The Orlov Book
Contents
  1. Chapter I
  2. Chapter II
  3. Chapter III
  4. Chapter IV
  5. Chapter V
  6. Chapter VI
  7. Chapter VII
  8. Chapter VIII
  9. Chronicle
  10. Psychological portrait
  11. Abilities
  12. Achievements
  13. Goals
  14. Beyond IT
  15. What the photos say
  16. Film
  17. Publications
  18. In progress
  19. Links
  20. Afterword

Psychological portrait

Psychological portrait of Dmitry Orlov

Observations, not a diagnosis. Each trait is shown from two sides: what drives him forward and where the same strength costs him dearly.

Practical

Doing, not diplomas. Learns with his hands: cables, repairs, Windows XP, Hiren's Boot CD. Respects the one who can do it, not the one with the certificate.

Shadow side: Impatience with the long road

He is glad to skip dull basics, paperwork and formalities, and later they come back as disputes and bureaucracy.

Speed

From idea to prototype in days. Sets goals in numbers: 20 viewings, 15 offers, 40 days for the generator. Launches faster than others can agree.

Shadow side: Scattering

A dozen projects at once, team roles change within an hour, money for tokens drains by the thousands. Not everything reaches the finish line.

Myth-maker

A storyteller people listen to. Mechanicus, fire and skulls, an autobiography in seven animated chapters. He can turn his life into a story.

Shadow side: The claim runs ahead of the proof

'A theory of everything', 'an app will replace a doctor': loud statements outrun verification and get in the way of becoming a recognized expert.

Fighter

Does not give up. 'I want to quit everything' and keeps going anyway. Pushes through to results where others walk away.

Shadow side: Outbursts in conflict

When he feels injustice he goes to full power: he 'roasts' support and demands that the wrongdoer be removed. Bridges burn fast.

Generosity

Helps those who help. The 'Predannoe Serdce' shelter, a debt to a vet clinic, a home for dogs, his students. He calls charity a pillar of his life.

Shadow side: Last in line for himself

He goes through hard periods alone and does not like asking for help. He spends his strength on others before himself.

Humour

Laughs at himself. 'Monstrous AI-intelligence', 'Grandpa Fable', jokes about himself. Easy to be around.

Shadow side: A joke instead of a pause

Sometimes a joke covers tiredness, and the people around do not notice that he is really struggling.

Conductor

Leads a team, even of AI. Codex, Claude and Kimi work by his rules: goals, councils of models, reports on a timer. 'You answer for this.'

Shadow side: Details slip out of hand

'Probably in Coolify, Claude knows': infrastructure lives in the assistants' memory, and control blurs.

What charges him up

  • The sea and open space.
  • The wonder of connection between people.
  • A big goal, declared out loud.
  • People nearby: a friend, a partner, students.

Where he should take care of himself

  • Finishing one project before opening the next.
  • Backing bold claims with checkable facts.
  • Pausing before replying in a conflict.
  • Asking for help before things get really hard.