An Interview With Chad Silverstein
Enhancing Decision-Making with Streamlined Data Access: AI can solve complex business challenges by providing streamlined access to intelligent automated applications, making domain experts’ jobs much easier. For example, a retail company could leverage advanced analytics platforms to analyze sales data in real time, reducing decision-making time.
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 Dustin Johnson.
Dustin Johnson, Chief Technology Officer at Seeq, is responsible for the design and implementation of Seeq’s software products. He is a founding partner at Seeq and has played a critical role in growing Seeq’s product offering to meet the needs of Seeq’s ever-expanding and diverse customer base. Johnson has more than 15 years of experience in the software industry. Prior to joining Seeq, Johnson served as a Chief Engineer at aerospace startup Insitu, where he led a diverse and talented group of software engineers. He has enjoyed a varied career ranging from space launch support to the development of Wireshark, a popular network analyzer.
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?
I’ve worked with time series data for well over a decade, and some of the more powerful investigative techniques involved what are now classed as Machine Learning. Recently, with the rise of GenAI, my engineering team and I have been deeply involved in crafting industry-specific solutions built off the shoulders of the giants in the GenAI space.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started working with artificial intelligence?
Early on I was shocked to learn, from the output of an LLM loaded with the appropriate context, a new way of using a computation language that I had designed and built many years ago. To be instructed on my own creation was an eye-opening moment on the power — dare I say creativity — potential of AI.
You are a successful leader in the AI space. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Embracing the new — It’s a tough balancing act to jump at just the right technologies, but with AI the potential was obvious almost immediately.
Significant value is present in specializing technology for a domain or vertical.
Be Enthusiastically Conservative — Under promise and over deliver. It’s especially difficult to do in the era of AI hype.
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?
As its senior subject matter experts were beginning to retire, British Sugar, a food and beverage processor, needed to manage challenges with workforce skills gaps and loss of corporate knowledge. The company reported it required 10 years to fully skill some of its technical experts, as data was spread across silos.
Leveraging GenAI capabilities, British Sugar developed an Advanced Insights Centre where experts could use automated analytics to capture technical knowledge in real time. The new solutions enabled experts to ask an AI Assistant questions about various datasets, including other relevant information, including impacts, potential causes and suggested actions.
The AI then would search the data in the conditions determined by the SME and assemble a response based on their role-based persona so they can make impactful data-driven decisions more quickly. With the AI Assistant, they are forecasting to dramatically increase the efficiency of their technical teams and cut the time to skill an expert by half. After moving to the cloud, British Sugar has achieved rapid user adoption, accelerated expansion, and propelled itself to the forefront GenAI work,
What are some of the common misconceptions you’ve encountered about using AI in business? How do you address those misconceptions?
You can’t just throw generic “AI” at a problem. As with any technology, there must be specialization, thought, and intentional care put into leveraging the available technology to solve your business need.
In your opinion, what is the most significant way AI can make a positive impact on businesses today?
Information and insight discovery. No longer will employees need to find data to then manipulate it into telling its tale. Employees will largely be able to skip a step, jumping right into asking the question and then working with an AI-fueled product to fine tune the relevant data, analysis, and display all at the same time.
Ok, let’s dive deeper. Based on your experience and research, 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. If possible, please share examples or stories for each.
- Enhancing Decision-Making with Streamlined Data Access: AI can solve complex business challenges by providing streamlined access to intelligent automated applications, making domain experts’ jobs much easier. For example, a retail company could leverage advanced analytics platforms to analyze sales data in real time, reducing decision-making time.
- Optimizing Resource Efficiency: AI addresses multiple inefficiencies by identifying and mitigating data challenges. For instance, a manufacturing firm might use AI to optimize supply chain logistics, cutting waste through predictive maintenance.
- Improving Compliance and Governance: AI supports strong data governance to ensure privacy and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR), solving many problems related to data quality. For example, a healthcare provider could implement AI to automate patient data compliance checks, reducing violations.
- Complementing Human Expertise: AI, with proper human oversight, tackles multiple complex problems by augmenting rather than replacing experts. For instance, a financial services company could use AI-assisted fraud detection alongside human analysts to increase accuracy.
- Driving Cultural Transformation: Aligning with the Human-AI Teaming (HAIT) model, AI can foster a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, helping to overcome organizational resistance. For example, if a tech startup trained its team in AI, it could lead to an increase in process innovation, driving improved results and higher job satisfaction, as well as revenue.
How can smaller businesses or startups, with limited budgets, begin to integrate AI into their operations effectively?
Smaller businesses or startups can begin integrating AI by reaching out to existing suppliers for insight and support. These suppliers often offer affordable AI tools or pilot programs, enabling low-cost experimentation for smaller businesses or startups. Beginning slowly with small-scale projects — such as automating customer service with chatbots — allows gradual adoption without significant upfront investment or resistance, leveraging supplier expertise to bridge resource gaps.
What advice would you give to business leaders who are hesitant to adopt AI because of fear, misconceptions, or lack of understanding?
In 2025’s uncertain landscape, business leaders should educate themselves on AI to distinguish genuine capabilities from marketing hype or “AI washing”. AI requires human oversight and while not a magic bullet, by leveraging the HAIT model, organizations can fine-tune and customize a solution. Starting with pilot projects and fostering a culture of continuous learning can build confidence, dispelling pushback fears of replacement and highlighting AI’s complementary role.
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?
Global AI impacts trends will include further enhancing interoperability and driving intelligent automation, though uncertainties like data privacy will persist. I am excited about the HAIT culture, where AI augments human expertise, and emerging innovations like AI-powered analytics platforms that redefine operations, as seen in early adopters’ efficiency gains.
How do you think the use of AI to solve business problems influences relationships with customers, employees, and the broader community?
By engaging stakeholders via transparent, data-driven initiatives, AI can influence relationships positively by empowering employees. For example, AI can empower organization-wide efficiencies at scale, resulting in not only higher job satisfaction, but also improving customer experiences through personalized services (e.g., AI chatbots reducing response times).
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. 
I would launch a transformative movement called “AI for Sustainable Impact,” modeled on Seeq’s pioneering sustainability initiatives to boost resource efficiency and slash environmental impact across global industries. For instance, Seeq’s advanced analytics optimizes manufacturing energy use, reducing carbon emissions. This effort would cultivate a global Human-AI Teaming culture, empowering millions with sustainable growth and resilience, amplifying the good technology can bring to humanity.
How can our readers further follow you online?
You can follow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-d-johnson/.
This was great. Thank you so much for the time you spent sharing with us.
Dustin Johnson of Seeq Corporation 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.