Meta’s First AI Engineer Talks AI ft. Pujun Bhatnagar
In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) sit down with Pujun Bhatnagar - one of Meta’s first AI engineers and now Co-Founder & CEO of Kintsugi.
They unpack where AI is today, where it is headed, and how brands and governments should prepare. Pujun shares his path from Stanford to Meta, how AI moved from experimentation to commercialization, and why we are still only scratching the surface of what data-driven intelligence can do.
What you’ll learn:
- Why AI is still early and what that means for innovation.
- How AI commercialized and where it is going next.
- Lessons from building foundational systems at Facebook.
- How Kintsugi is reinventing sales tax and compliance.
- AGI and robotics timelines and implications.
- Why smart policy and critical thinking will guide progress.
- Common misconceptions about AI and real-world impacts.
- How quantum computing accelerates what is possible.
- How AI may transform healthcare, policy, and daily life.
- Why R&D investment is critical to a safe future.
Whether you are building tech, running a brand, or simply curious where AI is going, this episode delivers a grounded look at the forces shaping our future and the opportunities ahead.
Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!
Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences via email and sms with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/
Kintsugi — AI that monitors, files, and optimizes sales tax for you. Eliminate your tax headaches forever. Mention ASOM for 3 months free at https://www.TryKintsugi.com
Particl — the competitive intelligence platform built for eCommerce brands. Track real sales, inventory, and pricing across thousands of products to see what’s selling, who’s winning, and where to move next. Get started at https://www.particl.com/
Subscribe at https://asompod.com
00:00 Teaser Trailer
00:48 Meet the Hosts
01:02 Special Guest Intro: AI Expert
03:30 Guest Background: From Stanford to Facebook
09:49 AI in Business: Sales Tax Automation
11:09 The Evolution and Impact of AI
16:29 The Future of AI and Society
29:55 The Infancy of Mankind and Critical Thinking
30:45 The Real Users of Facebook
32:13 The Future of AGI and Robotics
38:53 Quantum Computing and AI Advancements
40:12 The Role of AI in Healthcare and Policy Decisions
42:01 The Importance of R&D and Intelligent Policies
51:57 The Future of Sales Tax and Compliance Infrastructure
54:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts