Alvin is building at the edge of what’s next. As a founding engineer at OutRival, he’s helping shape AI systems designed to remove repetitive work and create more space for human creativity, connection, and decision-making. After relocating from Toronto to Miami in just two weeks, he found more than a workspace.
At Ampersand Studios, he found an environment that matched the pace, energy, and ambition of the work he’s building. From deploying AI agents across industries to exchanging ideas over lunch in the lounge, Alvin’s experience reflects the kind of community Ampersand was designed for: people pushing industries forward while staying deeply connected to the people around them.
Tell us a little about what you do.
I build “digital workers”. I’m one of the founding engineers at OutRival, where we’re focused on freeing human beings from repetitive work, so people can spend their time doing what they actually love. We’ve deployed AI agents that do millions of AI-to-human interactions per month across education, travel, and insurance. My job is making our agents smarter. I make sure they can decide what to say, when to say it, how to say it, and what to remember, so the person on the other end of the line forgets they aren’t talking to a human.
What inspires/motivates you to get out of bed?
The realization that we’re in this incredible moment in time where everything is converging at once, right now, in this place, in Miami, with this team. We’re at a generational inflection point in technology that is fundamentally reshaping every industry and will touch the lives of virtually every human. Working at the forefront of it is humbling and surreal. It makes me feel like I don’t have a second to lose, because with things moving this fast, each moment has the potential to be enormously impactful.
What is the one thing you can’t live without?
It’s a little cliché, but I have to say it’s all of my AI tooling. As someone who used to spend a lot of time writing code and building hands on, I’m now able to delegate all of that lower-level work to AI agents. I can focus my time on decision making and higher-leverage items.
Where do your brightest ideas come from?
My notebook. Throughout the day I’m jotting down quick notes and ideas as they come, and in the evenings, when I sit with them, I can connect those fragments to wider context and pull out a lot of really cool new ideas. Also walks. Nietzsche has a great line: “Never trust a thought that occurs to you indoors.” Stepping away from the problem is where a lot of creativity actually shows up.
Where is your favorite place to decompress & unwind?
The gym. I spend a few hours in the weight room every morning, off my phone & laptop, lifting heavy things. It’s the best part of the day.
When do you feel your best, and what do you do to stay in the vibration?
I feel my best in the mornings. I’m very much a morning person, and I capitalize on that by front-loading creative work and decision-making to take advantage of that vibration. As I mentioned, I also like to hit the gym early to channel that energy and keep the good feeling rolling into the day. I always tell people that winning is about momentum, and when you start your day with a win, it makes you want to keep winning throughout the day.
Tell us something we don’t know about you.
I played rugby in college. Rugby is a great game. It’s very physical but at the end of the day it’s a gentleman’s game, and it’s taught me a lot about life. People are sometimes surprised to hear it, because it doesn’t fit the picture of an AI engineer, but it was foundational to building my character, discipline, and leadership.
Do you remember your first day or first impression of the space?
When I moved to Miami to work on OutRival, I uprooted my life from Toronto in two weeks. I came knowing nothing about where I’d live or the different parts of the city. Walking in for the first time, I didn’t know what to expect, but the moment I stepped inside, I thought, wow. It was immediately obvious this wasn’t your average workspace.
Are there certain areas of the space you gravitate toward most? Why?
I definitely have an affinity for the main lounge on the first floor. We have a tradition of ordering lunch every day and eating together with the team, and the conversations that come out of it are something I look forward to. It’s also a great spot in the afternoons to step out of the office for some quiet solo work, or to chat with other members.
How would you describe the Ampersand community?
Ampersand has a great community, all the way from the community manager and the staff that work here to the members. Everybody is very friendly and welcoming and it’s been one of the things that has made me feel so welcome in Miami.
Where can I find you
