In this episode of Solix Spotlight, host Steve Tallant, Vice President of Product Marketing at Solix Technologies, sits down with Bob Bickel — a veteran technologist, entrepreneur, and product visionary with decades of experience building practical, user-first software.

Steve and Bob revisit their early days in the middleware world and explore how Bob’s journey led him to champion a philosophy of “AI made simple”. Bob shares how his organization adopted AI rapidly yet responsibly, focusing on real-world outcomes rather than hype — from reducing repetitive customer support questions to making AI tools usable for non-technical, everyday users.

Together, they break down what it truly means to build AI that works: creating guardrails that prevent errors, designing interfaces that empower people, and using AI to enhance—not overwhelm—existing systems and workflows.

For leaders navigating the evolving AI landscape, this episode offers a grounded, practical look at how simplicity, usability, and thoughtful implementation can drive meaningful transformation across any organization.