According to Aaron Mok, Sasha Aptlin shared with Business Insider his experience as an artificial intelligence (AI) expert.
Excerpt from the Interview with Sasha Aptlin
- Sasha Aptlin has generated over $50,000 by developing customized AI software for various businesses.
- At 25 years old, his primary goal is to assist clients in maximizing profits through the utilization of advanced language models.
- Here is an inside look at the life of an AI specialist.
This narrative, as narrated by Sasha Aptlin, a 25-year-old AI consultant operating in Dubai and New York, sheds light on his efforts to empower companies through the application of large language models (LLMs) for growth. Business Insider has validated his earnings and projects by reviewing his contractual records. The following account has been refined and expanded for clarity.
Initially, I engaged in machine learning projects focusing on areas such as computer vision, natural language processing, and recommendation systems. Presently, I manage a consultancy that leverages AI to drive business expansion.
My entrepreneurial voyage commenced in January 2022 with the establishment of Aptford AI advisory services. During my initial consultancy phase, I crafted proof of concepts for AI frameworks and guided clients on the adoption of natural language processing—a technology enabling computers to comprehend, interpret, and generate human language.
The release of ChatGPT in November 2022 spurred a surge in demand for my services. Individuals and enterprises recognized the value of deploying conversational AI to enhance profitability and efficiency, leading them to seek my expertise due to their lack of technical acumen.
Initially, there was a focus on developing customer service agents for websites, typically smaller projects. However, the current trend involves creating bespoke AI solutions designed to elevate revenue streams.
For instance, I designed an AI aide for a sales training company, automating skills assessments for sales representatives and tailoring personalized improvement strategies for each team member based on the insights gathered. Additionally, I developed a logistics control system for a freight brokerage firm streamlining their operations, and an AI manager for a startup accelerator providing guidance to its members.
One of the most intriguing projects I undertook was for a major loan provider based in San Francisco. I engineered an internal AI system enabling loan officers to swiftly address customer queries by extracting real-time responses from legal documents and refined company data. This innovation significantly reduced response times from 20 minutes to mere seconds.
The demand for innovative AI solutions is evident. Since late December 2023, I have secured earnings of nearly \(50,000 from two contracts, with an additional \)12,000 expected from a client who deferred their commitment, alongside future revenue from upcoming projects.
Typically, projects entail three phases. Initially, I analyze the client’s operations, devise a strategic plan outlining the program’s scope and risks. Subsequently, my team and I develop the program, incorporating essential features and adapting to client requirements. Upon project completion, we evaluate our performance and brainstorm ideas for subsequent endeavors.
Most projects integrate AI models from prominent LLM services like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere.
On average, a project may span around 4 months, with timelines extending up to six months contingent on the project’s complexity.
A key challenge lies in managing client expectations. Some clients expect tasks to be completed well ahead of the deadline, leading to dissatisfaction with the final deliverables.
There have been instances of overly ambitious requests, such as a system akin to the AI companion in the movie “Her” or customer support software replacing entire human resources departments.
Clients have also withdrawn from projects citing concerns regarding legal compliance and data security.
To harness the capabilities of large language models effectively, I advocate for businesses to familiarize themselves with these technologies. Accumulate relevant data, ranging from meeting transcripts to marketing materials, to fine-tune AI models. Subsequently, experiment with off-the-shelf solutions like chatbot builders to explore the full potential of these technologies.
Hands-on experience is crucial in unlocking the transformative power of technology.
It’s worth noting that Axel Springer, the parent company of Business Insider, has a global agreement to license OpenAI for training its models using content from its publications.
