In this interview, Mike Vizard sits down with Sohini Avirneni, CEO of Koantek, to discuss the evolving landscape of AI services and partnerships, especially in light of their recent investment from Databricks. Sohini explains that organizations with a fully established 360-degree data platform—including robust cloud infrastructure, security, and data modeling capabilities—may not need external partners. However, when projects become multidimensional, engaging a partner like Koantek can provide the deep technical expertise, repeatable assets, and close product integrations necessary to drive success.
Sohini emphasizes that building and deploying effective AI solutions requires a blend of diverse skill sets. Koantek trains its teams to become versatile “AI engineers” by integrating expertise from data science, engineering, and DevOps. This integrated approach is essential because most organizations lack the full spectrum of capabilities in-house. By starting with small, proof-of-concept projects and aligning with key business stakeholders, Koantek helps clients overcome the fear of missing out (FOMO) while ensuring that the AI initiatives are grounded in clear business value and scalable infrastructure.
The conversation also highlights a critical insight: Successful AI adoption isn’t just about technology—it’s about re-engineering flawed business processes. Sohini notes that many companies expose existing process inefficiencies when scaling AI, making it essential to reexamine and optimize workflows before full automation. As the pace of AI development accelerates, there’s a growing need for streamlined training and a strategic, unified approach that breaks down silos. Ultimately, organizations are advised to focus on a few high-impact use cases and choose partners who prioritize security, ROI, and a holistic view of data management and business alignment.
