Ivan Sysoev holds a unique position in Cyprus’ emerging tech landscape. As the island’s first Chief AI Officer, both in title and in practice, he represents a growing shift in how technology is understood, built, and deployed. His work bridges research and real-world application, helping position Cyprus as a place where intelligence is shaped with intention beyond innovation
His journey began with mathematics. Trained as an applied mathematician, Sysoev developed a sharp instinct for systems that evolve over time. While exploring large language models in 2020, he identified something foundational: at first glance, these models process language, but going deeper, they reorganised the way we interact with information. The implications extended far beyond code.
That recognition echoed lessons from earlier years. Raised in Cyprus, Sysoev observed how industries balanced deep-rooted practices with the pressure to modernise. Data became the link, an invisible thread connecting problems to solutions. At university, he applied predictive algorithms to improve how charity goods were distributed. The outcome was an alteration in how real people received help. “It was the first time I saw AI working in the background to quietly fix a system,” he recalls.
This practical perspective defines much of his thinking today. In fintech, Sysoev designs AI tools that serve people who may have never studied or applied themselves in finance. Adaptive risk systems, conversational assistants, and personalised product experiences offer clarity instead of complexity. With each iteration, the technology becomes less visible, while its impact grows.
Ivan Sysoev’s Vision for Human-Centered Intelligence
To encourage new applications of AI across sectors, he helped create the HackAIthon in 2024, organised in collaboration with Quadcode. Held in Limassol, the event drew over 100 participants including engineers, designers, product thinkers, and data scientists who built tools guided by real-world use cases. Solutions ranged from chart-reading interfaces to intelligent agents for decision support. “The excitement came from seeing how quickly people moved from idea to implementation,” Sysoev says. “The tools exist. What matters is how we apply them.”
This momentum mirrors Cyprus’ evolving identity as a tech hub. Its geographic position, openness to talent, and compact, adaptable economy provide fertile ground. Events like HackAIthon, alongside initiatives such as Reflect Festival and the Cyprus Fintech Summit, show a community moving steadily from potential to maturity. Sysoev sees these gatherings as markers of progress. They create conversations between people who build, fund, and regulate emerging systems, all within the same room.
As AI takes on a larger role in everyday tools, the need for accountability grows. For Sysoev, responsible deployment starts with design. He prioritises diverse training data, transparent reasoning, and outcomes that respect fairness. In fields like finance, this builds trust. In a national context, it strengthens credibility. “Cyprus is laying the groundwork for long-term leadership,” he says. “And trust is infrastructure.”
His teams reflect that approach. Each project brings together technical depth and cross-functional thinking. Engineers who understand regulation, designers who speak the language of systems, and analysts who move between logic and interpretation. It’s a means of ensuring that focus is refined rather than diluted.
He sees AI’s most powerful effect in how it returns time to people. By streamlining tasks and lowering barriers to creation, it gives space for curiosity, strategy, and problem-solving. Whether a user is building a portfolio or sketching a product concept, AI acts as a second mind, available instantly, always ready to assist.
Outside of the lab and office, Sysoev reconnects with Cyprus through movement and conversation. Walks along Limassol’s seafront. Evening talks in small cafés. Books on philosophy that challenge his assumptions and deepen his frameworks. These habits keep him rooted in the present, and help him sharpen his sense of purpose.
At the centre of his work is a steady principle: intelligence, in any form, gains value through application. Built with care, shaped by ethics, and tested through use, it becomes a tool for clarity.
As Cyprus moves forward with ambition, Ivan Sysoev is helping ensure that progress remains grounded in people.