Behind the AI Mask

Acknowledgments

Writing this book was never just about telling a story. It was about sharing the journey, with its laughs, its missteps, and the moments that shaped me into the person I am today. This was my first time writing a book, and I never considered myself to be an author. I was always curious, even as a child, wanting to know how things worked. I would take things apart, sometimes reassembling them. But I always appreciated the gift of creative freedom to explore and learn. I owe that debt of gratitude to my mother, who gave me the space to let my mind wander, turning the garage into my personal workshop. Like the ripples in a pond, that freedom led me to write this book.

This project was tough—tougher than I imagined. Inside your own head, everything makes sense, but trying to explain something that feels so innate is a real challenge. Thank you to Aliza for giving me the opportunity to crack the code with the help of an amazing team. Ken Lande, who provided structure and the logic I needed to keep moving forward, even when my ideas were swirling in a million directions. Maggie Katreva, who supported Aliza by bringing in work so we could show the world what we could do; Maggie wore so many hats: sourcing talent, planning shoots, and forecasting what was coming next. Dario Bertazoli and Anders Oland, the brilliant minds behind our ML models, who made sure our work was always cutting edge. And of course, Brian Lee, whose vision it was to create an army of digital influencers ...