Marcelo Noronha, the Co-Founder and CEO of Mr. Turing Artificial Intelligence, illuminates his strategic pivot from image document processing to the expansive realms of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Generative AI (LLM), in his recent interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. This shift was driven by the realization that previous technologies only harnessed a fraction of the potential knowledge, while NLP and LLMs could unlock and utilize 100% of it. Mr. Turing aids businesses in tapping into their vast reserves of internally generated data, transforming media from various formats into actionable insights. The company’s AI solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing business systems, addressing common integration obstacles such as data quality and process restructuring. With a focus on ensuring data security and optimizing operational efficiencies, Marcelo envisions a future where AI significantly enhances decision-making processes in businesses. His journey from seasoned industry professional to an AI startup visionary provides valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs in the tech space, emphasizing resilience, continual learning, and a deep passion for innovation.
Marcelo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mr. Turing Artificial Intelligence, a pioneering technology firm dedicated to unlocking and revolutionizing how companies utilize their internally generated knowledge with Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Generative AI (LLM).
Holding a Master of Business Administration from FGV, Marcelo brings a unique blend of business vision and technical expertise to the table.
Over the past two decades, Marcelo has refined his skills in image document processing through roles at prominent companies such as Nuance, ABBYY, Banctec, and Recognition. These experiences have endowed him with profound insights into various technologies related to documents and information management.
In 2017, Marcelo embarked on a transformative journey, merging his expertise in image document processing with Natural Language Processing. This strategic move led to the creation of Mr. Turing, where he strives to deliver exceptional value to companies eager to tap into their untapped potential.
Marcelo’s passion lies in assisting organizations to unlock their internally generated knowledge using NLP and LLM, enabling them to make mission-critical decisions powered by AI. By leveraging the capabilities of Mr. Turing, he helps companies extract valuable insights, enhance operational efficiency, and foster innovation in today’s data-driven landscape.
Can you walk us through your decision to pivot from image document processing to focusing extensively on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Generative AI (LLM)? What was the catalyst for this shift in focus at Mr. Turing?
For nearly two decades, I worked with the available technologies (OCR, ECM, BPM, and others) in Knowledge Management, involving digitization, indexing, and content management. However, what we were able to deliver accounted for only 20% of the knowledge that actually passed through the technologies at our disposal.
When I discovered Natural Language Processing (NLP), it was as if a barrier had collapsed in front of me, unveiling a new opportunity to deliver 100% to the client. That was the moment I decided to dedicate my efforts to NLP and, consequently, to Large Language Models (LLMs).
How do Mr. Turing’s AI solutions help businesses unlock the potential of their internally generated data?
Since 2016, Mr. Turing has been dedicated to processing any type of media because we understand that the most valuable assets of any company come not only from documents but also from videos, messages, emails, databases, and meetings. Therefore, with our ability to integrate with any company system and process any type of media, we are able to bring all knowledge to the surface so that companies can not only find what they are looking for naturally, but also create powerful assistants to serve users of all types without any coding.
Integrating advanced AI technologies like NLP and LLM into existing business processes can be challenging. What are some common obstacles companies face during this integration, and how does Mr. Turing assist in overcoming them?
It’s still quite challenging. Companies know that if the knowledge processed by a third-party model leaks, it could be fatal for the business. However, with experience in gigantic projects, like the one with Embraer where we processed over 5 million documents and improved response times from up to 5 days to as little as 5 seconds, we are well qualified to understand the pain points of clients, the structuring and quality of the data to be processed, as well as the necessary integrations.
I believe the two main obstacles companies face when starting an AI implementation journey relate to the lack of knowledge about the quality of existing data and the deconstruction of existing processes. This is one of our differentiators, as we do not just offer the platform or API to companies; we dive into the process structures of our clients to help them better understand the quality of the data that will be used and other data that still needs to be collected. We also work together to design the best way to integrate and connect what is necessary to bring Knowledge to the surface.
With your deep understanding of both business needs and AI capabilities, where do you see the future of AI in enhancing organizational decision-making and operational efficiency?
Having successfully implemented numerous projects, I recognize that the future of AI is crucial for improving decision-making and operational efficiency in businesses. AI will empower organizations to handle increasing volumes of data, as well as enable the automation of complex and disparate processes, making decision-making more effective and swift.
Given your successful transition from a career in established firms to launching a startup, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the AI and tech industry?
First, never stop believing in yourself, even if others demotivate you every day! Having resilience and passion for what you do is also necessary to clearly understand the risks you will need to take. And lastly, never stop learning, because it is through continuous learning that you will have the key to improve and innovate.
