Accessible AI for Everyday Users: Interview with SOTY 2024 Nominee, Hyperhumans

Hey Hackers!

Hyperhumans has been nominated in HackerNoon's Startups of The Year 2024 awards in Tallinn, Estonia under the AI category.

Read more about us below to understand why we deserve your vote

Can you tell us about the journey of your startup? What inspired you to go into AI?

Dinidh O’Brien, CEO: “From dumpster-diving for computer parts as a teen to launching my first startup in my early twenties focusing on emerging technologies (at the time) such as NFC and AR, I’ve been in tech for as long as I can remember. I love hardware more than anything else, and can still remember the magic of piecing together my first computer from scratch, turning it on, and watching it come to life. Technology is what sets us apart from all the other life forms on our planet. We’ve used it to jump from an agrarian society into the semi-advanced world we see today. It’s what took us LESS than a century from riding on horses to putting humans on the moon. It allows us to communicate and collaborate with people on the other side of our planet. AI for me represents so many things - it’s exciting as one of the big steps towards symbiosis between humans and machines, but along with that come to some serious questions about how it will impact society, as well as the ethics of computers that can ‘think for themselves’. As with all technologies, AI is a double-edged sword - it’s either going to be used for advancing humankind, or leveraged by a small minority to capture more wealth and power for themselves. I wanted to work with this exciting technology, knowing it was going to indelibly and permanently shape the future of our global society; and hopefully push it in the direction of improving as many lives as possible.”

Leszek Król, CTO: “Like Dinidh, I’ve also been obsessed with all things tech for as long as I can remember. I started learning programming with the BASIC language at the age of 10. After about two years, I wrote my first computer game called Lands of Fish, which was based on DirectX 7. It was a simple but exciting project that sparked my passion for game development and helped me understand the fundamentals of computer graphics and software design. From the very beginning, we had a computer at home as my dad (also named Leszek) was a computer scientist who developed complex accounting software. He was the one who introduced me to computers from an early age and showed me how to use them. I remember launching MS-DOS at his office just so I could play games like Little Big Adventure - which still fascinates me to this day - and the first Doom. One day, I spontaneously started asking myself how the icons we see on the screen are created, and that’s how my passion for programming began.  I’m the kind of person who seeks the most productive yet optimal solutions. The gaming industry showed me this clearly—when I was young, I realized that a vast amount of knowledge was required just to display anything on the screen. Access to this knowledge was often limited, especially in Poland, where there were practically no books explaining things like how to create triangles on the screen or how mip mapping works. I learned all of these things by collaborating with the Polish community and through trial and error. As we know, there is no true AI yet that can think independently—it’s still a complex algorithm with its own limitations. However, what inspires me the most is the potential that we, as humanity, can achieve by leveraging various AI solutions. Today’s teenagers can practically create anything as long as they have basic skills in using modern technologies. And that’s what truly inspires me—through smart, AI-powered solutions, we can become better people and also gain more time to spend with our families.”

What were some of the initial challenges you faced?

One of the main challenges we faced was finding the balance between developing advanced AI technology and making it accessible and user-friendly for a broad audience, both individuals and businesses. We wanted to create tools that were powerful enough for enterprises but intuitive enough for non-technical users. Achieving this required significant effort in terms of design and user experience. Our goal was to ensure that our AI-powered tools, while incredibly robust, wouldn’t feel overwhelming or overly complex for people just beginning to adopt AI in their daily lives or businesses. Another challenge was building trust in AI. While many businesses are familiar with automation and data intelligence tools, individuals can often feel uncertain about AI and its potential impact. We had to prioritize data security and ensure that our platforms, like HyperSpace and NeuraLead, incorporated advanced encryption methods and limit data storage and sharing to the greatest extent possible, so users - whether individuals managing personal data or businesses handling sensitive information - could trust our solutions to keep their information secure.

How has your Startup differentiated itself from other AI solutions in the market?

From the very start, we decided that we wanted to build tools and tech that HELP people live better, more fulfilling lives. We didn’t want to create things that were going to replace people or threaten their careers and future. That meant that our products had to not just be functional but strategically transformative. We designed them to help individuals and companies automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time and mind-space for more fulfilling, human, and creative endeavors. This unique combination of advanced AI capabilities and a human-centric philosophy makes Hyperhumans very different than a lot of the other startups we’re seeing pop up on the market.

We also stand out by focusing on a holistic, modular approach to software and AI-driven solutions. Our ecosystem is built on the principle of flexibility, allowing each tool to function independently or integrate seamlessly with others. This ‘lego-brick’ architecture means anyone can build and customize their digital infrastructure, tailoring it to their specific needs. Moreover, our focus on security, efficiency, and innovation ensures that you can stay ahead in today’s fast-paced environment, while still using cutting-edge tools in a way that protects your privacy. HyperDash is a great example of this - it creates a nexus for all of your data, combines it with a privacy-respecting AI, and allows you to make better decisions (personally or for your business) based on insights based on real and complete datasets, something not possible before now.

What have been some of your most significant milestones or achievements to date?

Some of our most significant achievements as a company include:

• Being selected by the European Commission to participate in helping create the legal rulebook for the ethical use of A.I. in Europe.

  
  

• Our CTO Leszek winning prestigious awards in AI innovation, such as the Marek Drapiński Revolutionary AI Implementation Award, as well as gaining recognition from Microsoft Poland for innovative projects in gamification

  
  

• The development and launch of NeuraLead, our AI-driven lead generation platform as well as the HyperDash, which was featured on the front page of ProductHunt on launch day!

  
  

• The creation of HyperSpace, a secure digital workspace with AI-assisted capabilities, enabling users to efficiently manage data and applications in an encrypted environment while still fully leveraging emerging tech such as AI.

What are your future plans and goals for your Startup? How do you see your AI technology evolving in the next five years?

Our vision is to empower both individuals and businesses by making advanced AI technology accessible to all. In the coming months and years, we aim to continue expanding the capabilities of our AI-driven tools to cater to diverse needs, from individual users seeking personal growth and productivity improvements to companies looking for ways to optimize their operations. We also want to branch into more experiential branches of technology and data interaction, including AR, VR, and gaming. For individuals, we envision software that enhances everyday tasks, making AI a companion in daily life and in a more friendly and human way than just sitting at a computer screen with a keyboard and mouse. We want our AI solutions to evolve so that they help individuals harness the power of technology to lead more productive, organized, and fulfilling lives.

For companies, we will continue to deepen our integration of AI-powered automation across industries, helping them streamline operations, improve decision-making, and stay competitive in an increasingly fast-paced market. Over the coming months, we plan to launch private & secure LLM models within HyperSpace, allowing users to create their own AI solutions tailored to their unique needs without needing to worry about any data going to third parties.

Ultimately, our goal is to create a future where everyone can leverage AI to enhance their capabilities, reduce repetitive tasks, and focus on what truly matters - living and enjoying life, in front of and away from our desks and screens. We believe that by empowering both individuals and businesses, we can help foster a more innovative, efficient, and human-centric future.

Final Thoughts

At Hyperhumans, we believe in the transformative power of AI not as a replacement for human capabilities but as an enabler - a catalyst. Beliefs are all well and good, but we truly believe that is our RESPONSIBILITY as an AI startup to ensure that the 4th era of technologies are used to empower humans and as a driver of innovation and evolution, and NOT as a replacement for human talent.

We are excited about the future and hope that with your vote, we can continue to push the boundaries of what AI can do, while ensuring that the next generation has a human experience in a global society that is happier, more prosperous, and more equal.

Join the growing community of Hyperhumans:

• Chat with us on Twitter: https://x.com/hyperhumans
• Join our amazing Telegram group: https://t.me/wearehyperhumans
• LinkedIn for “serious business people”: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyperhumansai/
• Obligatory Website: <https://hyperhumans.ai ](https://hyperhumans.ai)
• Stay up to date with our Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/ee033fa8884a/hyperhumans-signup