Farid Bakhishli: “AI will not replace everyone, but it will leave those who do not use it out of the game”
As technology rapidly advances, it brings with it many innovations that surprise us. In today's world, where modern technology and innovations are constantly evolving, individuals with unique skills and rich experience significantly impact the lives of others.
Azerbaijan has a flexible and ambitious young generation, a good technical base, and increasing state support for this sector in recent years. However, there is still work to be done in terms of international product mindset, startup culture, English language proficiency, and global market access channels. There is strong technical potential, but the ecosystem for properly “packaging” and introducing it to the world has not yet fully formed.
“I have set myself the goal of strengthening the technological bridge between Azerbaijan and Great Britain, and bringing more Azerbaijani specialists to global projects.
This was stated to Modern.az by Farid Bakhishli, founder of “Quberts Technologies” company operating in London, Great Britain, and a professional specialist in the field of information technologies (IT).
As an information technology specialist from Azerbaijan and a company head operating in England, he believes that the technology ecosystem in Great Britain is more established and systematic.
“Here, there is a strong legal framework, access to venture capital, university-industry collaboration, a product-oriented mindset, and a serious approach to security and quality standards. Mechanisms for testing ideas, finding investment, and global scaling are more transparent and accessible.”
The successful IT specialist spoke about his entry into this field: “My interest in the IT field emerged during my school years. At that time, during my first acquaintance with computers, I was more interested not just in using programs, but in the question, “how do these work?” Whenever I had the opportunity, installing, configuring computers, and experimenting with various programs was interesting to me, and later this interest led me deeper into networking, system administration, and software development.
During my university and early working years, I realized that this field could be a professional career, not just a hobby. My progression from a technical role to gradually managing teams, projects, and later company administration is actually a logical continuation of the natural curiosity that arose during my school days. Even today, I perceive information technologies not just as a profession, but as an environment that is constantly updated and compels one to learn.”
3 Azerbaijani Young People Uniting Their Strengths in Great Britain
Despite currently living abroad, F. Bakhishli has not limited his activities to the local environment. Together with his compatriots Yusif Jabrayilov and Ali Abdiyev, he founded an IT company called “Quberts Technologies” operating in Great Britain. “Quberts” is an international platform that provides technological solutions to companies in various countries, and the founders place special emphasis on this activity being beneficial for Azerbaijan in several strategic directions.
According to him, sharing the standards and experiences formed in England with specialists of Azerbaijani origin, creating opportunities for them to participate in global projects, and playing the role of a bridge connecting the two environments are among the main goals.
Our interviewee stated that contributing to the strengthening of both technical knowledge and proper project management, product culture, and global mindset in Azerbaijan constitutes the essence of his work. He is currently working on international IT projects and the company's internal product, the Safe Circle project.
“Incidentally, this project is a mobile platform we created to enhance the safety of the London community. It allows users to report incidents completely anonymously, monitor the security situation in areas via an interactive map in real-time, receive location-based notifications, and view their personal report history. The product is built with an architecture that complies with GDPR requirements, prioritizing privacy and data security, and our goal is to both create a safer urban environment through technology and to deliver a global-level product bearing the signature of Azerbaijani specialists.”
Farid Bakhishli stated that he has plans to both operate and strengthen collaborations in the IT sector in Azerbaijan, and he sees this happening more systematically through “Quberts”:
“When forming our team, we already give special preference to Azerbaijani specialists, and in the next stage, we aim to involve more developers, designers, analysts, and product managers from Azerbaijan in our international projects. This, on the one hand, creates remote global job opportunities for professionals in the country, and on the other hand, makes the signature of the Azerbaijani team visible in the international environment. In other words, my goal is not just to build an individual career, but to transform “Quberts” and my personal experience into an open platform for the Azerbaijani IT ecosystem.”
Farid Bakhishli, as an Azerbaijani specialist living abroad, also offered his recommendations to our youth:
“Firstly, do not trifle with basic knowledge: strong technical knowledge, English language proficiency, and problem-solving skills are your greatest capital. Courses, diplomas, and certificates are good, but for an employer, the main answer is not to the question “what do you know?” but “what have you done?”
Secondly, create a portfolio: have your code on GitHub, participate in real projects, freelance, join hackathons. Show visible work, not just a paper CV. Today, it is realistic to sit in Baku and work for a company in London – you just need to be visible.
Thirdly, build a network and do not hesitate to ask questions. Use LinkedIn correctly, connect with Azerbaijani specialists working abroad, and ask for advice. Many people are ready to help a young person who approaches them normally and professionally.
Fourthly, make continuous learning a lifestyle. Technology changes very rapidly. The era of “I learned it once, and it's done” does not exist. Every year, ask yourself: what is my advantage to compete in the international market today?
And finally, believe in yourself, but be realistic. An Azerbaijani passport does not limit you, but a weak portfolio, poor communication, and an unprofessional approach do. If you set your standards globally, you can both join international projects without leaving the country and be a strong representative wherever you go.
Our youth should work not only on syntax but also on logic, systems thinking, and the ability to work with AI. AI will not replace everyone, but it will very quickly leave those who do not use AI out of the game.”
Technology and People
Farid Bakhishli's vision for the future is shaped along two main lines: technology and people. In his opinion, artificial intelligence, digitalization, and the global labor market are changing the rules of the game, and instead of avoiding this change, one must interpret it correctly:
“I believe that in the coming years, those who make a difference will be teams that understand, direct, and build value upon technology, rather than merely consuming it.”
The specialist looks to the future not with caution, but with responsible confidence. He believes that there is enough talent and energy both globally and in Azerbaijan to benefit from this opportunity. He sees his role as creating the right platforms for this talent.
Goals are not a “to-do list,” but an ongoing process
The young specialist, stating that he has achieved the goals he set, said that there are still many goals:
“My goals are numerous. I believe that goals are not a “to-do list,” but an ongoing process. I intend to transform “Quberts” into a global player on a wider scale, work with more Azerbaijani specialists, strengthen the active bridge role in technological cooperation between Azerbaijan and Great Britain (and Europe in general), and work on products in areas such as artificial intelligence and security that provide both public benefit and are commercially sustainable.”
According to Farid Bakhishli, the main qualities for achieving success in life are discipline, perseverance, honesty, the right environment and people, and professionalism.
“Working with people who compel you to develop, rather than hold you back, is one of the main conditions. Everything else – money, title, position – is a result that comes from these three,” the young specialist stated.
A.Qorxmaz
