Recently, the tech world was abuzz with the sudden disappearance of Artisan AI, one of San Francisco’s most talked-about AI companies, from LinkedIn. Speculations ran wild as the company’s LinkedIn page, employee profiles, and executive posts all displayed a cryptic “This post cannot be displayed” message.

After much speculation, Artisan CEO Jaspar Carmichael-Jack confirmed to TechCrunch that the startup had indeed been banned from LinkedIn. However, after working closely with the social network over the course of two weeks and addressing their concerns, Artisan was finally reinstated.

Carmichael-Jack acknowledged that every startup faces challenges, and in Artisan’s case, it was linked to using LinkedIn’s name on its website and allegedly working with data brokers who had scraped the site without permission – a clear violation of LinkedIn’s terms of service.

Artisan AI, a graduate of Y Combinator, gained prominence in San Francisco with its innovative AI agent, Ava, which specializes in outbound sales. The company’s controversial billboards with the slogan “Stop hiring humans” made waves in the industry, targeting potential customers on LinkedIn, a key platform for outbound marketing.

Despite the setback, Carmichael-Jack humorously noted that Artisan’s lead flow actually increased during the ban period, thanks to the viral attention it received. He expressed gratitude towards LinkedIn’s enforcement team for their assistance in resolving the issue, albeit through anonymous email communication.

To comply with LinkedIn’s requirements, Artisan removed all mentions of the platform from its website and ensured that its data partners operated within LinkedIn’s policies. Carmichael-Jack emphasized the minimal impact of the ban on Artisan’s operations, as they primarily rely on data from sources other than LinkedIn.

Looking ahead, Artisan plans to launch an updated version of its AI agent, capable of utilizing multiple channels for contacting prospects, including outbound calling. While LinkedIn’s actions may hint at future developments in the AI space, Carmichael-Jack remains unfazed, stating that Artisan can adapt to any situation.

Ultimately, Artisan’s public banning serves as a cautionary tale for companies relying on external data sources – highlighting the importance of compliance with platform policies in an era where Big Tech closely monitors data practices.