The Munich startup creaidAI aims to make artificial intelligence technology accessible to a broad market with a flexible web-based development platform. Seven questions for the two founders, Dr. Denis Krompaß and Dr. Sigurd Spieckermann.
1. Who are you and what do you do? Please briefly introduce yourself and your startup!
We are Denis (CTO, 33 years old) and Sigurd (CEO, 30 years old) – the founders of creaidAI. We met about five years ago during our doctoral studies in machine learning at Siemens Corporate Technology in cooperation with LMU and TUM, respectively. Since spring 2015, we have been working in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) research at Siemens Corporate Technology and occasionally give guest lectures on deep learning at LMU.
Making AI more accessible
Our entrepreneurial journey began toward the end of our doctorates. We saw the major leaps in development in the AI software ecosystem. This increasingly enables experts to develop modern AI systems tailored to specific problems. Yet, developing AI systems remained a complex task—even for highly trained and highly paid experts. To make AI technology accessible to a broad market, lower the barriers to entry for newcomers, and increase the productivity of experts, we founded creaidAI in 2016.
creaidAI simplifies the development of complex AI systems through a web-based development platform that combines a graphical user interface for designing AI systems with automatic generation of readable, editable, and standardized source code. We address the entire AI development process, from configuring the development environment to productizing the trained AI system.
AI: Graphical representation, source code can be designed flexibly
2. But that's been around for a long time!
Of course, we're not building the first platform with a graphical interface for developing AI systems. However, no existing solution offers the degree of flexibility needed to easily develop innovative, problem-specific AI systems from idea to product. While graphical interfaces increase usability and productivity, they don't achieve the flexibility of source code. Our solution combines the advantages of both approaches.
Less magic, more solutions
3. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
The hype surrounding artificial intelligence and the media's distortion of the topic are leading to a divergence between wishful thinking and reality. We sometimes have to deliver the unpopular message that the current state of technology cannot "magically" solve all problems. Instead, a great deal of expertise, work, and experience is needed to develop solutions to relevant problems.
Only when someone understands what the term “AI” technically means and what the challenges are in developing such systems, the value and benefits of our solution become clear.
Want to test it yourself? It's possible with the creaidAI beta version
4. Let’s get down to business: How is business going?
We are currently leaving stealth mode and will soon release the first BETA version of our development and code generation platform.
5. What does Munich mean to you?
Munich combines top universities and a diverse range of companies, from startups to large corporations, with a strong focus on high-tech and innovation. This ecosystem offers optimal conditions for the success of a high-tech startup like ours.
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
Unicorn, of course. The market for artificial intelligence is growing rapidly, but so far only a few companies have been able to build a significant business on AI technology. While AI was primarily a research topic until a few years ago, its utilization is becoming increasingly important. With creaidAI, AI development is finally accessible to a broader market.
7. Helles or Prosecco?
Denis: Light!
Sigurd: Do you also have passion fruit spritzer?
