Building AI Systems from
First Principles
The Journey
From breadboards to banking to building AI
8-bit CPU
Built a computer from logic gates on breadboard. Understanding computation from transistors up.
View ProjectRisk Management
Led 300+ person teams through transformation at major banks. Delivered critical systems during financial crisis.
AI Systems
Building AI for real-world problems. Production systems managing £152K+ operations.
View ProjectUnderstanding Intelligence,
One Logic Gate at a Time
I built an 8-bit computer from scratch on breadboard, following Ben Eater's exceptional video series. This project taught me how computation actually works—from NAND gates to a programmable CPU.
This hands-on approach to learning mirrors how I approach AI: understand the fundamentals, build from first principles, and create systems you can explain and trust.
Featured Projects
From financial systems to AI infrastructure
8-bit Computer Build
Built a complete 8-bit computer on breadboard following Ben Eater's video series
Global Instrument and Market Data Platform
Enterprise-wide platform consolidating instrument reference data and market data feeds across all trading operations at ICBC Standard Bank
Base and Precious Metals Murex Migration
Led risk management aspects of migrating commodities trading operations to Murex MX.3 platform at ICBC Standard Bank
Credit Risk Workflow Application
Python prototype application for managing credit risk workflows at ICBC Standard Bank
Barings Bank Investigation
Part of Arthur Andersen specialist investigation team working on behalf of Bank of England into the £827 million collapse of Barings Bank, one of the most significant banking scandals of the 1990s
Daiwa Bank Investigation
Part of Arthur Andersen specialist investigation team working on behalf of NY Federal Reserve Bank into $1.1 billion unauthorized trading losses at Daiwa Bank's New York operations
Personal AI Infrastructure (PAI)
Production multi-agent AI system implementing Universal File Context (UFC) for automated life management with 70% context efficiency improvement
About Me
Building AI from First Principles
I'm Gavin Slater, and I build AI systems by understanding how they work from scratch.
Before diving into AI, I spent 30 years in risk management at major banks like Barclays and Deutsche Bank, leading transformations for 300+ person teams. But my real education came from building an 8-bit computer from logic gates on a breadboard.
That project taught me something crucial: to build intelligent systems, you need to understand first principles. Every AND gate. Every register. Every clock cycle.
Now I'm applying that same approach to AI—building production systems that manage real operations, combining deep technical knowledge with business acumen that only comes from decades of risk management.
Technical Expertise
Let's Build Something
Intelligent Together
Looking for someone who understands both the business and the bits? Let's talk about how first-principles thinking can solve your AI challenges.
Esher, Surrey, United Kingdom
Read my blog on AI and risk management →