Show Notes
My guest today is Paramu Kurumathur: IT Leader, Author. Here is the snippets of interesting stories around how AI has changed his life and how he’s impacting AI - From building AI in 1980 to using AI to code, write, research and imagine the future
What makes Paramu's story unusual is that his AI journey actually began in 1980, when his M.Tech project explored automatic program generation using structured data and if-then rules. Four decades later, he finds himself using generative AI in almost every facet of his life.
AI as a companion From preparing a draft of his family will to asking Gemini to explain a television show, AI has become a surprisingly useful personal companion for Paramu. At work, he uses AI coding tools such as Cursor to turn ideas into working software—even when he doesn't know the programming language particularly well. One of his recent projects used AI, Python and a vector database to help people discover government schemes they may be eligible for. For Paramu, this ability to take an idea and quickly turn it into something tangible is one of the biggest "aha moments" of AI.
AI and the author AI has also found its way into Paramu's writing. He uses it for Sanskrit transliteration, translations, research, introductions and making his writing more conversational. But he is equally conscious of AI's limitations. Hallucinations become particularly problematic when dealing with subjects where the available data is limited, such as astronomy and ancient Indian texts. This leads to an important observation about the need for good foundational data.
What should remain human? Perhaps the most interesting question in the conversation is what Paramu would never delegate to AI. His answer: the core idea of his books, personal relationships and the human connections involved in coaching and consulting. AI can help us create, research and accelerate—but there are parts of our lives where the relationship itself is the work.
AI for social good When asked what is underrated about AI, Paramu points to its potential for social and collective benefit. From identifying potholes and holding contractors accountable to helping people discover government benefits, he believes some of the most meaningful applications of AI could emerge outside traditional productivity use cases. The conversation ends with a glimpse into the future—from AI agents that can behave in surprisingly autonomous ways to Paramu's wish that technology could help people communicate when they cannot express themselves easily, or even objectively understand pain. And, of course, there is a rapid-fire round before we finish—with one final thought: perhaps five years from now, Paramu might return to the podcast… in AI form!
A conversation about AI, human judgment, social good and what we choose to keep uniquely human. And finally… a rapid fire The conversation ends with a rapid-fire round. Favorite AI use case? A tool. What is overrated about AI? Nothing. What is underrated? AI for social and collective benefit. What would you never delegate? The core message of his work—and the human relationships that matter. And perhaps the perfect closing thought: when Gayatri imagines that five years from now Paramu might be sitting next to her in AI form, Paramu signs off by saying he enjoyed the "stimulating" discussion—while joking that he always confuses stimulating with simulating. A fitting end to a conversation about humans, machines and everything in between.
Paramu can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paramu-kurumathur-01489a6/ and paramukurumathur.com
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“AI gives you wings,” “Wrong things in, rogue things out,” and “Each one, teach one.”
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