Profile of a Pioneer: Hans about his work with Generative AI at valantic

Faces Behind GenAI – Meet Hans

Hans Harhoff Andersen is a data scientist who helped develop the early stages of GenAI at valantic. Right now, he’s building different prototypes of generative AI for a large Danish enterprise.

Hans, first off: How did you come to work with AI?

I actually did my PhD in physics, specifically in experimental quantum optics, but the promise of quantum computers always seemed far away. When I finished a decade ago, there weren’t many jobs in the industry focused on building them. Instead, I looked for data science positions due to the rise of machine learning and deep learning.

I ended up working at a wind turbine manufacturer, where I could blend my experimental and physics knowledge with my interest in data science. There, I learned essential data science skills and gained insights into engineering and enterprise operations, which helped kickstart my machine learning career.

What sparked your interest in GenAI?

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of computers acting on their own, which is part of the promise of AI. Initially, I was drawn to simple predictions, but my interest quickly evolved into more complex actions, like those involved in reinforcement learning. The emergence of generative AI from natural language processing marked a pivotal turning point for me. The idea that AI could have a meaningful and significant impact on various sectors captured my imagination. Suddenly, writing a bunch of text became the interesting part of interacting with the world.

What is your role in the GenAI taskforce?

As a data scientist, I joined the GenAI taskforce to help design and brainstorm the foundational elements of valantic’s AI assistant, vally. My role included prompt engineering, testing, and ensuring that vally can handle complex queries while also being witty at times, especially when asked philosophical questions. And vally will never spoil company secrets — that’s part of my original work as well.

How has AI changed your daily life?

The integration of AI into both my professional and personal life has been transformative. At work, tools like GitHub Copilot have revolutionized coding, making it more about describing what I want and then having the machine provide ideas that I can accept or reject. At home, GenAI allows me to create unique bedtime stories and pictures for my children, whatever they imagine them to be.

Can you tell us about your proudest moments in AI development?

I feel proud when the things we build have a life of their own, meaning that even after I leave the project, I know things are still working. Sometimes, colleagues tell me about their use and appreciation of vally, which serves as a testament to the project’s success and impact.

What do you need to start the (working-)day right?

A good day for me begins with a quiet moment and a cup of coffee. This routine sets the stage for focused and productive work because it puts me in the zone for building something. I believe that when you want to accomplish something big, you need to start the day right.

Last but not least: Do you have a favorite AI prompt?

I have a soft spot for asking questions that receive answers in the form of poems. For example, a poem about a computer program. It never ceases to amaze me that it can answer my questions, and do so in a poem or even using only words that start with the letter Q. While that’s not very useful, it’s definitely fun!

Thank you for the insights an this inspiring encounter, Hans!