Yury is the Senior Product Manager and AI expert at ChatOn by AIBY, one of the most popular AI chatbot apps, an App Growth Awards finalist, and a Lovie Awards winner.
Yury has followed an impressive professional path, transitioning from Android Developer to Product Manager. With deep expertise in both the mobile industry and emerging AI trends, he now leads the end-to-end supervision of the product development lifecycle.
In your own words, what’s your role in the app business right now?
Let’s go with a popular title: mini-CEO of the product. In our company, Product Managers are responsible for (and, in a way, have ownership of) the product as a whole. That doesn’t mean we’re running UA campaigns or designing ASO screenshots ourselves, but we do need to keep the entire team aligned and be ready to dive into any area where support is needed.
How did you end up working in apps?
It was a fairly traditional path — an early interest in computer science during school, followed by studying at a technical university, and then landing my first job as a software developer. After nearly 15 years of coding (mainly mobile apps), I shifted into product management. I was drawn to the opportunity to increase my impact and satisfy a growing curiosity. And here I am now, guiding app development from an idea to something people actually use and love.
What are you most excited about in apps right now?
Right now, it’s definitely the rapid advancements in AI and the ways they’re starting to impact our lives. It feels like we’re in the midst of a massive shift, one whose full implications we probably can’t even imagine yet. Being part of that wave is the most exciting aspect of my job today.
Is there anyone you’d like to give a shout-out to who has influenced your journey in the app industry?
There have been many people who’ve influenced me throughout my years in the tech industry. Even though I’ve never had a dedicated mentor, I’ve had the chance to work, and still work, with passionate professionals who truly love their craft. They’re a constant source of inspiration for me. And it’s not just leaders; any team member can bring something valuable to my worldview and career. I feel lucky to have been surrounded by such great people on this journey.
And last but not least, I’ve been inspired by many of the prominent leaders in our industry globally. That’s one of the amazing things about the world we live in — I can read, listen, and learn from interviews with people like Bill Gates or Tim Cook. Isn’t that wonderful?
What’s in your app tech stack?
I wouldn’t say I’m tied to any specific tools — I’ve actually been leaning toward a more minimalistic tech stack lately. At the core of it all is a digital notepad where I can jot down my thoughts — that’s where almost everything begins. I also really appreciate Apple hardware, especially the MacBook, which has become my go-everywhere tool. To me, it’s a great example of a product built with real care for the user.
Lately, I’ve been exploring different AI agents and tools, both out of professional curiosity (how they can boost my productivity) and personal interest. I actively use ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, and Perplexity on a daily basis.
What do you like most about working in apps?
What I love most is the potential to make a real impact on society. Apps run on mobile devices, which are now in the hands of billions of people around the world. That means any single app has the opportunity to reach, and potentially improve, many people’s lives.
What one thing would you change about the app industry?
If I could change one thing about the industry, I’d probably slow its pace just a little. That way, we as product people would have more time to think deeply before launching a product or feature. The competition is intense and the changes happen so quickly that sometimes there simply isn’t enough time to make the best possible decision.
That said, this rapid pace also drives progress, so the hope is that we can keep up and continue making technology more useful for everyone. And as I mentioned earlier, the biggest opportunity right now is AI. Everything seems to revolve around it. It’s almost a terra incognita, full of potential to elevate humanity to a new level.
If you weren’t working in apps what would you be doing?
Honestly, I’m not sure. To really love something, I need to at least try it first. Anything could happen, new interests might pop up in the future… maybe even gardening, who knows.
iOS or Android?
iOS.
What apps have been most useful to you over the last year?
Definitely AI chatbots. They’ve saved me a significant amount of time by handling various routine tasks I used to do manually. That can be anything from something simple like crafting an email to more complex work, like analyzing large volumes of user reviews.
What’s on your Spotify playlist?
Lately, I’ve outsourced my playlist to a great Spotify feature called “Daylist”. The AI curates playlists for me based on the time of day, and it’s been surprisingly spot-on. I also enjoy discovering new bands and artists through the “New Releases” playlist — Spotify does a good job of serving up fresh finds.
Any TV show recommendations?
Severance — a brilliant sci-fi series on Apple TV with deep philosophical undertones. Highly recommended.
Is there anything else we should know about you?
I’m always open to connecting with interesting people, so feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn. Who knows, we might end up having some great conversations or exchanging exciting ideas.
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