"Senukai" AI Chief: Learning Lithuanian Warms Interactions, Connects Me to Culture

Jadas Kaedbey, the head of the AI team at Lithuanian retailer "Senukai," shares his journey to Lithuania, highlighting the blend of personal and professional opportunities that led him to build a life in the country. Originally from Lebanon, Kaedbey studied information engineering in Italy before meeting his partner, Emilia, which prompted his move to Lithuania.

Leaving his established life in Italy, including a good job and fluency in Italian, was a significant challenge. Kaedbey recalls some people considering him "crazy" for moving to Lithuania, expecting him to start from scratch. He embraced this step outside his comfort zone, believing this life stage shouldn't be about convenience.

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When I join a remote call, everyone starts speaking English out of politeness. But when I turn on my microphone and offer to switch back to Lithuanian, smiles immediately appear on people's faces – communication instantly becomes much warmer. And although I'm far from speaking Lithuanian perfectly, I'm glad that I can look someone in the eye and speak their native language – it creates a completely different connection.

Despite English being sufficient in Lithuania's tech sector, Kaedbey was determined to learn Lithuanian. He views language as more than just communication; it's a key to understanding people, their culture, and becoming part of society. He notes that switching to Lithuanian in professional calls immediately brings smiles and warmth to people's faces, creating a stronger connection, even if his fluency is not yet perfect.

Kaedbey holds degrees in information engineering and computer science with a master's in artificial intelligence from Kaunas University of Technology. He describes himself as endlessly curious, viewing learning as a natural part of life, especially with the accessibility of information today. After completing his studies, he worked as a mobile application engineer before joining "Senukai" last year. He transitioned from AI engineer to leading the AI team, which develops technological solutions for the company.

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The world is so big and mysterious, and to understand it, you have to dedicate time and effort. On the other hand, today we simply have no other choice. Learning is easier now than ever before in human history. Today we have the internet, AI, trained on billions of sources. There are no excuses not to use it.