Oleh: a true life story

Tuesday 10 February 2026

By Oleh Zhyntychka

In May 2022, at the age of 28, I lost a significant portion of my savings due to fraud (which later caused me to have a problem with accommodation included), which put me out of commission for a long time. It was an incredibly stressful experience: not only did the constant air raid alarms cause anxiety (just imagine waking up in the middle of the night and running to hide because a missile could hit the house you live in at any moment), but I also lost substantial money that I had been saving for many years. The fact is that war makes a person be in constant tension due to constant lack of sleep and fear for life, which in turn makes them very vulnerable to manipulation In addition, my English was poor at the time, and the fraudster took advantage of this very well by misleading me.

After a period of recovery (because I had a long period when I couldn't do anything, literally at one point everything lost its meaning and all the hobbies I used to be very fond of), I urgently went to look for a job (because at that time we had very big problems with work), which I found in September as an online sales manager (but as it turned out, in vain), the company did not pay me a salary for a long time, so I had to take out loans to have something to live on. Later, there were power outages due to rocket attacks, the company stopped operating and stopped contacting me, and I was left with debts, in complete despair and not knowing how to live, feeling constant stress and anxiety, how to live when all your plans are just falling apart? My debts were only growing, and I was surviving on odd jobs. Spending a lot of time on such activities and getting paid very little.

Later, in complete desperation, I started to actively engage in sports, all thanks to the fact that one day I came across a video on Youtube about an American David Goggins (this is the only person who probably for the first time in my life was really able to influence me), who used to be a member of the US Navy, and I was greatly impressed by his story of how he was able to change his life and what trials he went through on the way to this. It became very relevant to me in times of war, especially when every day can be your last, and it helped me restore my inner balance and find the strength to move forward.

In the autumn of 2023, OpenAI released DALL-E 3, and it became my real salvation. I plunged into creativity, using AI to create images. It helped me to escape from the harsh reality and gave my life a new meaning, as I hadn't felt such a creative fervour for a long time. Later, when OpenAI launched GPT-4, I dove even deeper into programming. Although I had only a secondary vocational education by profession, computer operator, this did not stop me, because I was driven by the desire to create something new and keep myself constantly in good shape. At that time, I developed the XFutuRestyle algorithm, which was based on GPT-4. I continued to work even during power outages, using only my battery-powered laptop and internet distribution via my smartphone, because my activity was the only way to distract myself in a cruel reality.

One day, I came across a video on Facebook titled "Artwork created by artificial intelligence is on display in Hong Kong", which inspired me to try to take a chance, because there was little to lose when you were already at rock bottom. At that time, I already had a great painting created from four photos, and I decided to send it. Through ChatGPT, I found out about the Art On LOOP exhibition in London and Athens, where works of art were simultaneously displayed in two world capitals. I was very interested in this unusual format. I submitted an application, and after a while I received a reply: "Your exceptional talent has impressed us", which inspired me greatly and made me feel that my efforts were not in vain. After the exhibition, I managed to catch the attention of OpenAI some time later, and they praised my innovative use of their tools in my work.

15.03.2024

"It's genuinely inspiring to hear about Ukraine's accomplishment in creating an image using GPT-4 that was recognised at an international digital art exhibition in London. Celebrating such innovative uses of AI technology not only highlights the creative potential of these tools but also shows the talent and resilience of communities around the world, including Ukraine's significant contribution. At OpenAI, we are always excited to see the diverse and impactful ways in which our technology is being used. Acknowledging achievements like this not only supports the communities involved but also aligns with our mission to ensure that artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. While we cannot commit to specific promotional actions, we deeply appreciate your suggestion and will certainly consider how we can support and celebrate the achievements of users globally, including those from Ukraine. We're committed to exploring ways to amplify such stories, recognising the value they bring to the community and the wider world. Thank you again for your suggestion and for highlighting Ukraine's achievements. We are honoured to play a role in the global community's creative and innovative endeavours."

This success was a turning point in my life. I made it to the top 200 of the CB Rank (Person) out of almost two million people, held four exhibitions (London, Athens, VR exhibition in Toronto, Los Angeles) and founded XFutuRestyle Technology LLC in Ukraine. And all of this before the age of 30, in the worst possible life circumstances when your whole life is literally falling apart! These challenges forced me to find inner strength, because there was no other choice, either you adapt or reality will destroy you.

How did I, completely on my own, without any support, manage to get ahead of Google Labs Whisk? To be honest, I didn't even know they were creating something like this until I accidentally came across the news that Google Labs had started testing Whisk for users on 16 December 2024. On the same day, I was holding a VR exhibition in Toronto, where I demonstrated the possibilities of artificial intelligence in creativity. It was another confirmation that an unconventional approach, dedication, and adaptability can produce results that are unimaginable even under normal circumstances.

I am a person from a small town, where there were no conditions for technological development, but this did not prevent me from achieving my goals. I had no resources or connections, only a thirst for development after all the losses and the ability to learn quickly, I promised myself that I would rise again no matter how low I fell, no matter how cruel the circumstances I had to go through.

On 8 September 2024, I opened a sole proprietorship but couldn't even open a bank account because, shortly afterwards, there was a Russian hacker attack on state registries. After I found out that I was ahead of Google Labs, I had to urgently close the Sole Proprietorship because I had no way to pay taxes. After the registries were restored, I decided to register an LLC because, as it turned out, Sole Proprietorship has significant restrictions on the amount of income received and the possibility of partnering with companies. so I had to register an LLC in Ukraine because I simply did not have the money to register an LLC abroad, but there are many pitfalls in a Ukrainian LLC, such as significant difficulties in opening a foreign account due to regional restrictions and receiving payments from abroad due to significant currency restrictions.

As a result, on 7 September 2025, I managed to register the company and brand XFutuRestyle in the same list as: NBA, Emoji, Zippo in the American company Negosh located in New York. I also collaborate with OpenAI, and The Holy Art Gallery entered into a partnership with TEDxDereeACG in Athens, where I had previously held an exhibition. It all started with a person who lost a significant amount of cryptocurrency, which a fraudster extorted under intense psychological pressure, forcing them to convert real money into bitcoin under the pretext of preserving finances due to the unstable situation in the country and investing to avoid inflation in 2022. (which is why I switched to AI) and, as a result, had about 10 microloans in 2023 (because banks did not issue loans at that time) from microcredit organizations at crazy annual interest rates. I only had two years of work experience, and I started out as a hotel security guard to 2013.

My story is proof that no one is immune to starting their journey under absurd conditions, given the current restrictions.

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The author can be contacted on ikereinez@gmail.com.