Dmitry Sokolowski, co-founder of VOLT AI, is a seasoned engineering leader with deep expertise in aligning technology with business needs. He has a proven track record of leading large-scale engineering projects across global enterprises and government sectors, specializing in distributed systems, web services, e-commerce, mobile applications, and high-performance software solutions. Dmitry’s background includes leading teams and innovations at top tech companies such as Facebook, Uber, Apple, and AWS, where he drove the development of patented technologies, cloud rendering advancements, and scalable data solutions.
What inspired the creation of VOLT AI, particularly in the education space?
VOLT AI’s story actually begins decades before the company was founded, when Egor Olteanu, our CEO, and I first met as childhood friends growing up in the DC area. Even then, we were both driven by a desire to make a difference. Egor was passionate about public safety, and I was fascinated by how technology could be used to solve real-world problems.
We eventually went down different paths: Egor enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Middle East, where he started thinking deeply about how real-time intelligence could help soldiers make safer decisions in the field. I went to the University of Maryland to study computer science and later led engineering teams at Amazon, Apple, Uber, and Meta, working on everything from Apple Maps to Uber’s Risk Platform, which transformed AI risk management in ridesharing.
In 2018, Egor and I were meeting for lunch in Silicon Valley, and something happened that cemented our shared mission. Just before we arrived at YouTube’s headquarters for lunch, a shooting took place, leaving several Google employees injured. It was a deeply personal moment for us, especially coming in the wake of the Parkland High School shooting and the Las Vegas concert tragedy. I was a father of three by then, and the thought that these events could happen anywhere to friends, family, or colleagues, was devastating.
That was the moment we decided we had to do something. We knew we had a unique combination of experience that could actually make a difference. So, we founded VOLT AI to harness the power of artificial intelligence to identify threats before they escalate, starting with real-time video intelligence.
How does VOLT AI’s technology go beyond traditional school security systems?
Most school surveillance systems today act like glorified DVRs. They record what happens but don’t alert anyone when something unusual or unwanted is happening. Using AI-powered video analytics, VOLT AI can detect weapons, fights, medical emergencies, and even more behavioral issues like bullying, fence-jumping or loitering as it happens.
But what really sets us apart is our focus on real-time alerts. If there’s a fight in a hallway or someone enters campus with a weapon, appropriate staff receive notifications at the time of instance. This allows schools to act immediately, not after reviewing footage hours later.
There’s often a tension between school safety and student privacy. How does VOLT AI navigate that balance?
That’s something we thought about from day one. Schools are places where privacy should be respected, especially when we’re dealing with children. We designed VOLT AI to focus on behaviors and objects, not identities. Our system doesn’t use facial recognition or collect personally identifiable information. Instead, it tracks actions, like someone entering a restricted area or an unexpected crowd gathering in a hallway.
It’s also highly customizable. Each school can set its own alert thresholds and decide which behaviors warrant real-time notifications. This ensures that the system supports staff in keeping students safe without overstepping privacy boundaries.
Budget constraints are a reality for many schools. How does VOLT AI make this technology accessible?
That’s a challenge we see all the time. There’s this perception that AI-powered security is only for well-funded campuses. We’re breaking down that barrier. VOLT AI is designed to integrate with existing camera systems, so schools don’t need to invest in expensive hardware upgrades. We also offer phased implementation to gradually introduce security measures over time to spread out costs.
But it’s really about reframing the conversation. The cost of not investing in proactive safety measures can be far higher – both financially and emotionally – than the initial outlay for a smarter security system. We work with schools to make this technology as accessible as possible, because safety shouldn’t be a luxury.
Can you share some real-world examples of how VOLT AI has improved school safety?
Absolutely. One example that stands out is from a High School. They were focused on improving their ability to detect and respond to incidents like hallway fights, which were previously hard to catch in real time. After implementing VOLT AI, the school was able to receive near alerts when fights or other disruptive behaviors occurred, allowing staff to intervene more quickly and effectively. This shift from reactive to proactive security has made a tangible difference in keeping students safe.
At a large University, our system played a critical role in identifying a medical emergency in a remote campus area. A man collapsed, and because VOLT AI flagged the incident immediately, first responders were able to reach them within minutes, something that might not have happened otherwise.
These examples highlight what makes this technology so impactful. It’s not just about preventing worst-case scenarios, but about creating a safer, more responsive school environment every single day.
D.C. has been a leader in education policy and school safety initiatives. How does VOLT AI fit into that landscape?
D.C. is special to us – not just because it’s where Egor and I grew up, but also because it’s a city deeply invested in both public safety and education. Urban campuses face unique challenges, from managing large crowds to preventing unauthorized access, and VOLT AI’s flexibility makes it a great fit.
We’re actively exploring more partnerships with schools in MD, VA and DC, especially since so many of these schools are looking for proactive, tech-forward solutions. Our system is designed to scale – whether it’s a single high school or an entire district – so it can adapt to the specific needs of D.C.’s diverse education landscape.
What’s next for VOLT AI? How do you see the technology evolving?
Right now, we’re focused on expanding our reach in schools, but the core technology has applications far beyond education. We’re already seeing interest from corporate campuses and even municipal governments looking to improve public safety.
Soon, VOLT customers will be able to see a threat’s path of travel in real-time, gaining instant insight into where they’ve been and where they are now. Our VOLT Intelligence feature is taking investigations to the next level, allowing you to search across all your cameras to uncover key moments, track activity, and seamlessly build incident reports.
And of course, we’re always exploring ways to improve emergency response coordination. It’s not just about detecting threats, it’s about helping schools manage lockdowns, evacuations, and crisis communication more effectively.
If you could leave school administrators with one piece of advice about campus safety, what would it be?
Don’t wait for something bad to happen before you make a change. We talk to too many schools after an incident, and the most common thing we hear is, “We wish we’d done this sooner.”
The tools to prevent these tragedies exist. It’s about taking a proactive approach, leveraging technology to fill in the gaps where human monitoring alone falls short. At the end of the day, it’s about protecting students and staff. That’s a responsibility we all share.
