Leadership
Meet the newbits.ai Leadership Team.
Our experts bring diverse backgrounds in AI, technology, law, and global business, united by a passion for making artificial intelligence accessible to everyone. Get to know the people driving innovation, shaping strategic vision, and ensuring our mission to illuminate your AI journey remains at the forefront of everything we do.
Gil Oren
Gil Oren is a business strategist, critical thinker, and serial entrepreneur whose passion for artificial intelligence led to the creation of newbits.ai. He is the author of the NewBits AI Trilogy, a three-part educational series providing an in-depth look at navigating and understanding AI’s rapidly evolving landscape, further supporting his mission to make AI accessible for all. With over two decades of experience tackling complex business challenges, Gil offers unique insights into translating cutting-edge AI concepts into practical, real-world solutions.
Earlier in his career, Gil led a global organization operating across the Americas, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Asia, pioneering award-winning chemical technologies, receiving U.S. EPA recognition for safer, more sustainable innovations, and now applies this commitment to ethical innovation in championing “AI for Good” and responsible AI development. His extensive collaboration with startups, Fortune 100 companies, nation-states, and armed forces has given him deep insights into global business dynamics and technology implementation at the highest levels of innovation. By designing training procedures for novel technologies, he demonstrated his capacity for translating complex ideas into practical applications.
At newbits.ai, Gil established the vision and curates the overall direction, oversees the AI Ed podcast series, and leads strategic initiatives for Custom AI services, enterprise growth, and community engagement. A licensed attorney in Florida and Washington, D.C., he brings deep expertise in governance, intellectual property, and global technology implementation. Gil’s multidisciplinary background spans law, real estate, private equity, R&D, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, sales, and sustainability, enabling him to relate AI concepts effectively across various industries. Driven by a mission to make AI accessible and actionable, he empowers learners, businesses, and organizations to navigate the AI frontier with confidence.
Michael Jones
Michael Jones is a visionary digital marketing executive whose career has been defined by a passion for emerging technologies and a commitment to revolutionizing online commerce. As newbits.ai leads the next evolution of artificial intelligence, Michael contributes a unique digital commerce perspective, guiding the organization in harnessing AI-driven opportunities for growth and innovation.
Prior to newbits.ai, Michael co-founded and served as the long-term CEO of Pepperjam, one of the most successful digital commerce companies in industry history. Widely regarded as a pioneer in the affiliate marketing industry, he developed practices and technologies that shaped the global channel, ultimately leading to a senior role overseeing eBay’s performance marketing worldwide. His enterprise-level expertise spans digital media, marketing technology, and driving results for major brands such as Sony, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kraft, Microsoft, the NFL, MLB, and Nordstrom’s.
At newbits.ai, Michael oversees growth and marketing initiatives, leveraging his background in digital strategy and content leadership to expand community engagement across multiple platforms. His role supports newbits.ai’s mission to educate, innovate, and empower organizations and individuals exploring the transformative potential of AI.
Shay Cohen
Shay Cohen is a visionary tech entrepreneur and innovation leader who brings a dynamic multimedia background and legal expertise to newbits.ai. He has built and consulted on successful ventures in social communities, e-commerce, software development, and cloud hosting. Beyond tech, Shay leads a multimedia studio acclaimed for commercial photography and film production, serving notable clients such as Baptist Health, The Palace Group, and the Miami Heat. His work has appeared on billboards, magazines, newspapers, museums, and television, reflecting his creative versatility and passion for storytelling.
Prior to joining newbits.ai, Shay served as General Counsel at West Invest, a seed-stage venture capital firm specializing in emerging technologies, and as in-house attorney at The Palace Group. Renowned for his ability to bridge legal acumen with cutting-edge technology, he provides newbits.ai with a strategic edge in navigating AI’s complex regulatory and commercial landscape.
Driven by a forward-thinking approach to AI-driven solutions, Shay oversees Production & Business Development at newbits.ai, fostering growth, refining multimedia strategies, and ensuring the company’s content resonates with a global audience.
Ayal Stern
Ayal Stern is a leader in education, tech innovation, and ecosystem development, driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to shaping the future through entrepreneurship. With a track record of building strategic partnerships and fostering global collaboration, Ayal has played a pivotal role in advancing both cybersecurity training and Miami’s growing technology landscape. As the former COO of ThriveDX, Ayal led a dynamic team dedicated to transforming cybersecurity training and digital skills education. ThriveDX successfully partnered with top-tier universities, including the University of Michigan, the University of Florida, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, among others, furthering its mission to build a safer digital world.
Beyond his professional achievements, Ayal is deeply committed to fostering Miami’s tech ecosystem. As the co-founder of the Miami_Israel Collective, he has cultivated a vibrant community through numerous industry events and initiatives, growing the network to over 2,000 members, connecting leading entrepreneurs, executives, and investors. These events have been instrumental in driving innovation and positioning Miami as a global tech hub, creating invaluable networking opportunities and fostering collaborative growth within the technology sector, enhancing Miami’s reputation as a center for technological excellence.
At newbits.ai, Ayal serves as an Advisor to the Leadership Team, supporting Operational Excellence, Strategic Growth, and Enterprise Solutions. In this capacity, he helps guide initiatives that drive the company's expansion and market presence. His role involves strategic planning, market analysis, and the development of custom AI solutions tailored to enterprise clients. Ayal’s multidisciplinary background in tech innovation and community building enables him to bridge market gaps and foster sustainable growth. Committed to making AI accessible and impactful, he empowers organizations to leverage cutting-edge AI technologies to achieve their business objectives and navigate the evolving digital landscape.
Serkan Haytac
Serkan Haytac is a visionary tech entrepreneur and distinguished Solutions Architect with over two decades of expertise in scaling mission-critical systems across the technology landscape, from innovative startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. His passion for artificial intelligence and commitment to innovation have been the driving forces behind his successful career, making him an invaluable asset to newbits.ai. As an AI Enthusiast and Architect, Serkan brings a wealth of knowledge and technical acumen to the organization, ensuring that our AI solutions are both robust and cutting-edge.
Throughout his career, Serkan has served as a trusted advisor to leading media and technology giants, including Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, Quotient, Hearst, iHeart Media, and Dow Jones. At Hearst Corporation, he led the technical infrastructure for a portfolio of premier digital properties, including Oprah.com, Car and Driver, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, and Bring a Trailer. His infrastructure designs effectively managed massive concurrent user loads, delivering superior performance and reliability. As Principal Site Reliability Engineer at iHeartMedia Corporation, Serkan transformed digital infrastructure at scale, overseeing one of North America's most extensive media streaming platforms. His expertise in fault-tolerant architectures, CI/CD pipeline optimization, and cloud resource management has been instrumental in driving technological advancements and operational excellence.
At newbits.ai, Serkan serves as an Advisor to the Leadership Team, providing guidance on Technical Development and helping to shape research & innovation initiatives. He supports the execution of custom AI solutions and contributes to the development of future AI marketplace offerings. Additionally, Serkan plays a key role in technical content creation across our social media platforms, helping ensure that newbits.ai remains at the forefront of AI education and innovation. His multidisciplinary expertise enables him to navigate the complexities of the AI landscape, delivering insights that support scalable, reliable, and cutting-edge AI-driven solutions. Driven by a mission to make AI accessible and actionable, Serkan empowers businesses and individuals alike to harness the full potential of artificial intelligence in solving real-world problems.