The Odds

In this episode, Stepan, a Ukrainian AI researcher, shares his journey and the evolving role of AI. The conversation covers topics such as growing up in Ukraine, the impact of the war, challenges of moving to the United States, and the motivation behind task-specific attribution in transformer models. Stepan also discusses breakthrough moments in his research and the potential role of AI in conflict resolution and humanitarian efforts. Overall, the episode provides insights into Stepan’s personal experiences and the broader implications of AI in society. Stepan’s Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stepan-tita/ Breaking Free Transformer Models: https://paperswithcode.com/paper/breaking-free-transformer-models-task Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine 01:07 Stepan’s Background and Journey 02:01 Growing Up in Ukraine 03:03 The Impact of the War 04:30 Moving to the United States 08:05 Challenges Faced in Moving to the United States 12:48 Personal Goals and Cultural Shocks 14:18 Hopes for the Future of Ukraine 15:35 Transition to Research in Artificial Intelligence 19:08 Breakthrough Moments in Stepan’s Career 21:59 Motivation for Exploring Task-Specific Attribution in Transformer Models 25:39 Challenges Faced in the Research 27:20 Testing the Models 30:25 AI’s Role in Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Efforts 32:55 The Chances of AGI Being the Doom of Mankind

3/31/26 • 34:20

Charity Darko, a software engineer from Ghana, shares her journey of how she landed a job in Germany. She initially wanted to pursue a career in the medical field but ended up with computer science when she was denied admission to medicine. Charity was one of the few females in her computer science class, but she was motivated by the fact that she deserved to be there. After completing school, she gained work experience through remote jobs and eventually secured a job in Germany. She highlights the differences in work culture and benefits between Ghana and Germany. Charity aspires to become a project manager and is interested in iOS app development. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charity-darko/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 06:14 Challenges as a Female in a Male-Dominated Field 14:01 Work Experience and Benefits in Germany 29:04 Differences in Work Culture: Ghana vs. Germany 38:56 Balancing Work and Social Life 46:51 Following Your Passion vs. Practical Considerations

3/31/26 • 47:51

This episode explores the experiences of international students in the United States, with a focus on Ghana. Sir-Lord, a computer science PhD student, shares his journey and discusses his motto of continuous learning. He also talks about his passion for music production and poetry. The conversation delves into the reasons behind Ghana’s rise in international student enrollment and the cultural shocks and expectations faced by international students. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the school application process. In this part of the conversation, Sir-Lord and Emmanuel discuss the process of deciding to pursue education in the United States, including researching states and schools. Additionally, there is a discussion on the importance of building social connections and tips on how to do so. The conversation also covers topics such as cultural differences, the importance of internships, the challenges of finding internships, misconceptions about job opportunities, the impact of school reputation on internships, financial challenges, strategies for financial planning, advice for international students, and the odds of success for international students. You can find Sir-Lord on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-lord/. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Statistics on International Students 01:26 Background and Motto 05:51 Plans for Music Career 07:15 Challenges in Poetry Writing 09:59 Reasons for Increase in Ghanaian International Students 12:42 Cultural Shocks and Expectations 16:07 Comparison of College Life in Ghana and the US 18:40 Assignments and Projects in US Colleges 20:20 School Application Process 25:53 Challenges in Finding a Professor 29:31 Researching States and Schools 35:23 Visa Process 37:21 Challenges in the Application Process 40:42 Traveling for Visa Interview 41:12 Supportive Structures in School 43:31 Lab Support and Collaboration 44:28 Building Social Connections 46:37 Strategies for Making Friends 50:35 Managing Finances 52:39 Importance of Internships 53:01 NIW and Future Plans 55:27 Misconceptions about Job Opportunities 58:31 Challenges in Computer Science Field 01:00:53 Financial Strategies for International Students 01:06:00 Savings Strategies 01:09:02 Advice for International Students 01:12:11 Odds of Success for International Students

3/31/26 • 75:46

In this episode, Caleb Mantey, a VR/AR pioneer from Ghana shares his journey into the world of virtual and augmented reality, starting from his early interest in game technology. He discusses his experiences with Dunga Studios and highlights some of his early projects, including a VR experience for Close Up toothpaste. Caleb also talks about the challenges and struggles he faced in game development and emphasizes the importance of releasing games regardless of their quality. He shares his vision for the future, including the transformation of the gaming industry in Ghana and the exploration of African superheroes in games and stories. LinkeIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-mantey-a461a9148/ Relu: https://www.reluinteractives.com Dunga: https://dungastudios.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:33 Caleb’s Journey into VR and AR 10:12 Caleb’s Final Year Project 12:12 Challenges in the Academic Setting 24:21 Creativity and Skills in Game Development 31:20 Caleb’s Vision for the Future 41:01 The Gaming Industry in Ghana and Africa

3/31/26 • 45:12

Caleb Mantey shares his journey of perseverance and success in the AR and VR space. He talks about winning a prestigious award and the validation of his work. He emphasizes the need for more support and investment in Ghanaian startups and the importance of building a solid network. Caleb Mantey also discusses the misconceptions about AR and VR and the potential for these technologies in various industries. He shares advice for aspiring developers and reveals his future goals of working in engineering and creating high-quality African-themed games. LinkeIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-mantey-a461a9148/ Relu: https://www.reluinteractives.com Dunga: https://dungastudios.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:21 The Importance of Support and Investment in Ghanaian Startups 34:17 The Future of Caleb Mantey’s Company: Engineering and African-themed Games

3/31/26 • 47:12

Welcome

3/31/26 • 01:13