Alex Szebenyi is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Acquaint, a platform dedicated to fostering global community and empathy through the practice of human connection.
At Acquaint, Alex oversees the technology powering acquaint.org, where volunteers from over 100 countries train human connection skills and engage in 1-on-1 intercultural dialogue sessions. To date, Acquaint has facilitated over 15,000 hours of dialogue, supported by AI-powered communication training courses and a suite of additional tools designed to make the practice of human connection more accessible and rewarding.
Alex’s career began in neuroscience, researching chemosensory systems, before he transitioned to software engineering in fields such as AI and fintech. After holding positions at various startups, Alex most recently worked as a Principal Software Engineer at AssuranceIQ. In January 2024, he fully dedicated himself to Acquaint as CTO, having previously supported the organization part-time for several years.
Alex also leads Acquaint’s research framework, which aims to advance our understanding of human connection. Acquaint collaborates with multiple labs to conduct controlled experiments, studying areas such as empathy growth, intercultural listening skills, and the gap between expectations and reality in cross-cultural interactions. These insights feed back into the platform’s development, continuously improving the training tools and dialogue experience.
Alex is excited to connect with researchers and institutions studying human connection and intercultural dialogue. You can reach Alex by email or connect with him on LinkedIn.
Work for CID:
Alex Szebenyi is co-leader of an expert group for the Center.
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 