major business challenge? What was the problem, and how did AI help address it?
One example that comes to mind is with one of our customers from the metal and manufacturing industry, where they were looking to improve their overall workflow and speed at which they could complete projects. Due to their size, they had trouble with being able to process mass amounts of data. In addition, they also suffered from major data silos, which caused a massive roadblock in terms of seamless data transfers. In order to help their team, see the power of AI, we started by developing our 360-degree views for specific individuals to give them a better snapshot of the important information they needed on a day-to-day basis. From there, we were able to develop their own unique tool called ‘Insight’, which they use for cross-departmental sharing of data. This insights tool has seen great success and is being brought to more departments, with them planning on doubling usage over the next year.
To me, this is a great example of the ‘land and expand’ idea of companies starting with a targeted, specific approach to utilizing AI, and expanding the possibilities from there. We saw an immediate opportunity that our 360-degree views could provide their team and knew that it could have an instant impact on helping them speed up their processes without sacrificing security or compliance. To see how much they’ve grown in their AI usage over the past couple of years is a testament to the power of AI’s ability to scale when there is buy in from the entire executive team.
What are some of the common misconceptions you’ve encountered about using AI in business?
For me, there are three major misconceptions I’ve seen across all industries when it comes to AI adoption. One of the most common misconceptions I’ve seen is this idea that AI is some kind of magic switch — that you plug it in, and suddenly, your business transforms overnight. Because of how fast AI innovation is moving, there’s a surprising assumption that AI is easy to integrate and doesn’t require much involvement from people once it’s implemented. That is simply not the case. In truth, effective AI requires clean data, a solid understanding of business goals, and a strong buy-in from the executives whose department it’s affecting.
Another misconception is that AI is only for tech giants or highly technical industries. That’s simply not true. Every company, regardless of size or sector, can benefit from AI. Businesses have a wealth of information siloed in systems, emails, documents, or databases that are just waiting to be utilized. AI can be a powerful tool to gain insight into that information, but many companies don’t realize it’s accessible to them too.
And then there’s the fear that AI will replace people entirely. That narrative has gained a lot of traction, especially with the rise of generative AI. But from my perspective, the real power of AI lies in augmenting human intelligence. When designed and deployed responsibly, AI helps people make better decisions faster. It frees up time for creative thinking and problem-solving. That’s where the true value lies.
How do you address those misconceptions?
First and foremost, we build our products to speak for themselves. At Mindbreeze, we focus on delivering out-of-the-box solutions that immediately create value — without the need for endless customization or long professional service engagements. That’s not to say our solution isn’t highly customizable, it’s quite the opposite in fact. It is the fact that our solution can be tailored to the specific needs of any given employee across the enterprise that makes quelling these misconceptions a reality for our customers each and every day.
When we engage with customers, we spend a lot of time understanding their actual business needs. We help them see that the success of any AI initiative depends on how well it integrates with their people and processes. It’s not about selling hype; it’s about delivering clarity. We show them what’s possible, but we also set realistic expectations. That honesty builds trust.
In your opinion, what is the most significant way AI can make a positive impact on businesses today?
The most significant impact AI can have right now is unlocking the full potential of a company’s internal knowledge and deliver actionable insights from it. Every business is sitting on a goldmine of information. Much of it, however, is hidden in department-specific silos or buried in unstructured formats. AI can bring structure to that chaos. Beyond speed and efficiency, I believe AI’s real value is in its ability to elevate people. As I mentioned before AI is at its best, acting as a digital suit of armor for humans. It helps employees focus on high-value work and support decisions with data-driven insights. All in all, this creates a smarter organization holistically.
In that sense, AI isn’t about replacing people. It’s about enhancing their ability to think, act, and innovate. That’s the future we’re building toward — and that’s where AI can make the most meaningful impact today.
Can you please share “5 Ways AI Can Solve Complex Business Problems”? These can be strategies, insights, or tools that companies can use to make the most of AI in addressing their challenges.
1. Turning Data into Actionable Knowledge
Companies are inundated with massive amounts of data, be it structured or unstructured, across a multitude of systems. AI can ‘talk to’ these systems to de-silo the data, analyze it, contextualize it, and then create actionable insights from it. We’ve seen businesses of all sizes utilizing Mindbreeze InSpire to unify all types of data — everything from customer emails to product manuals — to make critical knowledge available instantly across teams.
2. Enabling Smarter Decision-Making
AI is at its best when it is aiding, not replacing. Lean on AI to strengthen the human ability to decision making. A great example of this comes from one of our major manufacturing clients. They use AI from predictive maintenance by correlating sensor data with historical service records, in turn reducing their downtime and optimizing production overall.
3. Automating Repetitive, Knowledge-Intensive Tasks
As mentioned before, AI its best when it is aiding humans by enabling them to do what they do best. Answering repetitive and time-consuming tasks is not that. AI can automate things like repeated searching, summarizing, or reviewing information to unlock new efficiencies for staff. For instance, we helped a financial services client streamline compliance checks by using AI to scan and interpret regulations in real time — saving hundreds of hours each month.
4. Enhancing Customer and Employee Experiences
This point ties directly into the aforementioned one, but when humans are freed up from repetitive tasks to focus on more meaningful work, it enhances their overall experience. Additionally, happy employees almost always lead to happier customers.
5. Driving a Culture of Continuous Learning
The best way to grow is by trying and learning. AI, by its design, works best when it is in a feedback-driven loop. For example, one of our customers initially launched a basic internal search powered by AI. After some time of training the AI through constant feedback, analytics, and iteration, they were able to transform it into a true knowledge ecosystem that adapts and improves continuously.
How can smaller businesses or startups, with limited budgets, begin to integrate AI into their operations effectively?
Start small and focus on real pain points. The most successful launches of AI integrations are ones that have major buy in from the departments that are looking for them. Although AI can have a major impact company-wide, getting your “foot in the door” so to speak is the best way to get started.
What advice would you give to business leaders who are hesitant to adopt AI because of fear, misconceptions, or lack of understanding?
Start small, but start now. AI doesn’t have to be a massive, risky leap — it can begin with solving one specific pain point. The biggest misconception is that AI is some mysterious black box. In reality, it’s a powerful tool that, when applied thoughtfully, enhances human expertise rather than replaces it.
I always advise leaders to focus on business value first, not technology. Identify where your teams spend too much time searching for information or making repeated decisions. That’s where AI can bring real ROI.
And finally, surround yourself with partners who speak both business and tech. At Mindbreeze, we’ve helped many organizations take their first AI steps — not with buzzwords, but with tangible results. Once leaders see what’s possible, the fear quickly turns into momentum.
In your opinion, how will AI continue to shape the business world over the next 5–10 years? Are there any trends or emerging innovations you’re particularly excited about?
AI is going to go from being a standalone tool to a mission-critical part of daily business processes. We’ll see smarter, more intuitive systems that provide deep insights based on company knowledge. I’m especially excited about AI’s ability to make enterprise knowledge truly accessible in real-time.
How do you think the use of AI to solve business problems influences relationships with customers, employees, and the broader community?
It builds trust, but only when done right. AI can improve responsiveness, reduce frustration, and help employees do their jobs better. But it has to be transparent, ethical, and grounded in real value. When people feel supported instead of feeling like they’re threated by AI, relationships see a big improvement.
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 through AI, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If I could start a movement, it would be called “Insight for Everyone” — a global initiative to democratize understanding through AI.
We live in a world overwhelmed by data, but access to information isn’t the same as understanding it. What people truly need — whether they’re nurses, engineers, or business leaders — is the ability to instantly make sense of that information and apply it to real decisions. That’s where AI can make a profound difference.
At Mindbreeze, we focus on turning data into validated, contextualized insight. I’ve always been a very fact-driven person — my background is in computer science and mathematics, and I strongly believe in making decisions based on facts, not assumptions or guesswork. This mindset is deeply embedded in how we build our products and help our customers. Our AI isn’t about making wild predictions — it’s about surfacing meaningful, accurate information from across complex systems to support confident, informed decisions.
Imagine a world where insight flows naturally to everyone in an organization — where frontline employees, domain experts, and executives alike are empowered by AI to act on facts in real-time. That’s the movement I would lead. Because when we make understanding accessible to all, we unlock better decisions, stronger organizations, and a smarter, more connected world.
How can our readers further follow you online?
This was great. Thank you so much for the time you spent sharing with us.
About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator.
Daniel Fallmann Of Mindbreeze On How Artificial Intelligence Can Solve Business Problems was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.