AiThority Interview with Kunal Purohit, President – Next Gen Services, Tech Mahindra
Kunal Purohit, President – Next Gen Services, Tech Mahindra discusses several key initiatives and innovations at Tech Mahindra’s Makers Lab. He talks about Project Indus, an AI-driven enterprise platform that optimizes operational efficiency and focuses on the Hindi language and its dialects through a user-contribution portal in the following Q&A:
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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.
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I head TechM’s Digital & Analytics Capability Solutions Units (CSUs) globally. These units help Enterprises convert the promise of Digital & AI into tangible Business outcomes while keeping the enterprise secure from cyber attacks & vulnerabilities. Put together, these CSUs have 10000+ practitioners helping customers from conceiving new ideas and solutions, Prototyping those solutions and then scaling them across the enterprise. The CSUs PnL of 1 bn $ is amongst the fastest growing segment in the company.
I also head TechM’s Wave4 business- this is where we create our own SaaS businesses by incubating startups / providing initial seed round funding. so far we have launched 6 such start-ups that operate independently.
I have a total experience of 21 years which is distributed equitably over roles in the Corporate Office and the Field. in my most recent role before joining Tech M, I was leading HCL’s Digital Business and Practice in Europe and was based out of the UK. I have also spent considerable amount of time leading HCL’s Corporate Strategy office and working with the CEO & the Board and enabling strategic decisions around Organic and Inorganic growth of the company. Over the last 15 years, HCL has been consistently growing faster than the Industry, increasing its market-share and value for the stakeholders. This balanced corporate and field experience gives me the right mindset and aptitude to scale not just strategic business units but also companies that are looking at Digital to transform their business model.
I have started multiple business lines for HCL ( and now doing that for Tech M) that have scaled to become successful business units. I was one of the founding team members when HCL Tech started doing Software Services Business in India in early 2000s. I started the Digital Consulting business for HCL in Europe and APAC by infusing new Digital capability & talent into an Independent Digital BU of HCL called BEYONDigital. I love to learn from start-ups and believe that small teams can make big impact.
Though I worked only one year at GE Healthcare, it gave me a great foundation early on to put customer at the heart of everything I do. It also helped me understand the core values of Integrity, going big in chosen markets and focusing on core strengths to push ahead.
I am highly result oriented in my work style. I enable my teams to create desired outcomes and also enjoy the journey along the way. I lead a high performing diverse team across the globe and am proud to be working alongside them. I love running, traveling and reading.
Tech Mahindra offers technology consulting and digital solutions to global enterprises across industries, enabling transformative scale at unparalleled speed. With 145,000+ professionals across 90+ countries helping 1100+ clients, TechM provides a full spectrum of services including consulting, information technology, enterprise applications, business process services, engineering services, network services, customer experience & design services, AI & analytics, and cloud & infrastructure services. It is the first Indian company in the world to have been awarded the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Terra Carta Seal, in recognition of actively leading the charge to create a climate and nature-positive future.
Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM) is part of the Mahindra Group, founded in 1945, one of the largest and most admired multinational federations of companies.
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