Paul Lopez is a 30+ year technology veteran whose career has bridged the evolution from mainframe computing to artificial intelligence. His expertise spans AI & machine learning, enterprise architecture, cloud infrastructure, DevOps, product management, and technology innovation across multiple industries including healthcare IT, financial services, telecommunications, semiconductor devices, and enterprise software.
As Principal Architect, Generative AI Solutions, at Optum (part of UnitedHealth Group), Paul helps commercialize advanced AI capabilities for an AI-first health-tech organization leading the healthcare industry’s transformation. He translates proven internal innovations into scalable, client-ready solutions for provider health systems, payers, life sciences, pharmacy, and academic medical institutions. His work focuses on accelerating value realization through early pilots with measurable outcomes while building repeatable architectures and delivery frameworks that balance startup-level agility with enterprise-grade governance for security, privacy, and compliance. Paul partners across R&D, engineering, and delivery teams to ensure each engagement drives tangible ROI and strengthens Optum’s position as a trusted partner in healthcare’s AI transformation.
His current focus extends beyond healthcare to explore AI applications across four research pillars: Enterprise AI (large-scale adoption and organizational transformation), Financial AI (quantitative analytics and algorithmic trading), Practical AI (productivity automation and workflow intelligence), and Faith & Technology (ethical AI and responsible innovation in ministry). Through paullopez.ai, he conducts hands-on research and builds proof-of-concept systems that demonstrate how AI can augment human capability while preserving what makes us distinctly human.
Prior to UnitedHealth Group, Paul served as Vice President of IT Services & Operations for NEC Corporation of America, leading national teams of consultants, architects, and engineers serving enterprise and public sector clients. He has held senior leadership positions at T-Mobile USA, Nortel Networks, IBM, AMD, and National Semiconductor, where he was instrumental in bringing transformative technologies to market during pivotal industry shifts.
Paul approaches AI with a cross-industry perspective informed by decades of building systems that people actually use—from telecommunications networks serving millions to healthcare platforms processing billions in claims. He believes the most meaningful AI applications emerge not from theoretical frameworks but from deep domain expertise combined with hands-on experimentation. His work emphasizes advisory-level thinking that connects business value, technical feasibility, and human impact.
Paul holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and has completed MBA coursework at SMU’s Cox School of Business and the Wharton School. He has served as an active member of IEEE, contributing to standards committees for computer networking and wireless technologies.
Note: This is Paul’s personal blog and research platform. The opinions and projects shared here are his personal views and explorations, not those of UnitedHealth Group or Optum.
