AI Rising Podcast
HT Smartcast
AI is all around us – in our search engines, when recommending movies or books, when playing video games, or even when making digital payments. AI flies airplanes, drives cars, helps speed up drug discovery, and even predicts the next storm. But the AI treadmill moves at a very rapid pace with its own pros and cons. Case in point, Generative AI like Chat GPT, Mid Journey, etc.
So, dive into the world of AI with Mint's weekly podcast, AI Rising! Join Mint Sr. Associate Editor & Tech expert Leslie D'Monte and Convergence Catalyst co-founder and principal analyst Jayanth N Kolla as they speak to students, academics, business leaders, policymakers, lawyers, artists, gamers, and scientists to explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in our lives and work. Uncover its wonders and drawbacks, like deep fakes and privacy concerns. Are we on the brink of AI sentience? Tune in to explore.
This is a Mint production, brought to you by HT Smartcast.
So, dive into the world of AI with Mint's weekly podcast, AI Rising! Join Mint Sr. Associate Editor & Tech expert Leslie D'Monte and Convergence Catalyst co-founder and principal analyst Jayanth N Kolla as they speak to students, academics, business leaders, policymakers, lawyers, artists, gamers, and scientists to explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in our lives and work. Uncover its wonders and drawbacks, like deep fakes and privacy concerns. Are we on the brink of AI sentience? Tune in to explore.
This is a Mint production, brought to you by HT Smartcast.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 15, 2025 • 55min
The Cost of Scaling GenAI—and the Search for Smarter Models
Enterprises are rethinking their AI strategies. Instead of billion-dollar moonshots, they’re betting on micro transformations—smaller, high-value projects that deliver quick wins while laying the groundwork for governance, security, and scalable AI adoption.In this episode, we unpack the realities of enterprise AI adoption: why so many projects fail, the challenges of scaling GenAI when costs rise instead of fall, and how industries like banking, manufacturing, and healthcare are finding ROI in targeted use cases.We also explore the guardrails enterprises are building—compliance, auditability, and security—and the shift towards efficient models that could democratize AI. Plus, a sharp look at OpenAI’s expansion into consulting, browsers, and hardware—is it a competitive advantage or a dilution of focus?This episode brings clarity to the noise, spotlighting what’s working, what’s failing, and where enterprise AI is headed next.
Aug 14, 2025 • 32min
The Future of Manufacturing and Mobility in India with AI
In this episode of AI Rising, host Nelson John is joined by Biswajit Bhattacharya, Lead Client Partner & Automotive Industry Leader at IBM Consulting India and South Asia, to explore how artificial intelligence is driving the next wave of transformation across India’s manufacturing and mobility sectors.Together, they dive into how AI is reshaping operations - its role in helping companies align profitability with sustainability goals through ESG-driven growth, digital twins, data fabric. The conversation also highlights IBM’s role in enabling smart factories and predictive maintenance to resilient supply chains, software-defined vehicles, and trustworthy AI frameworks.Tune in to discover how AI is not just a tool but a catalyst powering innovation, resilience, and a smarter industrial future for India.
Jul 29, 2025 • 43min
Building India’s Vision AI Ecosystem and the Journey of JARVIS
This episode of the AI Rising podcast explores the journey and impact of JARVIS, an Indian AI-powered video analytics platform. The discussion highlights how JARVIS leverages computer vision and audio analytics for real-time security, operational insights, and proactive monitoring in environments like police forces, universities, and retail. The episode also examines India’s strengths and challenges building its AI ecosystem, the importance of ethical AI deployment, and the opportunities ahead for vision AI innovations.
Jun 30, 2025 • 17min
The future of healthcare - Precision with AI
AI is not what's next for healthcare — it's what's nowIn this episode of AI Rising, host Nelson John speaks with Roland Rott, President & CEO of Imaging at GE HealthCare, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of care — from diagnostics to decision-making, and from hospital floors to rural clinics.Considering India’s unique healthcare landscape and its growing reputation as an innovation hotspot, Roland offers a front-row view into how GE HealthCare is building AI-powered solutions that improve accuracy, scale access, and redefine patient care — all while navigating the complexity of one of the world’s most demanding markets.We explore:• Why India is central to GE HealthCare’s AI and growth strategy• How AI is transforming imaging, diagnostics, and clinical workflows• The balance between cutting-edge innovation and clinical trust• The future of AI-powered care in both developed and emerging marketsTune in for more
Jun 25, 2025 • 41min
Redefining Banking Operations Through AI
In this episode, we sit down with Mr. Ratan Kumar Kesh, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer at Bandhan Bank, to explore how AI is transforming the very foundation of modern banking.From intelligent automation and fraud detection to contextual banking offers and AI-powered agent systems, Mr. Kesh shares real-world insights into how Bandhan Bank is embracing next-gen technologies to meet rising customer expectations, enhance internal efficiencies, and navigate the complexities of a highly regulated financial ecosystem.We also discuss the role of open banking, cloud infrastructure, and internal AI adoption strategies that put employees at the center of digital transformation. If you’re curious about how traditional banks are evolving in the AI era—or what it takes to build a future-ready financial institution—this conversation is packed with perspective.Tune in for more.
Jun 23, 2025 • 30min
Powering the Future: How AI and Mini Grids Are Lighting Up Rural India
What does it take to bring reliable, clean electricity to some of the world’s most underserved communities—and do it profitably?In this episode, we speak with Manoj Sinha, Co-founder and CEO of Husk Power Systems, a company that’s building the world’s largest network of AI-powered mini grids across India and Africa. Manoj takes us through his journey—from growing up in Bihar with limited access to electricity, to launching Husk with a bold mission: to make energy affordable, reliable, and 100% renewable for rural households and micro-enterprises.We dive deep into:How Husk uses machine learning to predict energy demand and optimize power generationWhy AI is critical to scaling decentralized energy in emerging marketsThe economics behind their pay-as-you-go SaaS modelWhat it takes to reduce energy delivery costs year after yearThe future of Virtual Power Plants, grid resilience, and India's climate goals
Jun 11, 2025 • 41min
What founders should know before jumping into the AI Game
In this episode, the hosts sit down with Pradeep Gulipalli, Co-founder and CEO (India) of Tiger Analytics, to discuss the company’s rapid growth and the evolving world of data and analytics. The conversation touches on recent announcements from Microsoft and Google, explores how automation and smarter systems are changing business operations, and looks at the practical side of adopting new technology in big enterprises. Pradeep shares insights on how companies are actually using AI tools today, the challenges they’re facing, and what skills and mindset are needed to succeed in this fast-moving space. The episode closes with advice for startup founders and young professionals interested in working with data and technology.
Jun 11, 2025 • 50min
Why AI Can't Replace Your Doctor Yet?
AI is changing the way we diagnose, treat, and even prevent disease—but how far can it really go? In this episode, Dr. Sreedhar Potarazu, Clinical Director at American Eye Care Center, joins us to unpack the real impact of AI in medicine. From clinical decision-making to patient empathy, we explore where technology helps—and where it still falls short. Can AI truly replace doctors, or is it simply the next tool in their kit? Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of healthcare, ethics, and the irreplaceable human touch.
May 23, 2025 • 43min
Why hallucinations may be a feature, not a bug, in the future of AI?
In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Leslie D’Monte and Jayanth N speak with Anurag Sahay, VP & Global Business Unit Head – AI and Data Sciences at Nagarro, about why AI hallucinations might not be flaws, but indicators of an evolving intelligence paradigm. They explore how most people—and enterprises—still think in linear, deterministic ways, and why that mindset may no longer serve us in the GenAI era. Anurag explains how startups are often better positioned to take bold creative leaps, while enterprises struggle with embracing stochastic systems. The conversation also dives into why observability, not perfection, is the key to scaling AI—challenging conventional assumptions about accuracy, failure, and the true nature of intelligence.
May 13, 2025 • 37min
All Startups Are ‘AI Startups’: But Is That Deep Tech?
In this episode, we dive into the hype, the reality, and the shifting ground beneath the world of technology, AI, and business strategy. From the microservices vs. monolith debate to the Codex CLI and GenAI frenzy, we break down the tech buzzwords enterprises love—and sometimes misuse. We unpack the role of developer insecurities, resume-driven engineering, and the fleeting nature of tech trends (remember Pokémon Go and the Oscar selfie?). As India's startup landscape sees an AI-first pitch from nearly every corner, we reflect on what truly defines deep tech, why traditional machine learning is far from obsolete, and how enterprises should resist the urge to jump on every shiny new tool. At the end of the day, the question remains: what business problem are you solving?
