Growing up in Chennai, India, in a small two-room apartment without access to basic technology
Five-year waitlist for a rotary telephone; its arrival drastically simplified everyday tasks, like getting blood test results instantly rather than waiting hours
Experiencing severe drought; manually carrying buckets of water until eventually gaining running water and a heater. Even basic technologies transform everyday life
First time owning a VCR after convincing parents; opened new worlds through bootlegged movies and recorded football matchesβreinforced idea that tech greatly expands human experience
Childhood experiences shaped lifelong belief: Technology isnβt just incremental but deeply transformative, fundamentally changing lives and unlocking human potential
Learned from grandfather, who worked at the post office and introduced early love for books, politics, and diverse ideasβfuelling lifelong curiosity and hunger for knowledge
Leadership, Motivation, and Advice for Success
Listening to your heart rather than purely rational thinking when choosing what path to pursue in life
Doing something you genuinely enjoy greatly increases chances of success, unlocking the best version of yourself
Actively seeking out smarter people to work with, putting yourself in situations that stretch your abilities and comfort zone, accelerating personal growth
Surrounding yourself with exceptional people helps you improve faster than any other method
Managing people through motivation and mission-driven work rather than anger or fear
True leadership rarely involves losing your temper; impactful messages often delivered more powerfully through silence or thoughtful, clear communication
Getting the best out of people involves understanding their inner drive and aligning their goals with organizational missions
Simple but firm words at the right moment can create lasting impact, motivating teams effectively
AI & Human Creativity
AI could be the most important invention in human history, surpassing even electricity and fire in its potential to transform society
Will likely democratize creativity, dramatically lowering barriers for people worldwide to express themselves artistically, technologically, and culturally
Early examples include AI coding assistance, video and filmmaking innovations (Veo), and content creation tools accessible to billions globally
Rather than replacing human creativity, AI will βamplifyβ it; humans will still deeply value authentic, human-generated content and experiences
Similar to preferring watching human athletes like Messi play soccer over perfect machines; emotional connection remains crucial to human enjoyment
Ultimately expands human potential, allowing creative expression on a global scale never before possibleβtens of millions becoming creators in various fields
Future of AI, Risks, and Optimism
AI progress is on an exponential trajectory, making it hard to predict exact milestones (like AGI or ASI), but progress will be dramatic within the decade
Definitions like AGI arenβt critical; important is acknowledging how significantly AI will reshape society, culture, work, and human interaction
AI will increasingly become multimodal, capable of understanding and responding to human preferences intuitively across various forms of interaction (visual, text, voice)
Awareness of significant risks posed by AI, including existential threats⦠p(doom)
Real threat of AI is high, but balanced by human ability to collectively respond to clear threats with unprecedented cooperation and ingenuity
Humans historically unite when facing concrete threats, mitigating risks; AI itself may actually reduce broader existential threats by solving complex global problems like conflict, poverty, and climate change
Confidence that AI will ultimately help humanity become smarter, kinder, and more efficient; improving global cooperation, reducing resource constraints, and preventing destructive human conflicts
Human Connection within Technology
Deep belief in the intangible value of direct human connection; difficult to quantify but fundamentally shapes effective teamwork, leadership, and collaboration
Some of lifeβs most fulfilling moments come from working together closely in pursuit of difficult goals; forming powerful bonds when in the βtrenchesβ together
Technology (like Google Beam telepresence) will increasingly replicate elements of in-person connection, bridging physical distance without sacrificing intimacy and emotional impact
Beyond work meetings, also transformative for personal connections (grandparents interacting realistically with grandchildren, deployed soldiers connecting vividly with families back home)
Bridging global gaps in communication, understanding, and diplomacy (world leaders using advanced translation and telepresence tech to improve international relations, reduce misunderstandings)
Core belief remains that while technology enhances human connection, it never fully replaces face-to-face interactionβthough it offers increasingly compelling alternatives when distance makes direct contact impossible