AI is no longer just a chatbot for lighting designers - it is becoming a real workflow partner. Kuldeep Vali shows how to turn AI into a practical assistant for schedules, spec sheets, renders, and even client-ready outputs without giving up design control.

Martin Klaasen sits down with Kuldeep to unpack the shift from traditional lighting workflows to AI-powered systems that still keep the designer in the loop. Kuldeep shares how his experience at Philips, in startups, and across global markets led him to build RISE with AI, a training, consultancy, and automation service designed to help lighting professionals work faster and smarter.

You'll discover how the RiceQ framework helps agents understand role, instructions, context, examples, and questions so they can produce work that actually fits your studio's process. Kuldeep breaks down the difference between asking AI questions and building connected workflows in tools like Copilot Studio, Make, Zapier, and n8n, where AI can extract data from datasheets, populate Excel schedules, send emails, and collaborate with your team instead of replacing it.

We also explore why autonomous "autopilot" AI is often the wrong fit for design, and why a co-pilot approach gives lighting designers more control, better governance, and more trust in the output. Kuldeep explains how his team handles enterprise-grade concerns like privacy, local hosting, data protection, and maintaining human oversight when confidential client information is involved.A major highlight is the discussion around visual AI workflows.

Kuldeep and Martin touch on node-based tools for image generation, lighting render layers, mood boards, and walkthrough videos, showing how AI can support conceptual design without destroying the original image or the designer's intent. They also discuss the reality of working with large language models, the limits of generic prompts, and why good data and clear instructions matter more than hype.Kuldeep is the founder of RISE with AI, a platform focused on AI training, consultancy, and automation for lighting designers and related professionals.

With nearly 30 years in the lighting industry, including 11 years at Philips and experience across Europe, the Middle East, and India, he brings both deep industry knowledge and a practical view of where AI fits next.Essential listening if you are a lighting designer, specifier, manufacturer, or studio leader who wants to use AI without losing your creative edge. If you are wondering where to start, how to stay relevant, and how to turn AI into a real productivity advantage, this conversation gives you the roadmap.