In this episode of The Digital India Podcast, host Mohd Ujaley speaks with Madhav Sheth, CEO, AI+ Smartphones and Founder of NxtQuantum Shift Technologies. Best known for his leadership at Realme, Madhav now returns with a bold vision: the Ai+ smartphone powered by the new NxtQuantum OS.

In this conversation, he shares:

• The hard lessons from building and scaling smartphone brands in India.

• Why deep tech, R&D, and strong local supply chains are critical for digital self-reliance.

• How AI should move beyond marketing buzzwords to deliver real consumer value.

• His strategy for democratising technology through transparency and localisation.

• The roadmap for targeting India’s mass-market segment and building a global brand from India.

Whether you are a technologist, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of smartphones and AI in India, this episode is packed with practical insights and forward-looking perspectives.

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⏱ Timestamps:
01:12 – From FinTech to EdTech: Dave Treat's career shift
04:30 – Pearson’s 3 core businesses (Content, Distribution, Assessment)
07:45 – AI tools already used by teachers for 18+ months
11:20 – Why Indian R&D is Pearson’s "innovation lighthouse"
15:10 – Spatial computing’s future in 3D learning
18:40 – Quantum computing’s encryption challenge
20:01 – Startups' role in Pearson's digital transformation journey

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Digital India Podcast, host Mohd Ujaley, Editorial Director of Tech Observer Magazine, speaks with Dave Treat, Chief Technology Officer at Pearson.

They explore the role of AI in education, Pearson’s digital transformation, and the future of personalised learning. Dave also shares insights on legacy modernisation, immersive tech, quantum-safe encryption, and how Pearson works with startups to drive innovation.

Dave Treat shares his views around:

✅ From FinTech to EdTech: Lessons from banking to education innovation
✅ Why Pearson is advancing faster in AI than banks ever did
✅ How the “Learn to Earn” mindset is shaping workforce development
✅ Why teachers need AI—to focus on what matters most
✅ India’s role in Pearson’s global R&D and innovation strategy
✅ How quantum computing could disrupt encryption in education
✅ Why startups help keep Pearson agile—even after 181 years

🎓 A must-listen for educators, edtech founders, policy makers, and anyone curious about the future of learning!

👤 Follow Dave Treat, CTO, Pearson:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidbtreat

📰 About Tech Observer Magazine:
Tech Observer Magazine is India’s premier technology news publication, delivering in-depth analysis on government tech, public sector innovation, defence, enterprise IT, emerging startups, telecom, and consumer electronics.

#EdTech #AIinEducation #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #Pearson #AI #podcast

In the latest episode of The Digital India Podcast, Kayzad Hiramanek, Chief Operating Officer of Edelweiss Life Insurance, shares insights from his 25-year leadership journey across diverse industries. In conversation with host Mohd Ujaley (Editorial Director, Tech Observer Magazine), they explore transformative leadership approaches, systemic challenges in India's insurance adoption, and the technological innovations reshaping financial services.

Hiramanek champions leaders who recruit "people smarter than themselves" and decentralise decision-making. "The true measure of leadership," he observes, "lies in building systems where teams function autonomously—even if it diminishes your own indispensability." His perspective is informed by an unconventional career path that began in hospitality before transitioning through telecom to insurance, demonstrating that adaptive thinking trumps sector-specific expertise.

With life insurance penetration stagnating at 3-4%, Hiramanek pinpoints three critical barriers:

• Demographic Disconnect: Young Indians prioritize immediate needs over long-term protection

• Education Deficit: No standardized curriculum on financial planning fundamentals

• Design Complexity: Actuarial products alienate returns-focused consumers

He credits regulatory innovations like Bima Sugam (unified insurance marketplace) and Bima Vahak (last-mile women agents) for driving inclusion, alongside pandemic-driven digitisation of claims processes through tools like verifiable digital death certificates.

While describing insurance as "the original data science industry" (rooted in actuarial models), Hiramanek offers measured perspectives on emerging tech:

• AI Today: NLP-powered chatbots handle 68% of routine customer queries (internal metrics)

• Underwriting Realities: Still dependent on traditional verification (Aadhaar, medical exams, financial disclosures)

• AI Frontiers: Agentic AI automates workflows but yet to replicate human risk assessment

As regulators work toward Insurance for All by 2047, Hiramanek stresses product simplification and India Stack integration. His leadership mantra—"Fail fast, recover faster"—reflects his cross-industry evolution and applies equally to tech adoption and talent development.

#InsuranceInnovation #LeadershipMatters #FintechIndia #DigitalTransformation #Podcast

In this episode of The Digital India Podcast, Mohd Ujaley explores cyber resilience, ransomware and AI-driven security with Sandeep Bhambure, Vice President and Managing Director, Veeam India & SAARC.

Discover:

🔹 Why data exfiltration is now more dangerous than ransomware

🔹 How AI is changing cyber defense strategies

🔹 India’s critical infrastructure vulnerabilities & recovery tactics

🔹 The future of encryption with quantum computing

🔹 Veeam’s Data Resilience Maturity Model (developed with McKinsey)

With 70% of organisations hit by ransomware in the past year, this conversation is a must-listen for IT leaders, CISOs and tech enthusiasts.

🎧 Tune in now!

#CyberSecurity #DataResilience #TechTrends #AI #QuantumComputing #Veeam #DigitalIndia #Podcast

Welcome to The Digital India Podcast, your destination for insightful discussions on technology, innovation and the visionaries shaping India’s digital future. In this episode, host Mohd Ujaley sits down with Narain Karthikeyan – India’s first Formula 1 driver and founder of DriveX, an AI-driven startup revolutionising the used two-wheeler market.

From the racetrack to entrepreneurship, Narain shares his journey of speed, technology and business. They explore how DriveX addresses challenges in India’s mobility sector, the role of AI in transforming transportation and the parallels between F1 agility and startup scalability. The conversation also touches on road safety, regulatory changes and the future of sustainable mobility.

Tune in for an engaging discussion on innovation, risk-taking and what it takes to accelerate change in India’s evolving tech landscape. Buckle up – the conversation starts now.

Join 10-year-old Aaizah Zahra from Prometheus School Noida as she sits down with former Supreme Court Justice BN Srikrishna for a fascinating discussion on artificial intelligence.

In this special episode, they break down the advantages and risks of AI in simple, engaging terms—from how it simplifies everyday tasks to its creative potential in music, art and learning.

Justice Srikrishna also sheds light on cybersecurity challenges, comparing digital safety to locking away precious treasures.

Perfect for curious minds of all ages, this conversation blends a child’s curiosity with an expert’s wisdom, making AI accessible and exciting.

Tune in to discover how technology is shaping our future—and why we must use it wisely.

India’s Tech Talent: Driving the Global Cloud and AI Transformation

In this episode of The Digital India Podcast, host Mohd Ujaley, Editorial Director, Tech Observer Magazine, explores how India’s technology sector is shaping the future of global digital transformation. With the cloud services market projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, India now supplies 45% of the world’s cloud technology workforce. This episode examines what this means for businesses worldwide and how companies are leveraging India’s expertise.

We take a closer look at AHEAD, a US-based technology consulting firm that relies on over 500 professionals in India to deliver cloud strategies, AI solutions and managed services. Keith Odom, EVP at AHEAD, explains why India plays such a critical role in their global operations.

Key discussion points include:

• How India’s talent pool supports global cloud adoption

• The challenges companies face in implementing AI

• Balancing innovation with cost efficiency

• Why security has become the top priority in technology

• Industries leading digital transformation, including healthcare and finance

The episode also covers AHEAD’s plans to expand its workforce in India, highlighting the country’s growing importance in the tech industry.

Whether you work in technology, business or simply want to understand India’s role in digital innovation, this episode offers valuable insights.

The Digital India Podcast provides analysis of India’s technology landscape and its global impact.

Listen now to stay informed about the latest developments in tech.

The Indian life insurance industry is on a meteoric rise, projected to hit $200 billion by 2027. But with 73% of policyholders now preferring digital-first interactions (EY Survey), legacy players must evolve—or risk extinction.

In this episode of The Digital India Podcast, Mohd Ujaley (Editorial Director, Tech Observer Magazine) sits down with Kirti Patil, Joint President & CTO of Kotak Life Insurance, to unravel how the company’s "hollow the core" strategy has turbocharged digital adoption—shifting 80% of service requests to digital channels (up from just 25% pre-pandemic).

🔹 Jungle Mapping in Tech: Kirti compares her *30+ years in tech leadership* to navigating an uncharted jungle—where every step is a risk, a revolution or a bear trap.
🔹 AI’s Surprising Evolution: From email implementation in the '90s to today’s AI revolution—how conversational AI is reshaping insurance CX.
🔹 Phased Modernisation Wins: Why Kotak’s incremental approach—not Big Bang overhauls—is key to stable, scalable transformation.
🔹 Empathy in Automation: Can *AI-driven interactions* retain human warmth? How Kotak ensures *"human-in-the-loop"* design.
🔹 Leadership in Setbacks: As a woman in tech, Kirti shares how she steers teams through failures while keeping morale high.

Tune in for a masterclass in *digital resilience, strategic patience and tech-led empathy*—straight from one of India’s most seasoned insurance tech leaders.

Follow The Digital India Podcast for more conversations on how technology is reshaping India’s future.

#DigitalTransformation #InsuranceTech #WomenInTech #AI #KotakLife #TechLeadership

Welcome to The Digital India Podcast, where we explore how technology, leadership and innovation are shaping the future of India.In this exciting fourth episode, we have the privilege of hosting a distinguished leader and dedicated public servant – Lt Gen Gurmit Singh, Governor of Uttarakhand. Join us as we discuss his exceptional journey, his views on technology-driven governance and his vision for a digitally empowered India. 🇮🇳From his illustrious military career to his current role in fostering progress, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh offers unique insights on how technology can bridge divides, empower communities and strengthen the nation. Whether you are passionate about tech, policy or India’s digital evolution, this episode is filled with inspiration and practical wisdom. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe to The Digital India Podcast for more insightful conversations with the leaders shaping our digital future.🎧 Listen now and join us on this journey.

Hello and a very warm welcome to The Digital India Podcast, where we speak with top technology leaders from government and enterprises driving digital transformation.

In this episode, I am joined by Mr. Anand Eswaran, CEO of Veeam, a US-based data protection company. He shares why India plays a pivotal role in Veeam’s growth strategy—contributing 45% business growth and emerging as a hub for talent and innovation. We discuss Veeam’s investments in R&D, customer support, and operations in India, along with insights into tackling data resilience challenges, combating ransomware, and leveraging AI in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Tune in for a compelling conversation on how India is shaping the future of Veeam and the global data ecosystem.