Learning AI Together:
A Journey of Discovery at Lesterius

With FileMaker 2025 introducing more AI features, Lesterius CTO and long-time FileMaker expert Koen Van Hulle shares his personal perspective on the changing role of AI in our work.

When Familiar Tools Start Speaking a New Language

AI has quietly been part of FileMaker for years. APIs for object recognition and photo tagging. Custom models via CoreML since FileMaker 19.0. It was always there—helpful, smart, but silent.

Then, in 2022, it got loud. ChatGPT landed, and suddenly AI wasn’t just a background utility. It could write, reason, summarise, search. And it was everywhere.

When Claris released their semantic search implementation, it felt like a signal: this is no longer a trend on the sidelines. This is core to the future of the platform. For most of us it is a wake-up call. This technology is something completely new and unfamiliar.

You can follow my personal personal journey and struggles in a series of articles on the Claris Community: "After 27 years, I'm the newbie again" offers an honest, detailed look at the challenges and discoveries of learning AI as an experienced FileMaker developer. And it might feel familiar for most of you.

How We Approach New Technology

Our philosophy has always been straightforward: understand the business need first, then explore how technology can address it. AI follows this same principle. We're not implementing artificial intelligence because it's trendy. We're investigating how it can solve real challenges that our clients face every day.

At Lesterius, we've established dedicated Knowledge Centers where team members with expertise in specific technical areas collaborate on research and development. Our AI Knowledge Center brings together developers, analysts, and consultants to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence within FileMaker solutions.

This isn't about racing to become AI specialists overnight. It's about understanding how these tools work, where they add value, and how to implement them effectively.

Things we learned so fAR

One of the beauties of working with FileMaker 2025's AI features is that you can concentrate on solving business problems rather than getting lost in the complex AI technology. The platform handles the technical complexity underneath, allowing developers to focus on practical applications and user experience.

  • Build on existing foundations
    Organizations that have been building custom FileMaker solutions and accumulating business data find themselves in an unexpectedly strong position. Your FileMaker solutions already contain valuable data and established workflows. AI can enhance these systems rather than replacing them entirely.

  • You are in control
    Unlike most other platforms, you have complete control over what you do with your data. Having that control makes it easier to start experimenting and do your first AI implementation that brings real value.

  • Start with low-risk experiments
    The best way to understand AI capabilities is through small-scale implementations that demonstrate value without disrupting existing operations.

  • Focus on problems, not technology
    Rather than asking "How can we use AI?" we prefer "What business challenges could benefit from better information processing or pattern recognition?"

The Human Element Remains CentRAL

What excites us most about AI in FileMaker is how it amplifies human capabilities rather than replacing them. The technology can help remove the work rut, and give more flexibility to easily change your workflow. Not all functionality needs to be foreseen upfront. Rather than building static reports, AI enables dynamic analysis that responds to natural language questions. The technology handles the hard work, freeing people to focus on interpretation, creativity, and strategic thinking.

  • AI provides insights; people make decisions
    The most valuable implementations give users better information to inform their judgment rather than trying to automate decision-making entirely.

  • Domain expertise becomes more important, not less
    Understanding your business processes, customer needs, and operational challenges becomes crucial for implementing AI effectively. Technology expertise alone isn't sufficient.

  • Collaboration improves outcomes
    The best AI solutions emerge when technical implementers work closely with business users who understand the context and objectives. This collaborative approach has always been central to our work at Lesterius.

  • Iteration leads to innovation
    AI solutions typically improve through testing and refinement rather than getting everything right on the first attempt. Starting small gives the best results.

  • Co-Creation in the AI Era
    Our commitment to co-creation becomes even more relevant when working with AI technologies. Understanding the nuances in your data and workflow requires ongoing collaboration for the best results.

Looking Forward

The AI landscape will continue evolving rapidly, but our fundamental approach remains consistent: understand business needs, explore available tools, and implement solutions that genuinely improve how people work.

We're not implementing artificial intelligence simply because it's the latest buzzword. Instead, we're focusing on practical applications that add real value to the businesses we work with, using the same methodical approach that has served our clients well for decades.

Curious about how AI might enhance your existing FileMaker solutions?
Contact us to discuss your specific challenges and explore possibilities together.

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Claris launches FileMaker 2025: what's in it for you?