Sateesh Seetharamiah Of EdgeVerve Systems Limited On the Future of Artificial Intelligence
An Interview With David Leichner
I would choose the horizontal market benefits AI provides, its ability to drive massive productivity gains almost immediately, the capacity for AI to improve exponentially the more it is used, the exciting innovations it is already driving, and AI’s ability to improve the human condition around the globe.
As a part of our series about the future of Artificial Intelligence, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sateesh Seetharamiah.
Sateesh Seetharamiah is a pioneer in the field of IoT, AI and Intelligent Automation, and a member of the MIT AutoID Lab — the taskforce that defined interoperability standards for IoT and use cases that eventually became household applications. Sateesh has spoken extensively about the promise and perils of extreme automation. He recently introduced the concept of process discovery, as a fundamental capability to enable machine learnability.
Sateesh is CEO of Edge Platforms, EdgeVerve Systems Limited (an Infosys Company). He has extensive industry knowledge on the importance and impact AI, automation, and data analytics have in driving efficient and secure digital transformations for enterprises across several industries, including finance, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you share with us the ‘backstory” of how you decided to pursue this career path in AI?
Technology’s ability to enhance human life has always fascinated me, beginning with my involvement in the IoT movement. My journey into AI was a natural progression from automation, expanding from merely eliminating mundane tasks to augmenting human thinking. The convergence of AI’s evolution with the rise of automation presented an opportunity to explore AI’s potential to emulate human capabilities such as seeing, listening, speaking, and thinking. This potential continues to inspire me.
What lessons can others learn from your story?
My journey has taught me that the dots of our experiences always connect in retrospect, and having faith in this process is vital. Pursuing one’s passion without regret, recognizing the contributions of those who have paved the way, and maintaining a sense of gratitude and humility have been key to my personal and professional growth.
Can you tell our readers about the most interesting projects you are working on now?
We are at an exciting juncture where technology has transformed human life and business, yet there’s still much to be done in bridging the gap between humans and machines. The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges and opportunities for businesses. We’ve done remarkable work leveraging AI to help enterprises not only overcome these challenges but also redefine their business processes. For example, we assisted one of our customers in creating an ‘Order Anywhere — Fulfill from Anywhere’ solution to manage the imbalance in the supply chain’s inventory. The thought of ‘what if the cost of intelligence becomes zero?’ opens up a world of possibilities. It challenges us to think beyond the conventional and explore how AI can be leveraged to amplify human potential, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation in ways we have yet to fully realize. We are at the forefront of this game-changing moment, focusing on the potential of AI to redefine the future.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I owe my success to many individuals who have guided and supported me throughout my life. From my school days to my music teacher and professional mentors, their influence has been profound. Growing up in a lower-middle-class family, their guidance was invaluable. I believe that life’s dots connect in hindsight, and I’m eternally grateful to all who have shaped my journey.
What are the 5 things that most excite you about the AI industry? Why?
If I had to pick only five, I would choose the horizontal market benefits AI provides, its ability to drive massive productivity gains almost immediately, the capacity for AI to improve exponentially the more it is used, the exciting innovations it is already driving, and AI’s ability to improve the human condition around the globe.
By horizontal market benefits, I’m referring to AI’s ability to provide significant benefits to almost all industries, as opposed to many technologies that benefit just a few vertical markets. This broad applicability is part of what makes AI so revolutionary. The second exciting component is that many do not realize that AI can help businesses right now — as in, today! There is a wide swath of the business community that still views this technology as some kind of forward-looking, futuristic application. No, AI is here today, and if you want to compete, you should be evaluating it as soon as possible.
Another exciting component that most don’t realize is just how quickly AI will be able to improve its effectiveness. The more data these models have access to and the more feedback they receive, the better they will be and, in turn, the greater the benefit to the economy and to humanity. This brings us to the fourth item — the exciting innovations it is already delivering. In just a few months, generative AI has transformed how people work, how they build content, and what services they offer. Finally, it is difficult to understate how much the innovations, performance benefits, discoveries, and increased productivity from AI will benefit humanity. That seems a bit “pie in the sky,” but from healthcare to quality of life, AI is already making strides. And we are just at the beginning of that journey.
What are the 5 things that concern you about the AI industry? Why?
Let’s start with regulatory overreach; no other technology has generated the same level of existential angst as AI. Even OpenAI’s CEO has publicly stated that AI poses a “threat to humanity.” As with all technologies with the potential for abuse, AI definitely needs guardrails. However, these need to be developed in conjunction with subject-matter experts that will be able to make regulations that work and do not simply stifle innovation. That brings me to my second concern — AI security. Some security researchers have already found ways to subvert the guardrails on various LLMs. Better security is going to be required, particularly as AI itself will be used as a tool to subvert these safeguards.
For my third item, I believe that a lack of transparency from major AI vendors is not a good thing. With all of the concerns — founded or unfounded — about this revolutionary technology’s impact, we, as an industry, need to carefully showcase exactly how this technology is developing and not hide our work behind competitive walls. Too many vendors are taking this approach and that is part of the problem — there are simply too many solutions out there, which is leading to a massive amount of market confusion. Similar to the concept of “green-washing,” in which minor efficiency improvements are billed as “green” or sustainability features, everyone and their strategic partner is slapping an “AI label” on their solution, whether it truly leverages AI or not. Finally, I do not believe that AI needs a “move fast and break things” approach to implementation. Unlike most other software-based solutions, AI has the potential to dramatically alter how work gets done, impacting jobs and human life. An appropriate transition is going to be required in order to ensure this is done right.
As you know, there is an ongoing debate between prominent scientists, (personified as a debate between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg,) about whether advanced AI poses an existential danger to humanity. What is your position about this?
Ensuring that AI is developed and deployed ethically and responsibly is crucial, taking into account fairness, transparency, and accountability. This aligns with the three themes that governments, regulators, and enterprises should focus on for AI to truly help humanity:
Responsible AI: Upholding ethical guidelines and standards.
AI for All: Democratizing access to AI, ensuring availability and benefit to all.
AI for Good: Leveraging AI to address global challenges.
While there are concerns about the ethical implications of AI, including a potential impact on employment and job security, the benefits of AI greatly outweigh the risks. AI has the potential to revolutionize industries and improve people’s lives in numerous ways, such as helping healthcare professionals diagnose diseases more accurately, improving traffic flow, reducing congestion, and optimizing energy use to combat climate change. By maintaining a balanced and nuanced view on the issue, focusing on responsible AI, AI for all, and AI for good, we’ll be able to maximize the value it provides while mitigating any risks.
What can be done to prevent such concerns from materializing? And what can be done to assure the public that there is nothing to be concerned about?
We need to ensure that AI has the appropriate guardrails in place and that the companies building it are held accountable to a joint set of principles related to how to implement AI responsibly. Many people are nervous about the impact of AI due to its potential to automate certain jobs and tasks, but it also creates vast opportunities and entirely new classes of jobs. Furthermore, many tasks and jobs require creativity, emotional intelligence, and human interaction, which are less likely to be fully automated by AI. Thus, it is essential to view AI as a complement to human workers rather than a replacement. Investing in education and upskilling programs is vital to thriving in an increasingly AI-driven world. This will equip workers with the necessary skills to adapt to new roles, ensuring they can effectively contribute to the workforce and benefit from AI opportunities. Businesses can harness the power of generative AI while maintaining ethical, legal, and moral standards by focusing on responsible AI development and deployment and providing support for human workers.
As you know, there are not that many women in your industry. Can you advise what is needed to engage more women into the AI industry?
The inclusion of women in the AI industry is essential for nurturing a diverse and innovative environment. It’s about embracing opportunities, encouraging educational pursuits in technology, and cultivating a culture that appreciates varied insights and experiences. At EdgeVerve, we share these values and are committed to contributing positively to this collective endeavour. Our vision is one of collaboration and inspiration, working together to shape a future where everyone can succeed in the AI industry.
What is your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that had relevance to your own life?
The belief that life and careers are journeys without a final destination has been a guiding principle for me. Both are filled with highs and lows, and learning to navigate the lows not only leads to greater highs but also makes the journey more fulfilling and joyful.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share a story?
Our success at EdgeVerve is deeply connected to our ability to enable enterprises in their digital transformation journey. While we may not directly touch individual lives, the work we do has a broader impact. For example, through our platforms, we’ve assisted a major enterprise customer in enhancing their supply chain efficiency. This not only led to significant cost savings for the company but also allowed them to provide more timely and effective services to their end customers. By amplifying the potential of our clients, we subtly contribute to making various industries more responsive and efficient. It’s a testament to how technology, when leveraged thoughtfully, can create a positive change that extends beyond immediate business goals. Our success is a continuous journey of innovation, driven by a commitment to unlocking possibilities that benefit both our clients and the larger community. As early backers of Open AI, we believe in the power of AI to transform humanity, and our contributions reflect our dedication to this vision.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
The concept of ‘AI for Humanity’ resonates deeply with me. In a world where technology is advancing rapidly, harnessing AI to serve the greater good of humanity could be a transformative movement. It’s about using AI not just for profit or convenience but to enhance lives, solve real-world problems, and create a more equitable and compassionate world.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can follow EdgeVerve via social media on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Additionally, stay up to date with announcements via the EdgeVerve news page on our website.
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational, and we wish you continued success in your important work.
About The Interviewer: David Leichner is a veteran of the Israeli high-tech industry with significant experience in the areas of cyber and security, enterprise software and communications. At Cybellum, a leading provider of Product Security Lifecycle Management, David is responsible for creating and executing the marketing strategy and managing the global marketing team that forms the foundation for Cybellum’s product and market penetration. Prior to Cybellum, David was CMO at SQream and VP Sales and Marketing at endpoint protection vendor, Cynet. David is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Technology College. He holds a BA in Information Systems Management and an MBA in International Business from the City University of New York.
