Tobl.ai, an artificial intelligence startup based in Silicon Valley, is on a mission to make AI’s productivity benefits more accessible for companies of all sizes and sectors. The firm focuses on streamlining back-office functions through automated document processing, data extraction, employee onboarding and workflow optimization.
“Too often, AI is seen as only for experts, with complex algorithms and endless data requirements,” said Tobl.ai leader Will Ryu. “We want to dismantle those barriers and bring the innovation of AI to more businesses.”
Ryu has an extensive background in AI, having led data science teams at Twitter and Airbnb. He explains that Tobl.ai’s “Tree of Blocks” concept breaks down AI into modular building blocks tailored to specific business use cases. This makes adoption simpler for companies without in-house AI expertise.
The startup also emphasizes an “evolutionary” approach to developing solutions, running iterative AI experiments rather than relying on a single expert. “It’s no longer just about what one data scientist can do,” Ryu said. “We use diverse AI agents in parallel to foster innovation through evolution.”
Accelerating Back-Office Productivity
Tobl.ai’s focus aligns with broader AI adoption trends. Business professionals using automation and AI tools report saving over two and a half hours per day on average, largely by streamlining traditionally manual back-office work. Healthcare, for example, has seen major productivity gains from AI-enabled electronic patient record analysis and medical scan diagnostics.
“We help clients stabilize, navigate and optimize the challenge of digital change,” said Ryu. The startup’s client base spans healthcare, legal services, manufacturing and other sectors. One legal tech platform applies natural language processing for drafting accurate legal briefs. An AI factory optimization product improves supply chain coordination in recycled materials production.
“AI is significantly transforming company efficiency in diverse ways,” Ryu stated. “While the public imagination focuses on robots, it’s these less visible applications that drive real enterprise results.”
The Future of Work
Broader concerns remain around AI’s impact on the job market, with almost 20% of US jobs potentially disrupted. But Tobl.ai sees potential for symbiosis between human talents and AI capabilities.
“There are still many limitations on full AI autonomy,” Ryu explained. “However, we believe AI can augment existing roles and create new hybrid occupations that combine the best of human skills and machine intelligence.”
As an example, he highlights how AI writing assistants don’t replace human journalists but allow them to produce more content, faster. Such productivity multipliers may support job growth rather than reductions.
With $7.5 million recently secured in seed funding, Tobl.ai aims to further expand its AI building blocks. “We want to empower companies at any stage of digital adaptation,” Ryu said. “AI should be for everyone.” The universal quest for efficiency gains shows no sign of slowing down.
