European companies shouldn’t have to choose between innovation and data control. When organizations use external AI services, they often unknowingly surrender their most valuable asset: their data. The future belongs to solutions that keep data within company infrastructure. This is particularly crucial in Europe, where maintaining data independence while driving innovation has become a strategic priority.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries at a breakneck pace, and the entrepreneurs driving this innovation are at the forefront of this revolution. From groundbreaking applications to ethical considerations, these visionaries are shaping the future of AI. What does it take to innovate in such a rapidly evolving field, and how are these entrepreneurs using AI to solve real-world problems? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Leo Benkel.
Leo Benkel is the founder and CTO of The Artificial Business, a Luxembourg-based company specializing in secure, on-premises AI solutions. With over a decade of experience in Silicon Valley’s AI ecosystem, he has successfully led multiple large scale data projects. In addition to founding The Artificial Business, Leo also established PURE LAMBDA in Luxembourg, demonstrating his commitment to advancing European technological sovereignty.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory and how you grew up?
My journey into technology began in the suburbs of Paris, where I grew up in a household that merged creativity with technology. My father, an entrepreneur in the visual effects industry, brought cutting-edge technology, at the time, into our home during the early days of digital transformation. I still smile thinking about one of my earliest contributions — a childhood drawing that became my father’s company logo.
What set my path was early exposure to computers and programming. While other kids were playing with traditional toys, I was exploring Visual Basic, discovering the joy of building something from nothing. This foundation was complemented by unexpected lessons from multiplayer gaming, where I learned about teamwork and strategic thinking by coordinating with players across different time zones.
Looking back, this blend of creativity, technology, and collaborative experience shaped my current work in artificial intelligence and business leadership.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Looking back at my career journey, one story stands out — transforming what could have been a setback into an unexpected breakthrough.
I was organizing a company-wide hackathon, bringing together hundreds of collaborators across multiple teams. We had planned workshops and designed collaborative sessions. Then, just weeks before the event, COVID-19 hit. Instead of canceling, we faced a choice: postpone or reimagine what was possible.
We chose to innovate. Within days, we transformed a traditionally in-person event into a fully virtual experience. What initially seemed like a limitation became an opportunity. We developed new ways of fostering virtual collaboration and ultimately reached more participants than our original plan would have allowed.
This experience reflects my career philosophy: success often comes from saying “yes” to opportunities that push you outside your comfort zone. I’ve always focused on delivering good work rather than getting caught up in organizational politics. While this approach might seem straightforward, it has consistently led to interesting outcomes and meaningful growth.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
The pivotal moments in our careers often come from unexpected mentors. For me, that mentor was my first CEO who took a chance on a student from France, offering me an internship that became the launching pad for my career in technology.
What made this relationship special was how he fundamentally shifted my perspective on risk and opportunity. Instead of treating me just as an intern, he shared insights about investment strategies and long-term wealth building. Under his mentorship, I learned to view risk not as something to avoid, but as a calculated tool for growth.
This mentorship proved invaluable during the startup’s acquisition by Citrix, where I witnessed firsthand how strategic decisions play out in high-stakes situations. His most lasting impact was encouraging me to start investing early — both in startups and real estate. Today, my investment portfolio includes several promising startups, investments I might never have considered without his early guidance.
What began as a simple internship evolved into a lasting friendship that continues to influence my decisions today. It’s a reminder of how powerful it can be when someone believes in your potential and takes the time to nurture it.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Let me share three quotes that have profoundly shaped my perspective on technology and innovation. Arthur C. Clarke’s observation that “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” resonates deeply with my work in AI. However, it’s his lesser-known quote, “It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value,” that serves as a humbling reminder about the importance of wisdom over mere intelligence.
But perhaps the quote that truly guides my approach to innovation comes from Isaac Asimov: “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” While this might seem disconnected from technology at first glance, it perfectly encapsulates my philosophy about ethical innovation. In the fast-paced world of AI development, it’s tempting to take shortcuts, to push boundaries without considering consequences, or to use force (whether technological or market) to achieve goals. But true innovation isn’t about overpowering obstacles — it’s about finding elegant solutions that benefit everyone.
Together, these quotes paint a picture of what I believe technology should be: advanced enough to appear magical, yet grounded in ethics and wisdom rather than raw intelligence or force. This philosophy guides my approach to developing AI solutions that don’t just push technological boundaries, but do so in a way that upholds human values and dignity. After all, the most impressive innovations aren’t just about what technology can do, but about what it should do.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Let me share three character traits that have been fundamental to my journey in technology and entrepreneurship.
First is vision — the ability to see opportunities where others might see problems. When we first noticed employees quietly adopting AI tools in their work, many saw it as a security risk. Instead, I saw it as a signal about the future of work. This perspective has been crucial throughout my career, from Silicon Valley to building ventures in Europe. It’s about maintaining that balance between optimism and pragmatism.
Second is innovative leadership, but not in the traditional sense. I’ve learned that true innovation leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about creating an environment where great ideas can flourish. At The Artificial Business, we’ve focused on aligning our company’s mission with team members’ personal aspirations. When people see their growth intertwined with the company’s mission, they naturally excel.
Third, and perhaps most crucial, is my commitment to ethics in AI. I view moral capital as a precious resource — once lost, it’s incredibly difficult to regain. When we decided to focus on on-premise solutions and data sovereignty, we chose a more challenging path. We could have built another SaaS platform, but protecting our clients’ data sovereignty wasn’t just a business decision — it was a moral imperative. This ethical foundation has become the bedrock of our success.
These traits — vision, innovative leadership, and ethical commitment — have helped me navigate the complex landscape of technology entrepreneurship while staying true to my values.
Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Share the story of what inspired you to start working with AI. Was there a particular problem or opportunity that motivated you?
My journey into AI began with Isaac Asimov’s robot series, which showed me a future where machines and humans could collaborate meaningfully, guided by clear ethical principles.
This interest deepened during my master’s studies through my work with multi-agent systems. I was fascinated by the parallels between natural phenomena and computational systems. Ant colonies, for instance, create complex, efficient systems through simple interactions. This concept of emerging behaviors — where sophisticated patterns arise from basic rules — became fundamental to my approach to AI development.
What truly drives me is the potential to enhance human capabilities. While working with genetic algorithms and developing AI systems, my focus has remained consistent: how can we push the boundaries of what’s possible while keeping humans at the center? It’s about creating tools that amplify human intelligence rather than replace it.
Those early interests — multi-agent systems, emergent behaviors, and ethical computing — have become increasingly relevant in today’s AI landscape. My goal remains creating AI that works in harmony with human intelligence, enhancing our capabilities while respecting our values.
Describe a moment when AI achieved something you once thought impossible. What was the breakthrough, and how did it impact your approach going forward?
My journey with AI has been marked by constant evolution, but what stands out is witnessing the transition from narrow, task-specific machine learning to today’s generative capabilities. In the early days, we celebrated systems that could predict customer behaviors — achievements that seemed revolutionary at the time.
The real perspective shift came with modern generative AI. Watching someone with no design background create compelling visuals, or seeing a non-writer craft well-structured documents revealed AI’s potential not just as an automation tool, but as an enabler of human creativity.
This shift changed my approach to AI development. We weren’t just building systems to handle repetitive tasks; we were creating tools to unlock human potential. It reinforced my belief that AI’s future isn’t about replacement, but amplification — giving people the power to express their creativity and tackle challenges in new ways.
What excites me now is AI’s potential to free people from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on what humans do best — creating, innovating, and solving complex problems. Each breakthrough isn’t just a technical achievement; it’s an opportunity to reimagine human-machine collaboration.
Talk about about a challenge you faced when working with AI. How did you overcome it, and what was the outcome?
One of the most significant challenges I’ve faced in AI development is balancing enterprise data security with the convenience of cloud-based solutions. At The Artificial Business, we chose to focus on on-premise AI deployment — a more challenging path, but one that aligns with our belief in data sovereignty.
The technical challenges are considerable. Each enterprise has its unique infrastructure, security requirements, and operational constraints. We have to adapt our platform to vastly different environments while maintaining performance and security. This means navigating diverse IT infrastructures and ensuring our AI systems perform optimally within varying hardware configurations.
The bigger challenge has been shifting the conversation around enterprise AI. Many organizations, attracted by the simplicity of cloud solutions, initially question the need for on-premise deployment. However, when we explain how their valuable data — their intellectual property, their competitive advantage — remains under their control, the conversation shifts from convenience to sovereignty.
The outcome? We’ve built a new paradigm for secure, sovereign AI deployment that puts control back in the hands of enterprises. While adapting our platform for each client’s infrastructure demands more effort, it’s an investment in building trust and ensuring true data sovereignty — principles that we believe are fundamental to the future of enterprise AI.
Can you share an example of how your work with AI has had a meaningful impact (on others, on business results, etc)? What was the situation, and what difference did it make?
Let me share how AI has transformed my daily software development work in a meaningful way. The impact is most visible in how it changes the development workflow and enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them.
In my development process, AI serves as a constant assistant. When exploring new frameworks or libraries, instead of spending hours reading documentation, AI helps quickly understand core concepts and generate working examples. It excels at routine tasks like writing documentation or crafting unit tests — work that’s essential but often gets delayed due to time constraints.
The key insight is that AI isn’t replacing developer creativity or critical thinking. We still need humans for system architecture, code review, and strategic technical decisions. Instead, AI handles the repetitive aspects of coding while developers focus on higher-level thinking and problem-solving.
The impact has been clear: tasks that once took days now take hours, documentation gets written, and testing becomes more comprehensive. But most importantly, it’s shifted developers’ focus from routine coding to strategic thinking about software design and architecture. This perfectly demonstrates AI’s true value — not replacing human expertise, but amplifying our capabilities and letting us focus on creative problem-solving.
Based on your experience and success, can you please share “Five Things You Need To Know To Help Shape The Future of AI”?
Based on my experience in both Silicon Valley and European markets, here are five crucial insights that I believe will shape the future of AI:
1. AI Agents as Collaborative Systems
We’re moving beyond simple automation to interactive, context-aware systems. The future lies in networks of specialized AI agents, each trained on specific company knowledge and processes, working together to handle complex workflows. This shift from isolated AI tools to interconnected systems is already transforming how organizations operate, enabling them to tackle tasks that previously required constant human oversight.
2. Data Sovereignty as a Business Imperative
European companies shouldn’t have to choose between innovation and data control. When organizations use external AI services, they often unknowingly surrender their most valuable asset: their data. The future belongs to solutions that keep data within company infrastructure. This is particularly crucial in Europe, where maintaining data independence while driving innovation has become a strategic priority.
3. Regulation as Innovation Framework
The EU AI Act is setting new standards for AI development. Having worked on both sides of the Atlantic, I’ve witnessed how regulatory approaches shape innovation differently. The European focus on ethical considerations and user protection isn’t just about compliance — it’s becoming a global standard for responsible AI development. Companies that embrace these regulations as guidelines rather than restrictions will lead the next wave of AI advancement.
4. AI for Knowledge Crystallization
When companies deploy AI agents trained on their specific processes, they’re transforming tacit knowledge into accessible intelligence. This means capturing organizational expertise and making it consistently available. This conversion of collective knowledge into AI-powered systems will become a key differentiator for successful organizations.
5. Secure Integration with Business Processes
The widespread unofficial use of AI tools shows a clear demand for AI-powered productivity gains. However, this needs to be balanced with security and control. The solution isn’t restricting AI adoption but creating secure environments that protect company interests while enabling innovation. This means developing deployment methods that are both practical and protective.
The future of AI will be sovereign, and integrated into organizational processes, while maintaining high standards of security and ethical compliance.
When you think about the future of AI, what excites you the most, and how do you see your work contributing to that future?
What excites me most about AI’s future isn’t just the technology itself, but its potential to democratize innovation and creativity across society. I envision a world where everyone, regardless of their technical background, has access to tools that can amplify their capabilities and transform their ideas into reality.
I see AI evolving into a fundamental utility that powers innovation across every sector of society. What truly excites me is how this technology is becoming more accessible and human-centric, moving beyond specialists into the hands of everyday innovators. The possibilities we’re seeing today are just the beginning.
At The Artificial Business, we’re contributing to this future by ensuring AI development remains secure, sovereign, and ethically grounded. We’re building infrastructure that allows organizations to harness AI’s power while maintaining control over their data and destiny. This is particularly crucial for European businesses looking to innovate while protecting their interests.
But what really drives my excitement is imagining how future generations will use these tools in ways we can’t even conceive today. Just as today’s teenagers use smartphones in ways their inventors never imagined, tomorrow’s innovators will discover entirely new applications for AI. Our role is to ensure they have the secure, ethical foundation they need to build that future.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who want to innovate in AI? Can you share a story from your experience that illustrates your advice?
To entrepreneurs looking to innovate in AI, I’ll share a crucial lesson I’ve learned: the temptation to move fast and chase quick wins often comes at a hidden cost that compounds over time. This is especially true in the AI space, where shortcuts in security and ethics can have far-reaching consequences.
I’ve witnessed many startups rush to market with AI solutions that prioritize speed over fundamentals. They build on free APIs, store sensitive data in the cloud without proper safeguards, or ignore regulatory requirements like GDPR in their initial architecture. While this approach might yield short-term advantages, it inevitably leads to painful, expensive rebuilds when reality catches up — whether through data breaches, regulatory fines, or loss of client trust.
At The Artificial Business, we made the deliberate choice to move more methodically, building our foundation on data sovereignty and security from day one. Yes, it meant a longer development cycle and more complex technical challenges. But this investment in doing things right has become our competitive advantage. When clients ask about data privacy or regulatory compliance, we don’t need to retrofit solutions — these considerations are already woven into our platform.
My advice? Think of AI innovation as a strategic challenge rather than a race to market. Quick moves might feel good in the moment, but thoughtful development and careful positioning win in the long run. Focus on building solutions that don’t just work today but will stand up to tomorrow’s challenges — whether they’re technical, ethical, or regulatory.
Remember, technical debt isn’t just about code quality — it extends to ethics, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Building these considerations into your foundation might seem slower at first, but it’s the surest path to sustainable innovation in AI.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would love to have a conversation with China Miéville. His exploration of bio-technology and linguistics in “Embassytown,” particularly through aliens who cannot speak anything untrue, resonates with my work in AI. His insights into intelligence and communication would make for a fascinating discussion about human-AI interaction.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow my work on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/leobenkel, where I share insights about AI innovation and European tech sovereignty. To learn more about secure AI adoption, visit The Artificial Business at https://the.artificial.business.
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success in your important work.
Leo Benkel Of ‘The Artificial Business’ On Pushing the Boundaries of AI was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.