We were lucky to catch up with Alex Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alex, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
At the beginning of 2023, Alex found himself at an unexpected turning point when his position at Google was eliminated along with his entire research and development team. Rather than seeing this as a setback, he leveraged his extensive experience in AI – from developing radar-sensing technology in Pixel phones to creating smart wearables with major brands at Google ATAP – to dive deep into the emerging world of generative AI. He soon landed a position at a speech AI startup, where he continued to expand his expertise in AI technologies. However, history repeated itself when this position was also eliminated. But instead of being discouraged, these experiences crystallized something important: the AI landscape was rapidly evolving, and with it came both uncertainty and unprecedented opportunity.
In January 2024, Alex reached a moment of clarity. The question that had been driving him forward became even more pressing: “How will my kids use generative AI when they grow up?” The answer was crystal clear – AI would be woven into every aspect of their lives, from the technology in their phones to their education, and potentially even serve as a companion. This realization, coupled with his role as a father, inspired him to found Kazka AI.
His mission became clear: to make AI approachable, beneficial, and ethical for all. Drawing from his extensive experience – from business analysis in oil and gas to interactive production in advertising, and finally AI product management at Google – Alex positioned himself to help others, especially small and medium businesses, navigate the AI landscape responsibly.
The mission goes beyond merely implementing AI solutions; it’s about reclaiming our most valuable resource – time. Alex emphasizes that AI’s true power lies in its ability to accelerate decision-making and deepen understanding, serving as an always-ready thought partner. By making AI a best practice, we can work smarter, learn faster, and dive deeper into problems, while maintaining our role as strategic decision-makers equipped with a powerful productivity multiplier.
Through Kazka AI, Alex works to democratize access to AI technology while ensuring it’s implemented responsibly, making AI literacy accessible to everyone from business owners to the next generation who will grow up with this technology as an integral part of their lives.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
At Kazka AI, we make artificial intelligence approachable, beneficial, and ethical for everyone. We believe AI should enhance our daily lives, not complicate them.
Our work focuses on two areas: awareness and implementation. Through speaking engagements, we demystify AI and provide practical guidance. Through consulting, we help businesses integrate AI as a core capability – similar to how companies adapted to the internet era.
Our comprehensive approach includes:
Developing practical AI strategies
Creating clear usage policies
Providing hands-on training
Implementing targeted solutions
The impact is clear: employees typically gain back 4+ hours per week while improving work quality. Our solutions help teams eliminate repetitive tasks across:
Sales Enablement: Automating routine tasks and enhancing customer outreach
Account Management: AI-powered service delivery
Program Management: Automated meeting summaries and action tracking
Customer Support: Intelligent concierge bots that maintain your brand voice
What sets us apart is our focus on practical, ethical AI implementation. We don’t just talk about AI’s potential – we help businesses realize it in ways that respect both human expertise and technological innovation.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One important lesson I learned is that sometimes it’s okay to do free work, especially when your business is just starting. I lost my first client because we were on a deliverables-based fee structure. As we transitioned from one phase of the project to the next, their uncertainty to commit to the new scope made me pause work, which ultimately cost me the client. In hindsight, I wish I had completed the project, even without payment, as it could have served as a great case study and potentially led to more work with them.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Co-Intelligence Book Yourself Solid
Speak Your Way to Cash
Contact Info:Website: www.kazka.ai
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kazka-ai-consulting/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KazkaAI
Image Credits
Yes!
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