Meet Anton Kiselev

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anton Kiselev and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anton, what is the most important factor behind your success?
As an AI and VR solution architect with more than 10 years of experience, the first and most important aspect is putting the user first is a huge part. Whether I’m working on AI or VR, I focus on making technology that’s easy to use and feels natural. I want people to pick up my product—whether it’s a VR program or an AI tool—and think, “This just works for me.” It’s all about creating something that clicks with users and improves their experience.

When I was leading a team developing the first-of-its-kind VR training project for the US Navy that allowed trainers to inject misinformation and send threats to a trainee during the simulation, the goal was to address the urgent and evolving training needs of Naval midshipmen. Our system allowed midshipmen to fully immerse in our simulation and experience real-world threat scenarios. Such training allowed us to boost the performance of midshipmen by 60% after the first session and 90% by the third session using our simulation.

Lastly, building strong, scalable systems is just as important. VR can be tricky because it needs to run fast and handle lots of users without crashing. AI has to be adaptable to user needs, and this adaptability relies on scalability. By designing AI systems that can efficiently handle growing amounts of data and increasingly complex tasks, I ensure that they remain responsive and effective as user requirements evolve. I specialize in making software that’s reliable and can grow, so whether it’s one person or a thousand, everything keeps running smoothly.

In short, my success comes from caring about the people using my tech, innovating in creative ways within AI and VR, and making sure the systems I build can handle anything. It’s a balance of designing for users, innovating with new ideas, and nailing the technical details—and that’s what drives me every day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart is my ability to strategically apply AI or VR to solve specific industry challenges, leveraging advanced software engineering techniques like microservices architecture and machine learning algorithms to revolutionize industries like education and business. My extensive knowledge of software engineering and AI development, including proficiency in backend system design, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and sequence-to-sequence transformers, enables me to build scalable, intelligent solutions that consistently outperform traditional approaches.

My interdisciplinary approach—spanning education, retail, healthcare, and beyond—combined with a proven track record of measurable impact, such as saving millions and reducing inefficiencies, sets me apart. Recognized by experts, academics, and global companies, I create innovative, scalable systems that not only push technological boundaries but also address real-world challenges with lasting results.

I’m proud of several achievements. One highlight is my research on AI-driven curriculum development, where I used Natural Language Processing and ontology-based frameworks to create methods for automatically updating educational programs. Currently, as Chief Systems Architect at DAPT Tech, I’ve driven AI integration that cut financial processing times from 45 hours to 4.5 hours, sparking a 120% client growth and a 130% revenue increase. Seeing my work shape tangible outcomes is incredibly rewarding.

My journey began with a strong academic foundation. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and later earned my Master’s with a perfect 4.00 GPA. This gave me the technical grounding I needed. From there, I took my ideas into the real world—transforming classrooms, retail operations, and even military training with the U.S. Navy’s VR project. It’s been about bridging theory and practice through curiosity and hard work.

The path wasn’t always easy. Balancing intense coursework with research and projects meant late nights and tight deadlines, but discipline and time management kept me on track. I overcame these by breaking problems into manageable pieces, iterating quickly, and collaborating with teams. Mentors from Embry-Riddle and supportive colleagues were invaluable in navigating these hurdles. Resilience and adaptability became my strengths.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting LA for a week, I’d show them the city’s wild mix of glamour, grit, and endless sunshine. We’d hit the classics like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, snag a Double-Double at In-N-Out Burger, or take a few hand-rolls at Kazunori, and watch the sunset at Santa Monica Pier. For beaches, Venice offers quirky boardwalk vibes, while Zuma in Malibu is perfect for a chill day. Food stops would include tacos at Grand Central Market, fancy toast at Sqirl, and killer Italian at Bestia. We’d hike Griffith Park for epic views, catch laughs at The Laugh Factory, and sip drinks at High Rooftop Lounge.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Omar Ochoa, an exceptional university professor and my advisor, whose guidance has been instrumental in my academic and professional journey. Under his mentorship, I successfully navigated the rigorous coursework at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and had the distinct honor of being invited to join a prestigious research group as its youngest member. Additionally, I had the privilege of co-authoring several research papers with Dr. Ochoa, an experience that has significantly shaped my understanding of AI and VR. His unwavering belief in my potential has been a constant source of motivation, and his influence has profoundly impacted my growth as a scholar and professional.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonkiselev7/