For the first iteration of our Tech Interview series, we spoke to Maani Safa, visionary founder and CEO of Poppins, whose illustrious career as an award-winning serial entrepreneur has left an indelible mark on the digital landscape. With a track record of building successful global digital agencies and pioneering ‘world first’ products, Maani leads a talented team of 40 technologists and creatives at Poppins, crafting groundbreaking work for esteemed brands such as Audi, Microsoft, and Disney.
In this exclusive interview, Maani shares his insights on the latest tech innovations, predicts the future of augmented reality, and advocates for ethical considerations in AI development. Delve into the mind of a tech titan who envisions a world where technology enhances human experiences while upholding fundamental ethical principles.
What’s been one of your favourite tech innovations in the last year?
This would be the work of Figure & OpenAI with speech-to-speech reasoning within the world of robotics and AI. The example shared highlights how far we have come (and still have to go) in the world of AI and robotics but I’m willing to bet we’re going to see some pretty exciting AI driven hardware products soon.
What is one trend you foresee will change the tech world in the next year?
For me, it has to be the world of AR and spatial computing. I’m a firm believer that the next wave of transformation will come from augmented reality, more specifically the ability to place a digital “layer” between humans and the real world. It opens up a world of possibilities in so many ways.
What is a dream brand you would like to work with, and why?
Any brand that is working in the cross-over space of digital meeting physical—we’re seeing a huge movement towards the space and there is so much opportunity to make an impact there.
This convergence offers a seamless and immersive experience, blending the tactile, sensory feedback of the physical world with the dynamic, interactive capabilities of digital technology. It’s exciting to me because it enables businesses to enhance customer engagement, create more personalised and meaningful interactions, and gather invaluable data insights.
In retail, for example, phygital (gosh I hate that word) solutions can bridge online and in-store shopping, offering customers a cohesive journey that leverages the best of both worlds. In urban planning and smart cities, integrating digital and physical aspects leads to more efficient, sustainable, and responsive environments. The possibilities are endless.
If you could change one thing in the industry, what would it be?
This is a tough one to answer, but given the speed at which AI is evolving (something I am very much in support of), I’d have to say it would be to enhance ethical considerations and social responsibility in technology development and deployment.
This change would involve prioritising privacy, data protection, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. By embedding these values into the core of technology design and business practices, the industry could mitigate so many future risks, with a few simple examples being unethical surveillance, AI bias, and the potential for technology to exacerbate social inequalities.
And finally, if you could invent any piece of technology, what would it be?
It goes without saying: teleportation. Best invention ever. That or never-ending perpetual energy from the stars.
The convergence of tech and brands 