About William Gilchrist
AI, business innovation, and entrepreneurship
Background
I'm the founder of Real AI Ltd, a UK technology company building AI-powered products and platforms. My work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, business strategy, and entrepreneurship.
I've spent my career building technology businesses and helping organisations understand how emerging technology can create real value—not hype, but practical applications that make measurable differences to how people work and what they can accomplish.
AI is the most significant technological shift I've seen in that time. It's also surrounded by more noise than any technology I can remember. Much of what I do now is helping people cut through that noise—understanding what AI can actually do, where it adds value, and how to implement it in ways that work.
What I Do
Build
Real AI Ltd operates a portfolio of AI-powered products—from productivity tools to marketplaces to specialised industry platforms. Building things is the best way to understand what works and what doesn't.
Advise
I work with organisations navigating AI adoption—helping them develop strategies that make sense for their specific context, avoid common pitfalls, and implement AI in ways that create lasting value rather than temporary buzz.
Speak
Keynotes and talks on AI strategy, innovation, and the future of business. I focus on practical insights rather than futurism—what's actually happening, what works, and what decision-makers need to understand now.
Focus Areas
AI Strategy
Helping organisations develop practical AI roadmaps. Not "you need AI for everything" advice, but thoughtful analysis of where AI creates value in specific contexts and how to capture that value.
Business Innovation
Turning emerging technology into business value. This means understanding not just what's technically possible but what's commercially viable—and the gap between the two.
Entrepreneurship
Building and scaling technology businesses. The lessons learned from doing it repeatedly—what works, what doesn't, and why most advice about startups is either obvious or wrong.
Leadership
Developing the next generation of technology leaders. Mentoring founders, advising executives, and helping people navigate the unique challenges of building and leading in tech.
Perspective
I'm sceptical of hype but optimistic about technology's potential. AI will transform how businesses operate and how individuals work—but not in the ways most people expect, and not on the timeline the industry likes to promote.
The companies that succeed with AI won't be the ones that adopted it fastest or made the biggest announcements. They'll be the ones that took time to understand what it could do for their specific situation and implemented it thoughtfully.
Most AI advice is generic because most AI advisors haven't built anything with it. My perspective comes from doing the work—building products, making mistakes, and learning what actually moves the needle.
This Site
I'm currently building out this site with writing, resources, and more detail on the work I'm doing. In the meantime, the best way to learn more is through Real AI Ltd's work or by getting in touch directly.
If you're interested in working together—whether that's speaking, advisory work, or something else—I'd like to hear from you.
Get in Touch
Interested in working together, having me speak at your event, or just want to connect?
Email Me