About

Dan is an independent researcher and engineer helping people turn AI ideas into practical systems that work in the real world.

I work with teams and organizations that need clear technical guidance, thoughtful strategy, and hands-on implementation around AI.

The gap

AI models are advancing faster than most organizations can absorb them. Access to the technology is no longer the hardest part. The hard part is connecting it to a real operation, shaping it around specialist knowledge, and making it reliable enough to matter.

That work sits between strategy and engineering. It takes someone who can understand how a business works today, see where AI creates genuine leverage, and stay close enough to the code to make the idea real.

That is the kind of work I help with.

Independent research and engineering

I work as an independent researcher and engineer rather than through a large delivery organization. That means direct access to the person doing the thinking, shaping the architecture, and building the system.

I move between executive conversations and working code. Depending on the problem, that can mean AI strategy, applied research, a production architecture, or a focused prototype that proves where the value is. My technical work spans large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, AI agents, edge systems, MLOps, and cloud platforms across Azure, AWS, and GCP.

Not every organization needs a large AI department. Many need a clear problem, senior technical judgment, and a trusted partner who can carry the work from idea to operation.

The experience behind it

I have spent more than 15 years taking technology from research into practical use. I have led international R&D teams, built enterprise systems, and delivered specialized work across three continents. My career has included AI and architecture leadership at Keysight Technologies, development leadership at Ixia Communications, and data engineering at Hewlett-Packard.

Alongside client and enterprise work, I advise early-stage deep-tech startups, participate in the BENELUX AI community, and contribute to European AI standards discussions. I am also the author of AI Unleashed: The C-suite blueprint for driving innovation and profitability.

I write here about what I am learning: the systems that work, the design choices behind them, and the limits that become visible only when you build.

Contact

Okt.ai is based in the Netherlands and works internationally.

Email me at dan.dinu@okt.ai.