‍We recently completed our first audit of an AI-system, and the project was Miljn. At Miljn, they harness the power of AI to revolutionize how users engage with books. Their innovative platform transforms any book into a comprehensive, actionable guide, helping people seamlessly implement insights and knowledge into their daily lives or work.

Today, we had the chance to speak with Olaf Birkner, CEO of Miljn, to learn more about this unique product and their exciting plans for the future.
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The name "Miljn" is quite intriguing. Does it refer to solving a million tasks, earning a million, or reading a million books? Or is there another meaning behind it?

Company names can be like a maze, and this one happened mostly by chance. We pronounced it like "million" and had fun figuring out what kind of "million" we were referring to. My favorite interpretation is “a million experts are enough to guide the world.”

What inspired the founding of Miljn? How did the idea of actionable guides come about?

The idea originated with a group of business advisors preparing for retirement. They introduced us to a visual technique from the 1990s, which had an impressive ability to simplify complex business situations with ease. However, the technique came with a 200-page manual, so our first challenge was clear: bring the user interface online and make it intuitive without requiring a handbook.

How does Miljn stand out from other AI-powered learning platforms? Do you have any competitors offering similar tools?

Interestingly, Miljn isn’t an AI platform itself but can connect with any available AI. Our focus is on personalizing expert knowledge from books or scripts and making it instantly accessible, saving customers time and helping them act successfully without delay. As of now, we haven’t encountered any direct competitors with the same goal and focus.

How do you see experts collaborating with AI on Miljn? What role does human expertise play alongside AI-generated content?

AI automates, connects, and analyzes, but the expert ensures quality and guarantees customer success. While AI is continuously improving, it’s still far from making reliable recommendations in certain situations. We envision experts supervising their AI counterparts, ensuring the knowledge shared is accurate and applicable to each user's needs.

Miljn has grown rapidly since 2021. What do you think has fueled this growth, and what’s next for the platform?

The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) in late 2022 had the most significant impact. We had been in touch with AI providers, but the advent of powerful generative AI opened up unprecedented possibilities for interacting with expert knowledge. The first use cases we developed based on AI truly resonated with our users.

How does Miljn allow users to input challenges and create tailored guides? Is the platform flexible in adapting to various types of challenges or goals?

We have a creator feature for any challenge you might ask. Just try it, and all the AI technology works in the background. Our primary focus is on “Guide to Book,” which allows us to work with existing content rather than relying on experts to write new material, ensuring scalability.

Miljn offers the ability to track and share progress. How important is this for user engagement, and does it help your community grow?

This feature holds immense long-term potential. When encountering challenges for the first time, we often don’t recognize the biggest mistakes or best opportunities. Experts know the pitfalls and the best ways to navigate them. Over time, AI can learn these patterns and offer even better guidance, which will be invaluable for users facing recurring challenges like selling a house or managing cybersecurity in a small business.

Can Miljn’s AI handle complex, niche topics or highly specialized books? Can it break these down into actionable steps?

We are constantly refining how AI breaks down content. It can tailor guides based on the structure of the material or the user's preferences. Whether you want a brief five-step checklist or a detailed guide, Miljn asks the right questions to personalize the content to fit your specific needs and context.

Miljn operates under GDPR compliance. How do you ensure data privacy and security for your users, especially with personalized content?

We ensure that content data remains secure while the user is responsible for not sharing sensitive information. When using external AI services like OpenAI, users must be mindful of the platform's compliance with GDPR. If any issues arise, complaints would be directed to the responsible AI provider, though we hope everything adheres to European regulations.

As your user base grows, how do you plan to maintain compliance with evolving global data regulations and ensure continued trust?

We’re big advocates of a web3-based infrastructure and decentralized economy models. The promise of self-sovereignty, transparency, and fairness goes far beyond traditional operational models where central entities control everything. However, these technologies, like AI, are still evolving, and we’re excited to be part of this innovation.

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"Our dream is for Miljn to become the best solution for accessing expert knowledge and ending unfair economies of scarcity." – Olaf Birkner

Miljn recently underwent a security audit. Did our findings influence your development process, and were they helpful?

Absolutely, the audit was incredibly helpful. Our technical lead already had a solid understanding of what needed to be done, but the audit gave us a structured overview, allowing us to prioritize tasks and take collective action. Addressing risks before they become issues is always better than waiting until something goes wrong.

Do you have partnerships with publishers, both online and traditional? How will these partnerships benefit Miljn?

Yes, the traditional industries of expert knowledge and publishing are ripe for disruption by AI. While some executives fear the shrinking market for printed books, we see great potential. Publishers can shift from merely providing books to offering expert advisory services at scale, guiding masses of users. This could lower the cost of access to expert knowledge, allowing publishers to seize a new and growing market.

Looking ahead, where do you see Miljn in the next 2-3 years? How do you think the platform will evolve and impact the world of knowledge and learning?

Our dream is for Miljn to become the best solution for accessing expert knowledge and ending unfair economies of scarcity. However, I’m not sure if 2-3 years is enough time to achieve this vision. Still, we’re committed to pushing in that direction.

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Related Article: Evolving AI Audits: Adapting to the Generative AI Era

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With AI being a key part of Miljn, how do you see advancements in AI influencing the platform’s future capabilities?

AI advancements are vital. We’re witnessing a normalization of expectations around AI, which helps balance out the hype. Moving forward, AI will redefine user habits and expectations. If we don’t adapt to these changes, we’ll miss the mark. AI will undoubtedly be the key driver of future market trends.

Do you have any feedback or suggestions for improving our auditing processes?

Definitely! Let’s create a Miljn Guide for AuditOne Blockchain and AI audits!

Thank you, Olaf!

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