In this thought-provoking episode of AI Rising, hosts Jayanth and Leslie navigate the fast-moving currents of artificial intelligence.They begin with China’s latest AI breakthrough—a cutting-edge open-source reasoning model poised to challenge OpenAI’s dominance. What does this mean for the global AI landscape, and how might it redefine innovation in the field? The discussion then shifted to the Stargate Plan, a staggering $500 billion initiative under Trump’s vision for American AI supremacy. Will this bold move give the U.S. an unshakable edge in the AI arms race, or does it risk being another moonshot with uncertain outcomes? The host also explore the intersection of tradition and technology, uncovering how Mahakumbh 2025 is leveraging AI to transform one of the world’s largest religious gatherings into a seamless, tech-enabled experience.

Welcome to the brand new season of AI Rising. Join hosts Leslie Damonte and Jayantan Kolla as they explore how AI is reshaping our world in 2025. In this episode, we kick off the new year with a closer look at the innovations unveiled at CES, like NVIDIA’s groundbreaking robotics and AI-powered personal devices. We’ll dive into how AI is blending with human creativity, transforming industries like healthcare, workforce management, and even personal tech.

In this episode of AI Rising, hosts Leslie and Jayant sit down with Jaspreet Bindra, founder of AI and Beyond, to explore the evolving AI landscape. They discuss breakthroughs like AlphaFold, the rise of localized AI models, and the ethical challenges surrounding Generative AI (GenAI) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

Jaspreet shares insights on enterprise adoption of GenAI, the patience required for its growth, and the emerging agentic frameworks reshaping the industry. The conversation highlights data privacy, humanistic ethics, and AI’s parallels to human creativity, including its "hallucinations."

Tune in to discover how AI is transforming industries, driving innovation, and balancing progress with responsibility.

In this episode of AI Rising, our hosts Leslie D'Monte and Jayanth N Kolla dive deep into the rapidly evolving AI landscape. We explore OpenAI's latest funding milestone—raising over $6 billion at a staggering $150 billion valuation—and the controversies surrounding its transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure. We also discuss the exciting announcements from OpenAI, Meta, and Google regarding AI assistants with advanced voice modes and their implications for the future of human-computer interaction.

Shifting gears, we analyze Ask Capital's report predicting India's digital economy to surpass $1 trillion by 2028, driven by innovations like UPI and government initiatives. Lastly, we examine the significance of India's announcement of four thematic hubs for quantum computing and its intersection with AI technologies. What role will quantum computing play in shaping AI's next frontier? Tune in to hear our take on these groundbreaking developments.

In this thought-provoking episode of AI Rising, our hosts Leslie D'Monte and Jayanth N Kolla unpack a whirlwind of topics shaping the AI landscape.

First, Leslie and Jayanth delve into the buzz surrounding Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO, whose controversial remarks in a Stanford University interview sparked a stir before the video was taken down from YouTube. From criticizing Google’s work culture to drawing parallels between coding and learning a language like English, Schmidt's candid observations have left the tech world buzzing.

Next, the discussion shifts to generative AI—does it live up to the hype, or is it a technology in a frantic rush to prove itself? Jayanth also explores the challenges investors face when betting on AI startups and the growing emphasis on building responsible AI models that balance innovation with ethics.

Join us for a deep dive into the controversies, debates, and opportunities defining the rapidly evolving AI industry.

In this episode of AI Rising, Leslie and Jayanth discuss the hype surrounding OpenAI's rumored "Orion" project. Jayanth sheds light on the state of agentic AI in India, where flashy pitch decks often overshadow substance. He draws attention to trends like Indic language LLMs, many of which are mere wrappers on existing English models rather than innovations built from the ground up. Are these developments genuine breakthroughs, or are they simply marketing tactics aimed at impressing investors? Joining the conversation is Dhruv Rastogi, Senior Vice President & Head of Data Science at Medi Assist. With over 15 years of experience spanning finance, marketing, sales, and healthcare, Dhruv is a versatile data scientist driving innovation in India’s healthcare ecosystem. As SVP at Medi Assist, he’s leveraging AI to make healthcare services more efficient and accessible. Dhruv discusses how Medi Assist is tackling a critical issue—reducing the wait time for insurance claims during hospital discharges. “A patient or their family, in such vulnerable situations, just want a smooth experience,” says Dhruv. By using predictive analytics, Medi Assist estimates bills with an accuracy of around ₹500, more or less, streamlining the process for patients and caregivers alike. Tune in for a compelling discussion on the intersection of AI innovation, healthcare transformation, and the ever-evolving tech landscape.

In this episode of AI Rising, host Leslie D’Monte is joined by Ashwin Raguraman, Co-founder and Partner at Bharat Innovation Fund. Ashwin reflects on the journey of launching the fund in 2018 to support deep tech startups in India—a bold move, as the startup ecosystem was still emerging. "We were trying to promote the ecosystem ahead of its time," he shares, highlighting the fund's mission to foster innovation before the landscape fully matured. Leslie delves into Ashwin’s approach to selecting deep tech entrepreneurs, asking what factors guide his investment decisions. Ashwin outlines three key vectors: first, the founding team’s background; second, the size and potential growth of the market, adding that forecasting both startup success and market evolution is a unique challenge; and third, the technology’s level of disruption, including patents and solutions. Tune in for insights into the strategies that drive investment in India’s deep tech ecosystem and how AI is changing the landscape.

In this insightful episode, hosts Leslie D’Monte and Jayanth N Kolla engage with Shashank from Tredence to discuss the evolving landscape of AI and data analytics. Shashank delves into the role of AI in creating interconnected solutions for supply and demand, emphasizing Tredence's unique approach in delivering actionable insights over mere predictions. The conversation spans the growth trajectory of AI startups like Fractal, the critical role of cloud computing, and India’s emerging influence in the AI ecosystem, showcased by models like Ola’s Krithrim.

Additionally, Shashank shares the culture of innovation at Tredence, inspired by initiatives like Tredence Studio, a space reminiscent of Google’s Area 120, where employees can nurture their entrepreneurial spirit. He also touches upon India’s booming startup landscape, his investments in a VC fund supporting Indian startups, and Tredence's culture of mentorship-driven growth.

Tune in for an engaging discussion on AI’s transformative power in business, India’s role in the global AI scene, and the importance of fostering a culture of innovation within organizations.