Building AI Is Easier When You Already Trust the Team – Claude’s Unpaid Interns

How did your team organize roles and responsibilities under pressure?

We didn’t really split into strict roles. Since we’ve worked together before, we already know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so things came together pretty naturally. Everyone focused on the areas where they could contribute the most, but at the same time we all jumped in wherever help was needed. The constant communication and willingness to support each other made it easy to keep moving forward, even when time was limited.

If you weren’t a developer, what career would you choose and why?

I’d probably choose music production. I’ve always been passionate about electronic music, and there’s something special about turning an idea into a piece of music that people can connect with and enjoy. I like that it blends creativity, technology, and continuous learning, so in many ways it offers the same things I enjoy about software development, just in a different form.

What motivated you to join the Hackathon for the second time?

The first hackathon got me hooked on the energy, the creativity, and the chaos. With AI evolving so fast, I had to come back and see how much further we could push it.

If your job were a video game, what would the main quest be?

Same kingdom, new enemies. AI agents are joining the team, so my quest is to make sure they don’t go rogue before reaching production. Trust but verify. The guardian never sleeps.

Looking back, what would you do differently if you were to participate again?

We finished 3rd – we expected more, but that gap is probably the most valuable thing I’m taking away. If I could do it again, I’d balance the technical work with more focus on storytelling and presentation, and lock down our core idea earlier instead of refining too many things at once.

What book, movie, or podcast recently inspired you?

Lately, I’ve been gravitating toward podcasts – Joe Rogan and the Agelast Podcast are my current go-to’s. If I had to pick a movie that stuck with me, it would be Whiplash – a raw story about the pursuit of excellence that still resonates.
But my biggest inspiration right now comes from outside the tech world entirely. As a proud Partizan fan, I’ve always followed Željko Obradović and Duško Vujošević closely – but what inspires me goes beyond results. Their ability to build winning cultures, the way they motivate people under pressure, and their sheer force of personality remind me that some of the most valuable lessons in teamwork, discipline, and performance can come from the most unexpected places.

What surprised you most during the hackathon?

I was surprised by how much faster AI coding assistants made boilerplate work, leaving more time for actual problem-solving and refining ideas. Instead of getting stuck on repetitive tasks, we could focus on the parts that really made a difference for the final solution.

What’s a skill or hobby you’d love to learn if you had more time?

I’d love to learn how to properly cook a specific cuisine – not just following recipes, but mastering the techniques behind it, like French sauces or bread baking. I enjoy understanding how things work from the ground up, whether it’s software or cooking.

Do you think what we experienced here can be applied in our real day-to-day work? If yes, how?

Absolutely. The hackathon pushed us to collaborate quickly, make technical decisions under time pressure, divide work efficiently, and deliver a working solution – just like we do on real client projects. It was a great reminder that strong communication, adaptability, and trust within the team are just as important as technical expertise.

If your team were a band, which instrument would you play and why?

I’d play the violin, because precision matters, and every small detail contributes to the final result. It may not always be the loudest instrument, but when every note is in the right place, it helps the whole performance come together.

Why should your solution exist beyond this hackathon?

Because it’s built for real users, not just judges. From the very beginning, we wanted to create something that could solve an actual problem and continue delivering value long after the competition ended.

What’s a skill or hobby you’d love to learn if you had more time?

I’d love to learn how to properly cook a specific cuisine – not just following recipes, but mastering the techniques behind it, like French sauces or bread baking. I enjoy understanding how things work from the ground up, whether it’s software or cooking.