Danil Lyalin: Gen Z narrative, Educational Challenges, the Future of AI

Foreign.

Gen Z representative, originally from Ukraine, living in Canada and Europe. Motto, Curiosity is my personality. An advocate for innovation, in love with AI, Cherishes design and beauty in all aspects. Believes in humanity and kindness.

Hi, Daniil. Hello. Long time. And you know, when I was getting myself prepared for our conversation, I was trying to find associations that have. That I have in mind when I first saw you and when, you know, when the whole scene scaled and I found four words that I think can pretty much define the nature of relationships, which are distance, innovations, Ukrainian, and talent. And what I mean here is that the distance that initially we had or we still have geographically is pretty much nothing and can be eliminated with one message, with one idea, and, you know, with one intention. When you first dropped me like a message on WhatsApp saying that, hey, you know, I do this, okay, you know, let's explore. And this, this journey was. Is full of innovations. And they see that in your age. As a Generation Z representative, I honestly feel a big responsibility and like, respect for your interest in passion, in what you're doing overall, because I can't even imagine the level of entropy and uncertainty and like, all the mess that is happening around. And when you are in your 20s, you're like, fuck, what do I do? You know, maybe you will just go high all day, all night and dance. But instead I see a brilliant talent which is curious in the whole range of things. And like, I keep saying myself, you know, thank you for being smart enough to establish a bridge between these generations. And they think, you know, this is a pretty, like, unique thing that differentiates us. So that's my, like, generic dive into overall. And yeah, so we met in States because of the. All the immigrations and all the moving across the globe because of the war and a lot of Ukrainian people got spread all around and this is how we met. I wonder how the whole thing looked like from your end, because for me, like, I was a father of a, like, super young baby. I was flying in the skies with all the projects, with all the responsibilities. And then, you know, we started talking.

Yeah, it happened so much fast. And I think we met in States. I dropped a message in WhatsApp because I was struggling to find a job. And I wrote something like, hey, Vlad, I'm UAE UX designer. I'm searching for a job. I'm living in Canada, I'm for four months in States, and maybe you can help me to find a job. And you told me something like, if you really want, we will find you a job in three days. And yeah, and this is how it started. Then I was developing my project at that time and I was thinking, why not to pitch it to you. And I think we met online the first time and I have pitched you my idea, my future ideas, future features that I want to integrate in my project and I think you like it at that time. And then we schedule a meeting in person at your office in Tampa. And then I pitched you my idea for one more time and for Sergey, I think. And yeah, this is how it all started.

Yeah, I want, you know, to comment on this, that indeed looking for a job for some people this is a struggle and this looks like, okay, you know, how to get something doing in life and getting paid. But honestly the reality is that even despite of AI everywhere, even despite of all the automation, despite of all the disruption happening, there is still very high demand for like smart thinking individuals with high emotional intelligence. And typically the path between getting a job and, you know, not having a job is not that long. Indeed it can be achieved in two to four weeks, depending on the market, depending on the education. But it's all about pig head discipline and determination. And when you were pitching your idea, I honestly was not just listening to the idea, but I got inspired by you personally as someone who thinks so out of the box. And after being in Malta for a few days participating in EU Startup Summit, one of the biggest insights that I got after talking with hundreds of people who are looking to raise money for their projects that they don't know how to pitch, they don't know how to present themselves, they talk so much about everything. And this, you know, this is a showstopper for many like partners and investors to dive into things instead of, you know, being straight to the point, being passionate, being the way you are, not playing someone. Yeah, I remember the project and I'm sure that they will, the time will come and will implement it and the way you see or will pivot it in some way, or it will be implemented as a side activity. Because your idea about education and making it more available for students in terms of getting advices and hints, it's pretty cool. It's just my concern was that won't we make it so easy to study that it will be just, okay, you know, let's find a way how to hack me being in university, not doing things. While universities and schools, these are the place that should teach you how, that should like teach you how to learn instead of teach you like specific things. But anyway, these are like abstract things. Tell me about, like how is it to live in 2024, when you are in your 20s, when you have, you know, I'm not saying lost your home, but you kinda had to leave the place where you belong to and travel the world like exploring things. So can you tell a bit this how you, how you feel?

It's difficult to, to find a place where you feel comfortable. Nothing is feeling like home. I think when I first came in Canada, it was some mental thing that I just tried to, you know, to, to make this place as home. To try to avoid thinking about Ukraine at all. Maybe not Ukraine. My living in Ukraine and my life just parted in. Just separated in two parts before and after the war. And I had a feeling like before the war I was a bit unconscious because I was living in my bubble in Kharkiv. I had my friends, I had my family, we got all together every Saturday for dinner and you know, the same routine for 17 years. And then just in one moment, everything has changed so drastically that I can't find. Find a place where I feel myself safe, where I feel myself home for this time. And I'm just trying to explore the world as I have this chance.

Cool.

Yeah.

And can you tell a bit about the differences in education or in the way you interact with educational institutions or overall you being part of the society, Society in Canada versus in States versus like in Ukraine. Like, you know, any like hints or observations you made? Because I think the unique thing about what we're doing here is that, you know, we have Ukrainian accent, but we still have damn good English. And when someone is watching this video, I hope that this person made like, you know, associate him or herself with the speakers in terms of facing similar challenges and maybe this gives some inspiration. So if you could share some your observations in terms of like, you know, what the life is in Canada versus other places in the world versus home, this may be very helpful.

Yeah, I would say that Canadian education system and Ukrainian one are not the same. It's really differs from each other. What I can say about Canadian one, it focuses solely on one profession, on your profession. And you deeply studied it. Just, you know, all aspects of this profession and nothing else. You, you just focusing like on, on one point in Ukraine, for example, we had, I studied management and we had mathematics, just general subject. We have economics. So it's just more broader spectrum in Ukraine in terms of studies than in Canadian one. But in Canada we have some subjects to choose. But the requirements for these subjects is typically one or two for the semester. The requirement for them is that it should be not connected to your main studies. So for example, I chose politics or psychological philosophy of Gandhi or sociology, something like this. Yeah, it just, it just needs to be separated completely from your main studies and this is the main difference.

And.

I don't know what's what, what is better, but I think, yeah, I think that's it.

Got it. Cool. Yeah. I mean I graduated my university, Hargitville Technical University a while ago and I still maintain pretty good relationships with my faculty and with folks from the university. What I can say for sure is that when I studied there I felt like I am studying the survival skill set. And it's not necessarily depth in some disciplines, but it's more about the way how to navigate life. And they think that a lot because of that and because of the people around and some portion of luck we are there where we are. Okay. And as for the project that initially you had in mind that you still, I hope having your backlog of ideas, can you tell a bit more about what made you want to do this or what inspired you to do this and overall like how you feel in the role of being like a founder, developer, product designer, product owner, business analyst, like all in one. Especially since again we're living in 2024, this is May now. It's been two and a half years after the full scale innovation and the world is changing so quickly that the concept like future of is everywhere. What I mean is that future of investing, future of education, future of work. And like what you know, can you share a bit about like what inspired you to start working with your project about education? And you know, do you have any fantasies how education may look like in 2030 or 2050? In 2050 you'll be like, you know what, it's 25 years from now you'll be in your 30s, pretty much my age. So you know, can you imagine the world you may be living in?

Yeah. To start, I will start describing my project. Yeah, I started it because of two main reasons. The first one is I was upset with job market in Canada. This is the first one. And the second one I was trying to solve my problems that I experienced myself in studies because it was difficult to adapt to the new system, to completely new system because you know, in Canada it's one more point to differentiation between education systems. You can't just text for a guy for your friend from the course and ask him, okay, I'm struggling with this and can you please help me for example, to finish it or let's do together. No, everyone Doing its own projects by their own. So I was trying to do some AI helper for studies that will in human way, in simple way describe for example project briefs, will help studying, not studying for you, but help you studying. And this is the main concept of the project, that AI should help people not do the job for them. So I started my project trying to collect a couple of ideas from my mates from the course. I just, I was asking just simple questions. What problems do you have or do you agree with this problem that I have? And yeah, a lot of them have agreed and it was some confidence for me that okay, I should start the project. And at that time ChatGPT released their first GPT3 model and Internet was just blown away. And I just got inspired by AI and I was thinking, okay, this is the time when I can take the money I have left and saved and just invest it in this idea and try to accomplish something. And I started building it, trying to be a project manager, solution architect at the same time. And I found just guys on upwork. I had seventeen hundred dollars ahead and half a year later we have a POC with this money and one Pakistan developer and thanks for him because I, I tried to squeeze him out for the last penny I have paid and we have poc. And yeah, it started something like this.

I mean I think this experience that you paid for like 1700 bucks, it's totally worth the like, you know, the experience you gained. I think this is a very fair exchange rate. And can you tell how you feel or how you think? Is entrepreneurship as a way of thinking or a way of life is comprehended? Like in Ukraine, maybe not now, but before the full scale invasion or even now versus United States or Canada or other parts of the world. Especially for the like super young people who are in the very beginning of their path, like, you know, what is your feeling here?

I think that states and I will talk about states mainly, not really Gendabad, it's related to Canada as well. There are a lot of possibilities for grants for some accelerators, for credits and it's much more for scholarships. It's much more accessible for young people than in Ukraine. And I think this gives so much opportunities and also, you know, relation for young entrepreneurs in Canada and States a bit differs from Ukraine because a lot of people and a lot of guys, young guys, young entrepreneurs in Canada or States, they have just more possibilities to start and they have the higher level of living from the start comparing to the rest of the world. So they can just, I don't Know, don't spend money from their birthdays and I don't know, find a job and collect the money from the job and start their own business easily. For example, hiring some developers from, I don't know, from other parts of the world.

Okay. And like now jumping back to the generational gaps and you know, these Gen Z's, millennials, boomers, all this like different like layers of people looking at the world differently. What do you think is ensure success between communication between these groups? Like are there hints or like your own observations that make you think okay, despite of the age gap which can be 20, 30 years. Like what things make people like see things similarly or comprehend the world in the same colors?

I think same passions. For example, I have the same passion with you about AI and I am interested in business, in sales, in all aspects of business as well as you. And I think this is the bridge that allows us to talk on a same level about the same things. And yeah, I think this the same passions can, you know, build bridge on this gap. Yeah.

What if there is no passion? Are there any other things that may work out?

I think just curiosity about different people around the world, despite their age. Because I met a lot of people in Canada from in different ages and someone just don't listen to me. For example, on a summit that I have visited in Canada, some of them just not listened, just not interested in, you know, they have this idea of age dominance over knowledge over curiosity over some, some ideas and potential. Some of them was really interested in talking with me. So it really differs from people to person to person. But I think that if you are a curious person, just yourself, yeah, you will find this bridge.

Yeah, you know, I'm sure I can bet anything that you know, in 2050 and I like thinking about this year because you know, I see myself being part of 2050 and it's not far away and you know, it allows to make some projections. So my projection is that in 2050 when some of those folks who met you or didn't pay enough attention to what you say, when they see the success you gain, they will eat their elbows. How to say it? Because I'm sure that passion curiosity will be driving and is driving the world and talking about AI finally and 2050 and overall the future. Indeed. A few days ago ChatGPT 4.0 was released and every day something like new, something big is released like this. The ray ban meta 3 hours ago released the new firmware that allows to do craziest stuff like the Vision Pro transforming the way we take part meetings and I wonder what's your thoughts on the nearest future in terms of human beings being able to have their digital twins? And when I say digital twins, I'm not saying about some dumb avatar joining the call weirdly talking stuff, but pretty much someone like you and I now talking at the meeting and you know, what's your thoughts on this?

I think AI will be integrated in every industry really in. In the life of every person. I think that we should start, you know, learn it or AI will start. Will learn how to control you if. Yeah, if you will not curious enough about it. But generally speaking, I think AI avatars, AI digital twins will be everywhere because the Apple is confirming my idea because even there just started doing digital twin and all tech giants building them. So it's the first point, the second point is that digital noise, digital mess that is going around the normal people, normal human can't just handle it all. Filter this noise, filter this mess and structure it. It's just, it's. It's becoming impossible. And I think these digital twins will handle so much routine tasks that normal human just spending hours to do in just one minute. And it will be the revolution that will be. That will access and will give this opportunity to focus on things that really matter to. To some person to human and doing some stuff. For example art or for example, what their interests. They will focus on their hobbies, on their. On. On something not as boring as routine tasks and filling, you know, spreadsheets for hours. And yeah, I think this is the future and I'm looking forward.

Okay, good. Because I wanted to ask, you know, are you more like excited about the future or concerned, but I hear positive vibes. So you're more like, you know, excited and eager to see what will be there, right?

Yeah, yeah, 100% I think. Yeah. In 100 years people will focus on things they are like and not that will bring them money, for example, and the AI will do all the job and you will just, you know, I hope so.

Yeah, yeah, we hope so. Unless. Unless we screw ourselves, you know, as a humankind, which we were doing pretty like frequently for the last several hundreds and thousands of years. But yeah, I totally support you here. Cool. And you know, I hope to see you at Viva Tech event in Paris in a few days because this will be like I think the most massive event dedicated to the technology disruption in the world. And I hope that all the inspiration and connections and knowledge that we may gain there will use for good building something to, you know, to make the World a better place like all the startups want. But you know, truly to help people get more of time for themselves rather than for something that can be delegated to their digital twin or AI. So do you have any expectations on what you, you know, want to see, see or experience at the Viva Tech event?

It will be my first event in this, you know, scale. I was in tech event in Canada but it was really small. But I just, I, I have visited the main website and just trying to, to find the people I will be interested to talk with and there are a lot of huge whales in the businesses like Arnold Mage Group and Orange CEOs and a lot of CEOs from different parts and industries and parts of the world and yeah, I have expectations to met interesting people to meet interesting startups, to have some dose of inspiration for the rest of the year I think I don't know, maybe cool.

And out of folks that may be there like you mentioned, Bernard Arnault, John Kerry, the chief data officer from Meta, head of strategy of Adobe and I think there will be guys from Perplexity like whom would you want to have like a casual chat or maybe you know, a walk? Like do you have someone you have in mind?

Yeah, ideally Perplexity because it's my loft AI and it's my the most, I think it's most interesting project and most, you know, future looking. I don't know, it's just wonderful technology and if I will have the possibility to talk with Perplexity guys, I will have a huge list of questions.

Okay. Yeah, you know I wish that there would be an event where someone would say hey, I would like to speak to Daniel Lalin and his idea. Just as passionate as you're talking about Perplexity guys and I sincerely wish you success on this and hope that some of the joint projects we have will bring this closer.

Yeah, okay. 100 and I'm hoping to find some, just to talk to with some startups. I don't know, I'm just, I'm loving indie projects. I'm living, I'm in love with some small projects that are solving maybe maybe small problem, maybe small, you know, bridge in some, in some process. But I am getting so inspired by some people building something small. But it's all been a real problem and I hope that I will get some experience from them talking about creating, creating solution to different problems in different industries. Yeah so this is my expectations and.

As for the indie projects, I totally support you here because even Sam Altman says and I also think the way that there will soon be a time when there will be several billion dollar companies run by one man, or maybe trillion dollar companies run by 10 men. So, you know, we're living in a crazy time. Yeah, that's for sure. Yeah, it was cool chatting with you. And, you know, we mostly have this asynchronous communication across all the channels, across all the contexts, but it was truly like fresh air, having, like a real communication, even that it is not offline. But hope to see you offline, drink some and, you know, talk about stuff.

Okay. Hope to see you soon.

Thank you.

Thank you.

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