Toimi and the AI Evolution: An Interview with CEO Artyom Dovgopol

From a Small Studio in Uzbekistan to a Global Tech Agency

When Artyom Dovgopol founded Toimi in 2017, the company was little more than a small design and tech studio in Uzbekistan. His vision was straightforward but ambitious: to prove that thoughtful design and smart technology could transform how businesses grow.

“In the early days, it was just us taking projects one at a time, figuring out how to bring clarity to complex digital challenges,” Dovgopol recalls. What started as a local effort soon began attracting attention abroad. Word of Toimi’s ability to merge creativity with technical precision spread quickly, first in Europe and later beyond.

As the portfolio grew, so did the team. Toimi evolved into a distributed agency, built less around geography and more around shared values. “We’re united by the same vision,” he explains, “building digital systems that actually work for people.”

Today, the company operates with talent spread across Europe and is expanding into the U.S. market. The scale may have changed, but Dovgopol emphasizes that the essence of Toimi (toimi.pro) has not. “At its heart, Toimi is still about the same thing: helping businesses grow by making digital simple, human, and scalable.”

Integrating AI to Simplify Complexity

For Toimi, artificial intelligence is not a buzzword but a practical extension of its philosophy. Artyom Dovgopol explains that the agency has always been about untangling complexity, and AI provides powerful new ways to deliver on that promise. “Whether it’s automating workflows or helping end users make faster decisions, AI has become a natural part of how we design digital systems,” he says.

One example comes from an unlikely sector: construction materials. Toimi worked with a manufacturer to upgrade its digital catalogue with AI-driven search and recommendations. Instead of asking buyers to comb through thousands of product variations, the system now learns from purchasing history and behavior to suggest the right format, color, or even pallet quantity.

The impact has been clear. Distributors save time, buyers encounter less friction, and return rates, a persistent pain point in the heavy industry, have dropped. It is a glimpse into how AI can quietly, but significantly, reshape the way traditional industries operate.

Accelerating Development Through AI

When asked about where AI has had the most tangible impact inside Toimi, Artyom Dovgopol points to speed and efficiency across the entire workflow. “We can test ideas in hours instead of days, clean up huge product databases without the usual stress, and even accelerate content creation,” he says. Tasks like structuring digital catalogues or producing the first draft of product descriptions, which once consumed significant time, are now handled far more quickly with AI assistance.

The benefits extend into quality assurance as well. AI-powered testing tools catch issues early, making launches smoother and more predictable. But for Dovgopol, the most meaningful shift is not just about speed. “The real gain is that our team spends less time on repetitive tasks and more time designing solutions that actually help clients grow,” he emphasizes.

By streamlining the background work, AI has allowed Toimi’s developers and designers to focus on what matters most: creating digital systems that deliver real value to businesses.

Navigating the Challenges of AI Adoption

Despite the clear advantages, bringing AI into real-world projects has not been without hurdles for Toimi. Artyom Dovgopol admits that the first challenge is quality. “AI can speed things up, but the outputs still need human judgment,” he says. Precision remains a non-negotiable requirement for clients, which means every AI-generated result undergoes a rigorous validation process.

Trust and ethics present another layer of complexity. In industries such as energy or construction, the data being handled is not just technical but tied to contracts, logistics, and compliance requirements.

“We’ve had to set clear rules to make sure AI helps without risking confidentiality or accuracy,” Dovgopol explains.

Security and compliance add further weight to the equation, especially as Toimi expands internationally. With different regulations across Europe and the U.S., selecting the right tools and enforcing safeguards is essential. “AI has to be an assistant, not a risk,” he stresses.

For Dovgopol, the lesson is clear: AI should enhance human capability, not attempt to replace it. “It works best when it supports people - not when it tries to cut them out,” he concludes.

Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Software Development

When discussing the future, Artyom Dovgopol points to AI-driven automation platforms as the next big wave in software development. Tools like n8n already demonstrate how connecting and streamlining workflows can save a significant amount of time. But he believes the coming years will push this even further.

“In the next three to five years, AI will help us prototype faster, fix problems on the fly, and connect systems almost automatically,” he predicts. The efficiency gains are clear, but Dovgopol stresses that speed alone is not enough.

“The exciting part is combining that speed with good design and strategy, so businesses don’t just get automation, they get solutions that really work for people.”

It is a vision of AI not as a replacement for human creativity but as a force multiplier - one that can turn well-designed ideas into practical systems at unprecedented speed.

Preparing the Team for an AI-Driven Future

For Artyom Dovgopol, preparing his team for AI is about much more than simply teaching them which tools to use. It starts with building a foundation in data literacy. “You need to know where AI’s answers come from,” he explains, highlighting the importance of understanding the inputs and context behind AI-generated outputs.

Equally important is sharpening the skills that AI cannot replicate. “We’re doubling down on creativity and problem-solving,” he says. These are the areas where human expertise remains irreplaceable.

To ensure quality, Dovgopol encourages a critical mindset across the team. Everyone is expected to question AI outputs, double-check information, and avoid taking results at face value. Alongside this, he promotes what he calls “automation thinking” - the ability to connect tools and design processes that flow seamlessly on their own.

“At the end of the day, I want my team to use AI as a helper, not as a primary tool,” he emphasizes. The goal is to maintain the human touch in everything Toimi delivers, ensuring technology enhances creativity rather than replacing it.

Human Developers in an AI-First World

Artyom Dovgopol warns against the temptation some companies face to cut costs by replacing developers with AI. “Yes, AI can write code, run tests, and fix smaller issues, but it can’t understand context, business goals, or human behavior,” he says. Removing human expertise, he argues, only magnifies the risks.

Instead, he envisions AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement. Developers’ roles will evolve, focusing less on repetitive tasks and more on shaping systems, making critical judgments, and designing experiences users can trust. “You still need people in the driver’s seat to choose the direction,” Dovgopol emphasizes.

In this view, AI amplifies human capability rather than substitutes for it, allowing developers to focus on higher-value work where insight, strategy, and empathy are irreplaceable.

Advice for Businesses Considering AI

When asked what guidance he would offer to companies exploring AI, Artyom Dovgopol keeps it straightforward. “Don’t chase AI for the hype - start where it actually solves a problem,” he says. Instead of trying to implement AI everywhere at once, he suggests focusing on one process that consistently slows the business down.

By applying AI in a targeted way, companies can see measurable results and then scale from there. For Dovgopol, the real value of AI lies not in grand promises but in practical improvements that make everyday operations smoother and more effective.

AI is Redefining Client Expectations

According to Artyom Dovgopol, AI is fundamentally reshaping what clients demand from IT service providers. “Before, delivering a functional website or platform was enough,” he says. “Now, clients want systems that are intelligent - tools that can personalize experiences, predict needs, and automate processes out of the box.”

This shift changes the conversation with clients. At Toimi, it is no longer about simply asking, “Can you build it?” Instead, clients are asking, “Can you make it smarter and faster than my competitors?” From AI-driven search in a construction catalogue to fraud detection in energy trading platforms or automated onboarding in SaaS products, expectations now center on measurable business impact rather than just technical delivery.

For agencies, Dovgopol notes, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. “The goal is to weave AI into solutions without losing sight of clarity, usability, and humanity,” he explains. Clients want innovation, but they also expect trust, transparency, and tangible results that contribute directly to business growth.