In the latest episode of Expats Unpacked, FastForward welcomes Ivan Sysoev, Chief AI Officer at Quadcode, for a thought-provoking conversation. More local than most expats, Ivan has lived in Cyprus since a young age, speaks Greek fluently, and has witnessed the island’s transformation into a growing tech hub firsthand.

Sysoev shares his unique perspective on Cyprus as both a professional in the FinTech space and a longtime resident. “Out of all the places I’ve lived, this is the one I call home, 100%,” he says, reflecting on how far the local tech ecosystem has come. While praising the country’s climate, quality of life, and strong sense of community, he also points out the “growing pains” that come with rapid development, urging stakeholders to consider long-term cultural and regulatory impacts.

As the conversation shifts to artificial intelligence, Sysoev dives deep into the ethics, challenges, and misconceptions surrounding AI in FinTech and beyond. He emphasizes the danger of unchecked biases in machine learning systems, referencing real-world examples of recruitment algorithms discriminating against female candidates. For him, ethical AI means more than compliance—it’s about understanding the hidden layers of how models make decisions.

Rather than seeing AI as a threat to jobs, Ivan is a strong advocate for “AI augmentation” over replacement. He believes the biggest shift in the job market will be how we redefine skilled labor. With AI tools democratizing innovation, more people will be able to create, build startups, and solve problems—without needing a full development team behind them.

Looking ahead, Ivan sees three trends shaping the future of AI: lower costs of model training, greater personalization and fine-tuning of AI tools, and increased efficiency across industries. He imagines a future where everyone has their own AI, tailored to how they speak, think, and create.

To wrap up, we get a glimpse into Ivan’s Cyprus lifestyle—from hiking in the Troodos mountains to his wish for an AI that could instantly record and organize every insightful conversation he has. Books? He’s not convinced—opting instead for following thought leaders on platforms like Medium and LinkedIn, where AI developments move at the speed of thought.

This episode of Expats Unpacked offers a rare mix of optimism, realism, and insight into how Cyprus—and the world—is adapting to the AI era. For Ivan Sysoev, it’s not just about innovation. It’s about building something meaningful, ethical, and lasting—right here on the island he now calls home.