Kunal Purohit, President – Next Gen Services, Tech Mahindra discusses several key initiatives and innovations at Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab.
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Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab is known for fostering innovation. Can you talk about some of the most impactful and disruptive solutions from Makers Lab recently?
At Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab, our mission is to drive purpose-driven and human-centered innovation. One of our most impactful recent initiatives is Project Indus. Born out of a desire to revolutionize the future of work, Project Indus leverages the power of AI to create a seamless and intelligent enterprise platform. This platform optimizes operational efficiency and enhances decision-making processes by providing real-time insights and predictive analytics. Project Indus utilizes an innovative ‘GenAI in a box’ framework and simplifies the deployment of advanced AI models, making it easier for enterprises to integrate and scale AI applications. The initial phase of the Indus LLM targets the Hindi language and its 37+ dialects. The project includes a portal called projectindus.in, where users can contribute linguistic data.
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Our Makers Lab played a pivotal role in the conception and development of Project Indus. By fostering a collaborative environment, we combined the ingenuity of our diverse talent pool with cutting-edge technologies. The project aims to address real-world challenges faced by businesses today, offering scalable and adaptable solutions that drive growth and sustainability. Through Project Indus, Makers Lab exemplifies how innovation can be both disruptive and deeply beneficial, paving the way for smarter, more efficient enterprises.
What is your perspective on the impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on the workplace, particularly in terms of operational effectiveness and employee productivity?
GenAI is fundamentally transforming the workplace landscape, significantly enhancing operational effectiveness and employee productivity. At Tech Mahindra, we perceive GenAI as a catalyst for creating smarter, more efficient processes that drive innovation and deliver value at unprecedented speeds. We’ve introduced GenAI-driven pair programming to support our associates throughout the software development life cycle and have deployed GenAI-empowered co-pilots for boosting personal productivity.
By automating routine tasks, GenAI allows employees to focus on more strategic, creative endeavors, thereby boosting productivity and job satisfaction. Our approach is holistic, focusing on empowering our workforce with advanced AI tools to foster sustainable growth and innovation. In an ever-evolving market, Tech Mahindra remains dedicated to creating a dynamic, agile workplace where technology and human ingenuity converge to deliver superior outcomes.
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What major ethical challenges do you foresee with integrating AI and quantum computing in the industry, and how is Tech Mahindra addressing them?
The integration of AI and quantum computing promises unparalleled advancements but also presents certain ethical challenges. One major concern is data privacy. Quantum computing’s immense processing power could potentially break current encryption methods, making sensitive data vulnerable. Additionally, the bias in AI algorithms can be magnified by the capabilities of quantum computing, leading to unintended and possibly discriminatory outcomes. At Tech Mahindra, we are proactively addressing these challenges through our Makers Lab initiatives. We are pioneering the development of quantum-safe cryptography to safeguard data in a post-quantum world. Moreover, our AI ethics framework emphasizes transparency, accountability, and fairness.
We are investing in interdisciplinary teams that include ethicists, technologists, and legal experts to ensure our innovations are aligned with ethical standards. By fostering a culture of ethical foresight and continuous learning, Tech Mahindra aims to lead responsibly in this transformative era, ensuring technology serves humanity’s best interests.
What significant AI tools and innovations has Makers Lab developed over the past few years?
At Makers Lab, our mission is to foster innovation by bridging the gap between imagination and reality. Over the past few years, we have harnessed the power of AI to create tools that push the boundaries of technology and deliver real-world impact. One of our standout innovations is the BHAML (Bharat Markup Language) solution that enables coding in native languages. Another remarkable creation is Enterprise Intelligence I/O (Entellio), a futuristic enterprise-grade on-premises chatbot powered by generative and discriminative AI. Some other innovations include Atmanirbhar Krishi, a super app for farmers, providing valuable agriculture-related consolidated, curated information, and Panchang Intelligence, an ancient Indian almanac-based rainfall prediction solution.
Our commitment to quantum computing has also been recognized, with Avasant considering us a leading service provider in this cutting-edge field. Furthermore, our collaborative R&D efforts have earned us a place as a case study by the World Economic Forum, showcasing the impact of our innovative solutions. Our dedication to innovation has been acknowledged globally, with accolades such as the ISG Digital Case Study Award for Banking (UBI) in Metaverse 2023, Most Innovative Company 2021, and the Most Innovative Leader by the World Innovation Congress. Additionally, our support for start-ups was honored with the MindtheGap award for mentoring. At Makers Lab, we continue to drive technological advancements, making significant strides in the AI landscape.
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What emerging trends in AI and computing are you most excited about, and how is Makers Lab positioning itself to capitalize on them?
At Makers Lab, we are on the cusp of a revolution in AI and computing, eagerly embracing trends like GenAI, Quantum Computing, and Neuromorphic Engineering. The ability of GenAI to create content that mimics human creativity is reshaping industries from entertainment to healthcare. Quantum computing promises to solve problems beyond the reach of classical computers, potentially transforming everything from cryptography to complex system simulations. Neuromorphic engineering, with its brain-inspired architectures, offers a leap in efficiency and capability for AI systems.
Makers Lab is strategically positioned at the forefront of these innovations. Our multidisciplinary teams are developing quantum algorithms to accelerate machine learning, exploring the potential of neuromorphic chips for more efficient AI, and creating generative AI models that push the boundaries of creativity. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem, we are turning these emerging trends into practical solutions, ensuring that Tech Mahindra remains a leader in the next wave of technological advancement.
How do you ensure continuous learning and development within your team at Makers Lab?
We foster a culture of continuous learning by integrating experiential learning with a collaborative spirit. Our team engages in hands-on projects, exploring emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and blockchain. Regular knowledge-sharing sessions ensure that our learning ecosystem remains vibrant. For instance, we recently collaborated with a leading university on quantum algorithms, enabling our team to learn from top-tier researchers. In celebration of World Quantum Day 2024, Tech Mahindra and IQM Quantum Computers partnered to raise awareness, demonstrate, and promote the transformative power, and increase an understanding of quantum science and technology.
By encouraging curiosity and innovation, we stay ahead of technological trends and empower our team to drive groundbreaking solutions. This dynamic approach to learning transforms challenges into opportunities, fueling our mission to create a future-ready workforce.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab is a hub of innovation, driving purpose-driven and human-centered innovation through cutting-edge technologies like AI, quantum computing, and neuromorphic engineering. Our commitment to continuous learning and development ensures that our team stays ahead of the curve, empowering us to create solutions that drive growth and sustainability. As we navigate the future of work, we remain dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration, shaping the next wave of technological advancement.
FAQs
Q: What is the main focus of Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab?
A: The main focus of Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab is to drive purpose-driven and human-centered innovation through cutting-edge technologies like AI, quantum computing, and neuromorphic engineering.
Q: What is Project Indus, and how does it contribute to the future of work?
A: Project Indus is an AI-driven enterprise platform that optimizes operational efficiency and enhances decision-making processes by providing real-time insights and predictive analytics. It contributes to the future of work by revolutionizing the way businesses operate, making them more agile, efficient, and sustainable.
Q: How does Tech Mahindra approach AI ethics, particularly in the context of quantum computing?
A: Tech Mahindra approaches AI ethics with a focus on transparency, accountability, and fairness. We are proactively addressing the ethical challenges of integrating AI and quantum computing, including data privacy and bias in AI algorithms, to ensure that our innovations serve humanity’s best interests.
Q: What emerging trends in AI and computing is Makers Lab most excited about?
A: Makers Lab is most excited about the emerging trends of GenAI, Quantum Computing, and Neuromorphic Engineering, which hold the potential to transform industries and solve complex problems.
Q: How does Makers Lab ensure continuous learning and development within its team?
A: Makers Lab fosters a culture of continuous learning by integrating experiential learning with a collaborative spirit, engaging in hands-on projects, and encouraging curiosity and innovation.
