Thinking about thinking with Ryan Lingo

  




I am excited to share insights from my conversation with Ryan Lingo. He is an Applied AI Research Engineer and Developer Advocate at 99P Labs. Our discussion was very engaging and inspiring, and I found myself asking a lot of questions and having high spirited discussion! Here are some of the questions I asked him.

1. I read on your website that you discovered a passion for software engineering, data science and AI. What kept you excited and busy before that?


Ryan pursued studies in philosophy, embracing the idea “thinking about thinking." Although he didn't enjoy school, he had a passion for learning, especially in making websites. That was his transition from a college instructor to being a website designer. As a young person, he developed websites and even earned money by making them for others. Websites involved data, which sparked his interest in data science. Over time, he discovered AI and began exploring it and its tools. As a young kid, Ryan always loved puzzles and card games. He loved to solve problems. After hearing his thoughts, I felt the same. I didn’t enjoy school as much, however I enjoy the gift of learning.


2. What particularly about data science, software engineering and AI intrigues you?


Ryan has a passion for solving everyday problems for e.g. simple things like when you get up in the morning, should you stretch or not stretch, or should you have high protein breakfast or not. These were just some examples he shared on how he views AI can help. He finds joy in analyzing data and answering questions that come up in daily life. Whether it's improving daily routines, or finding ways to make tasks easier. He enjoys the challenge of problem solving. His interest leads him to find new solutions. One thing I observed is that Ryan is very excited to use AI to solve many different problems.


3. Can you very simply explain what AI, data science and software engineering means to an 11 year old?


According to Ryan, data is simply any information that can be recorded and reflects everything you do daily. The next step is to identify which data is important and which is not. Using software to organize this data is a digital system for problem-solving. While AI can create software like humans do, Ryan believes its role isn't that important. Instead, AI can help tackle less important daily issues, allowing you to concentrate on the more important problems at hand. We further discussed if using AI is useful or does it make someone using it unaccomplished. His view is that AI tells you the “What” but does not tell you the “How” and the “How” is an important aspect of building skills.


4. I read on your LinkedIn, that you studied philosophy? What does studying philosophy mean? How do you use philosophy learning in your personal or professional life?


During his college years, Ryan took a philosophy class that focused on ethics. This course explored the principles of right and wrong, emphasizing one person's actions might affect society as a whole etc. Ryan learned to think about different problems and the reasons behind a lot of these ideas. This experience helped him understand philosophy better and made him think about his own values. He regularly incorporates philosophy into his conversations, encouraging people to engage in thinking and explore different perspectives. Whether in casual chats or professional meetings, he asks questions that make one think deeply.


5. What are some struggles you face having multiple careers?


Ryan first explained why one considers having multiple careers or skills. He said that the reason one goes down this path is because of the fear and anxiety of 1 of the skills becoming irrelevant so in order to stay up to date, people generally learn multiple skills creating possibly multiple careers. But he suggested that this can be viewed as positive from the view point that it shows a person's ability to switch or adapt. The big takeaway I had from this discussion is continuous learning is hard but important.


6. My dad told me you played poker professionally, can you tell me what one can learn from poker to apply in real life?


Poker has played a significant role in his problem-solving abilities and early entrepreneurial skills. He finds the game fascinating, as it challenges him to think strategically on how to make choices about time and money and make quick decisions about them. Through playing poker Ryan learnt how to develop a clear mindset but also through this game, he learnt how to interact with other people and understand what they are thinking. Poker allowed him to build a combination of entrepreneurial and psychological skills. He highly recommends learning and playing this game.


7. What advice would you give to me about life?


Ryan gave me some really great advice. He said to be as reflective as possible on everything you do. Along with being reflective he said to assess or ask yourself what you could possibly change that can help you improve. Ryan also said to keep trying new things, basically, keep exploring! This was a very powerful message for me.


I had such an awesome conversation with Ryan. I could really connect with him. He has taught me to always keep thinking and asking questions. I would like to thank him for his time and I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed interviewing him and writing this blog!


You can reach out to Ryan on his website: https://www.ryanlingo.com/


I would really love to hear your feedback and comments. Please reach out to me@hanikachhajer.com.

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