Mudasser Iqbal - AI, Water and Institutional Memory

The Fundamental Molecule

There is a lot going on in AI right now, from the travails of ChatGPT to the technology being essentially single handedly responsible for the surge of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” and therefore the overall S&P 500 in 2024. But what does it mean for water? Mudasser Iqbal is a career technologist and an exceptional guy, previous CEO of Visenti before its acquisition by our friends at Xylem in 2016, and he and his co-founders reformed to pursue the AI opportunity in water. TeamSolve is going after a tough problem, essentially aiming at solving the lack of easily accessible institutional memory and insight in water utilities using the power of AI. This is a fascinating run through the ins and outs of applying this technology and water, the practicality of problem solving, working with remote teams, maintaining customer focus and much, much more. Please enjoy my conversation with Mudasser Iqbal.

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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fundamental-molecule/id1714287205

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Mudasser Iqbal, Founder and CEO at TeamSolve and noted ‘AI use in water’ visionary, details his organization’s mission to revolutionize utilities with their "knowledge twin," a formidable resource which effectively combats expertise loss. Accessible through everyday platforms, the Twin boosts efficiency for field techs and command centers. Building upon lessons learned from Visenti and Xylem, Iqbal stresses practicality, user feedback, and a distributed team model. He also urges water innovators to embrace tough challenges and strategic partnerships, mirroring TeamSolve's customer-centric, globally impactful approach.

00:00 - AI's Evolution and Real-World Applications

04:48 - Agentic Frameworks: Beyond Generative AI

07:04 - Why AI in Water Matters Now

09:37 - Real-World Examples: Institutional Knowledge Gaps

12:25 - Knowledge Twin: A Practical AI Solution

19:17 - Practical Uses: Field Technicians and Command Centers

24:21 - Ensuring AI Reliability and Trustworthiness

26:22 - Remote Team Collaboration: Lessons from COVID

29:30 - Vicente Learnings: Collaboration and Customer Focus

32:45 - Building a Customer-Centric Company Culture

35:15 - Creating Moats: Knowledge Sharing and Network Effects

38:51 - Maintaining Focus Amid Growth

40:40 - Advice for Water Entrepreneurs: Solve Hard Problems

Links:

Burnt Island Ventures

TeamSolve

Mudasser Iqbal

SM Material

Key Takeaways:

"AI has been around for decades, contributing to drug discovery, predictive maintenance, and more. It's not new, but its applications are expanding."

"Generative AI connects the dots in water systems, overcoming data limitations and enabling real problem-solving."

"Institutional knowledge in water utilities often retires with employees. AI can bridge this gap, preserving essential information."

"AI's promise lies in solving real-world problems, not just generating text or images. It's about practical applications."

"Focus on solving a hard problem that's bothering customers. Stick to it for long-term success."

"AI can help leapfrog water utilities that are just starting their digital journey, providing practical solutions."