He Helped Build the Future of AI. Now He’s Concerned About What’s Next | Ofer Hermoni, Ph.D.

Ofer Hermoni, Ph.D. has spent more than a decade working in artificial intelligence, long before AI became part of everyday business conversations. From helping establish the Linux Foundation AI to founding multiple technology companies, he has seen firsthand what AI can do and why so many businesses still struggle to make it work. But Ofer believes the biggest challenge in AI transformation isn't technology. It's the people. He shares why employees have legitimate reasons to fear AI, how one failed project taught him the importance of getting teams on board, and why companies need to start with the right problems instead of rushing to automate everything. He also explains how AI is already changing the job market, including a researcher who no longer needs the 15 interns he used to hire every year. In this episode, Ofer discusses what it takes to build a business in an AI-driven world, from choosing the right AI projects to growing a bootstrapped company and finding the right co-founder. He also shares his concerns about how quickly AI is advancing, whether it's too late to slow it down, and why he advised his own son against studying computer science in college. Key Topics: -Why AI is already replacing entry-level work, including jobs once handled by 15 interns -Why the biggest obstacle to AI transformation isn't technology, but getting employees on board -How companies can choose the right AI projects and turn small wins into meaningful business results -Why employees have legitimate reasons to fear AI and how leaders can address those concerns -Why Ofer believes AI is advancing too quickly and may already be impossible to stop -Why he believes college may no longer be worth the cost and discouraged his own son from studying computer science Timestamps: 01:06 Why AI Hasn't Transformed Most Businesses Yet 02:50 AI Is Already Replacing 15 Interns 04:18 The Real Reason AI Transformation Fails 05:53 Why Employees Are Right to Fear AI 08:26 How to Choose Your First AI Project 11:25 From Zero AI Knowledge to a Potential $10M ROI 16:10 What Defines Entrepreneurial Excellence? 17:17 Will AI Create More Jobs or Eliminate Them? 20:24 Is It Already Too Late to Stop AI? 22:25 How Ofer Helped Co-Found the Linux Foundation AI 26:58 Bootstrapped vs. Venture-Backed: Which Is Better? 30:43 When a Founder Has to Risk Personal Savings 32:18 Why He Tested His Co-Founder for a Year 38:06 Why He Thinks College Is a Waste of Money 38:34 Why He Told His Son Not to Study Computer Science Connect with - Ofer Hermoni, Ph.D. LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ofer-hermoni Website: ifor.ai Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast: LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠ Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24⁠Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast