Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, and Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, engaged in a captivating discussion on Kamath's podcast, "The WTF is?" The conversation, released on March 23, 2025, delved deep into Srinivas's personal journey and the rapidly changing landscape of artificial intelligence (AI).
Beginning their dialogue, Kamath explored Srinivas's roots in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, where academic excellence was highly encouraged. Srinivas recounted how the cultural pressure influenced his early aspirations. "Growing up in Chennai, there was always an emphasis on excelling academically," he shared. He noted that his passion for machine learning ignited when he participated in a Kaggle competition, describing it as a pivotal moment in his career path. “That competition was my gateway into AI. It wasn't just about winning; it was about understanding how machines can learn from data.”
The podcast also touched upon Srinivas’s three-week internship in Bengaluru, which he spent entirely within the confines of his Koramangala apartment. Reflecting on that time, Srinivas admitted, "I didn’t actually explore. I just worked all the time. Now that I look back, I probably think I should have explored.” Kamath, however, reassured him that focusing on work might have been the better decision, especially given Bengaluru's notorious traffic. "I remember the traffic being bad, and I hear it’s even worse now. So, staying in and working was probably a smart move,” Srinivas said, comparing Bengaluru’s weather favorably to Chennai’s.
Delving deeper into his work ethic, Srinivas articulated his drive, stating, “I worked all the time, and I’m really proud of that.” When asked if he ever approached his career just for accolades or success, he replied, “I think I enjoy it. It’s not about chasing some goal to scale—it’s just what I love doing.” This curiosity and passion for the field have seemingly defined his approach to technology.
As the discussion progressed to AI's broader implications, Kamath pointed out the significant economic impacts of the technology. He raised concerns about job displacement, particularly in roles related to coding and content creation. Srinivas acknowledged these worries but insisted that AI would ultimately create new opportunities. "The personal computer revolution didn’t eliminate jobs; it changed them. AI will do the same. The key is adaptation," he asserted.
The conversation also touched on ethics, particularly regarding data ownership. Kamath posed an essential question: "Who owns the data that AI is trained on? Should countries be compensated for their data being used in AI models?" Srinivas admitted these issues are crucial for future discussions, predicting a shift toward stricter regulations. “We might see countries charging for data usage, similar to how media companies are putting content behind paywalls,” he explained.
In response to queries about what constitutes intelligence in AI, Srinivas and Kamath engaged in an intriguing dialogue. Kamath asked if AI performing human-like tasks better than humans equates to intelligence. Srinivas countered, “Not necessarily. Intelligence isn’t just about performance; it’s about adaptability and understanding.” This distinction raises critical questions about the evolution of AI systems.
Srinivas noted that true general intelligence in artificial intelligence remains a significant challenge. “One of the biggest hurdles is enabling AI to learn its own loss functions. That’s where real breakthroughs will happen,” he suggested, highlighting the complex nature of mimicking human-like understanding.
Emphasizing the potential of India in the global AI space, Srinivas argued for the necessity of investing in AI infrastructure tailored to local needs. “We can’t just rely on Western models. We need AI that understands India—not just English but Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and other languages,” he proclaimed. With companies like Core Vivve on the frontline of these developments, there is optimism that India can carve a niche in AI.
As the podcast wrapped up, Srinivas encouraged young entrepreneurs keen on entering the AI field, stating, “Start small but think big. Use open-source models, experiment, and focus on solving real-world problems. The opportunities are endless.” This final piece of advice serves as a reminder that the journey in AI requires both innovation and risk-taking.
In an age where AI's evolution seems rapid and unrelenting, the wisdom exchanged between Kamath and Srinivas offers valuable insights into not just the future of technology, but also the ethical considerations and personal journeys shaping its landscape. As they concluded, it was clear that learning and curiosity remain vital components to navigating this fast-moving sector.
The podcast serves as an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of personal experience and technological advancement, especially in a country poised to take significant strides in artificial intelligence.
