In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, Amit Prakash and Dheeraj Pandey are joined by Alex Dimakis for a wide-ranging, systems-first discussion on the future of long-horizon AI agents that can operate over time, learn from feedback, adapt to users, and function reliably inside real-world environments.

The conversation spans research and industry, unpacking why prompt engineering alone collapses at scale; how advisor models, reward-driven learning, and environment-based evaluation enable continual improvement without retraining frontier models; and why memory in AI systems is as much about forgetting as it is about recall. Drawing from distributed systems, reinforcement learning, and cognitive science, the trio explores how personalization, benchmarks, and context engineering are becoming the foundation of AI-native software.

Alex, Dheeraj, and Amit also examine the evolution from SFT to RL to JEPA-style world models, the role of harnesses and benchmarks in measuring real progress, and why enterprise AI has moved decisively from research into engineering. The result is a candid, deeply technical conversation about what it will actually take to move beyond demos and build agents that work over long horizons.

Key Topics & Timestamps 

00:00 – Introduction, context, and holiday catch-up

04:00 – Teaching in the age of AI and why cognitive “exercise” still matters

08:00 – Industry sentiment: fear, trust, and skepticism around LLMs

12:00  – Memory in AI systems: documents, transcripts, and limits of recall

17:00  – Why forgetting is a feature, not a bug

22:00 – Advisor models and dynamic prompt augmentation

27:00 – Data vs metadata: control planes vs data planes in AI systems

32:00 – Personalization, rewards, and learning user preferences implicitly

37:00 – Why prompt-only workflows break down at scale

41:00 – RAG, advice, and moving beyond retrieval-centric systems

46:00 – Long-horizon agents and the limits of reflection-based prompting

51:00 – Environments, rewards, and agent-centric evaluation

56:00 – From Q&A benchmarks to agents that act in the world

1:01:00 – Terminal Bench, harnesses, and measuring real agent progress

1:06:00 – Frontier labs, open source, and the pace of change

1:11:00 – Context engineering as infrastructure (“the train tracks” analogy)

1:16:00 – Organizing agents: permissions, visibility, and enterprise structure

1:20:00 – SFT vs RL: imitation first, reinforcement last

1:25:00 – Anti-fragility, trial-and-error, and unsolved problems in continual learning

1:28:00 – Closing reflections on the future of long-horizon AI agents

Hosts:

Amit Prakash
CEO & Founder at AmpUp, Former engineer at Google AdSense and Microsoft Bing, with deep expertise in distributed systems, data platforms, and machine learning.

Dheeraj Pandey
Co-founder & CEO at DevRev, Former Co-founder & CEO of Nutanix. A systems thinker and product visionary focused on AI, software architecture, and the future of work.

Guest:

Alex Dimakis
Alex Dimakis is a Professor in UC Berkeley in the EECS department. He received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and the Diploma degree from NTU in Athens, Greece. He has published more than 150 papers and received several awards including the James Massey Award, NSF Career, a Google research award, the UC Berkeley Eli Jury dissertation award, and several best paper awards. He is an IEEE Fellow for contributions to distributed coding and learning. His research interests include Generative AI, Information Theory and Machine Learning. He co-founded Bespoke Labs, a startup focusing on data curation for specialized agents.

Follow the Hosts and the Guest: 

Dheeraj Pandey:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpandey

Twitter - https://x.com/dheeraj

Amit Prakash:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-prak...

Twitter - https://x.com/amitp42

Alex Dimakis:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-dima...

Twitter - https://x.com/AlexGDimakis           

Share Your Thoughts                                                                                          

Have questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes?
📩 Email us at [email protected]

Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of AI, systems, and product design.

In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, Amit Prakash and Dheeraj Pandey dive deep into one of the most important shifts happening in AI today: the convergence of structured and unstructured data, interfaces, and systems.

Together, they unpack how conversations—not CRM fields—hold the real ground truth; why schemas still matter in an AI-driven world; and how agents can evolve into true managers, coaches, and chiefs of staff for revenue teams. They explore the cognitive science behind visual vs conversational UI, the future of dynamically generated interfaces, and the product depth required to build enduring AI-native software.

Amit and Dheeraj break down the tension between deterministic and probabilistic systems, the limits of prompt-driven workflows, and why the future of enterprise AI is “both-and” rather than “either-or.” It’s a masterclass in modern product, data design, and the psychology of building intelligent tools.

Key Topics & Timestamps

 00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Why conversations—not CRM fields—hold real ground truth
05:00 – Reps as labelers and the parallels with AI training pipelines
08:00 – Business logic vs world models: defining meaning inside enterprises
11:00 – Prompts flatten nuance; schemas restore structure
14:00 – SQL schemas as the true model of a business
17:00 – CRM overload and the friction of rigid data entry
20:00 – AI agents that debrief and infer fields dynamically
23:00 – Capturing qualitative signals: champions, pain, intent
26:00 – Multi-source context: transcripts, email threads, Slack
29:00 – Why structure is required for math, aggregation, forecasting
32:00 – Aggregating unstructured data to reveal organizational issues
35:00 – Labels, classification, and the limits of LLM-only workflows
38:00 – Deterministic (SQL/Python) vs probabilistic (LLMs) systems
41:00 – Transitional workflows: humans + AI field entry
44:00 – Trust issues and the confusion of the early AI market
47:00 – Avoiding “Clippy moments” in agent design
50:00 – Latency, voice UX, and expectations for responsiveness
53:00 – Human-machine interface for SDRs vs senior reps
56:00 – Structured vs unstructured UI: cognitive science insights
59:00 – Charts vs paragraphs: parallel vs sequential processing
1:02:00 – The “Indian thali” dashboard problem and dynamic UI
1:05:00 – Exploration modes, drill-downs, and empty prompts
1:08:00 – Dynamic leaves, static trunk: designing hierarchy
1:11:00 – Both-and thinking: voice + visual, structured + unstructured
1:14:00 – Why “good enough” AI fails without deep product
1:17:00 – PLG, SLG, data access, and trust barriers
1:20:00 – Closing reflections and the future of AI-native software

Hosts: 

Amit Prakash – CEO and Founder at AmpUp, former engineer at Google AdSense and Microsoft Bing, with extensive expertise in distributed systems and machine learning

Dheeraj Pandey – Co-founder and CEO at DevRev, former Co-founder & CEO of Nutanix. A tech visionary with a deep interest in AI, systems, and the future of work.

Follow the Hosts:

Amit Prakash
LinkedIn – Amit Prakash I LinkedIn
Twitter/X – https://x.com/amitp42

Dheeraj Pandey
LinkedIn –Dheeraj Pandey | LinkedIn

 Twitter/X – https://x.com/dheeraj

Share your thoughts : 

Have questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes?
Email us at [email protected]

Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of AI, technology, and innovation.

In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, Amit Prakash sits down with Abhay Parasnis, Founder and CEO of Typeface, to explore how AI is reshaping marketing, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

Abhay reflects on his incredible journey from building foundational internet technologies at IBM, leading Microsoft’s Azure transformation, driving Adobe’s shift to the cloud, and now launching Typeface to personalize content creation at scale through generative AI.

He opens up about what it really means to start over after corporate success, the evolving definition of product-market fit in the AI era, and why speed, curiosity, and the beginner’s mind are the most important superpowers today.

Amit and Abhay discuss the “AI slop” problem, steering powerful models with context, unlearning corporate habits, and how the next generation of AI agents will move from orchestration to closed-loop intelligence.

Key Topics & Timestamps

 00:00 – Introduction
01:15 – Abhay’s journey: from IBM & Microsoft to Adobe and Typeface
05:40 – The beginner’s mind and the art of reinvention
10:25 – Leaving Adobe to start from scratch
15:30 – Risk, ego, and the emotional side of entrepreneurship
21:10 – Redefining product-market fit in an AI-driven world
27:45 – The “continuous recalibration” mindset for startups
33:30 – Solving “AI slop” with brand context and personalization
39:20 – Engineering challenges behind Typeface’s AI platform
46:00 – Why social engineering is as hard as technical innovation
51:15 – Lessons from Adobe & Microsoft: what to keep and unlearn
56:40 – Steering AI systems: the new critical skill
1:02:05 – Counterintuitive truths about creativity and automation
1:07:10 – Democratized AI vs. expertise — the paradox of access
1:11:00 – The future of marketing AI and closing thoughts

Host:

Amit Prakash – CEO and Founder at AmpUp, Co-Founder CTO at ThoughtSpot,former engineer at Google AdSense and Microsoft Bing, with extensive expertise in distributed systems and machine learning.

Guest:

Abhay Parasnis –Abhay Parasnis is the founder & CEO at Typeface.ai - a leading Enterprise Generative AI company. Abhay is also a board member at Dropbox & Schneider Electric. Additionally, abhay is an active early stage investor & advisor for various AI startups including Common Sense Machines, Perplexity.ai, Pecan.ai, Pindrop, Spawning & others. Previously, Abhay was the CTO, CPO & EVP of Adobe, from 2015 to 2022 & was General Manager at Microsoft for a decade from 2002-2011.

Follow the Hosts and the Guest:

• Amit Prakash
  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-prakash-50719a2/
  Twitter/X - https://x.com/amitp42
• Abhay Parasnis
  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhayparasnis/
  Twitter/X – https://x.com/parasnis

Share Your Thoughts:

Have questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of AI, technology, and innovation.

What drives real product growth—launching new features, or helping existing ones land? In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, Dheeraj Pandey and Amit Prakash sit down with Ken Rudin, former Head of Growth at Google, Facebook, Zynga, and ThoughtSpot, to unpack 15 years of lessons at the intersection of analytics and product.

Ken shares the story of how a simple nudge doubled Google Search engagement, why retention curves are the truest measure of product–market fit, and how startups should think about growth before and after finding PMF. Along the way, he introduces frameworks like ARIA (Analyze, Reduce, Introduce, Assist) and MUD (Meaningful, Unique, Defensible) to help founders systematize growth instead of chasing hacks.

From cross-selling in corner-store SaaS to the surprising power of changing a Google Ads hyphen into a vertical bar, this conversation shows why growth is less about tricks and more about rigorous, creative experimentation.

00:00 – Introduction: Ken’s career journey across Zynga, Facebook, Google, and ThoughtSpot

02:00 – The Google “Sports Scores” story: Nudges that doubled engagement

08:00 – Launches vs. Landings: Why most features stall without growth focus

15:00 – When to invest in growth: Signals post-PMF and small-team leverage

22:00 – Corner-store SaaS case study: Cross-sell, pricing insights, and awareness gaps

27:00 – Counterintuitive nudges: Google Ads and the “– vs. |” experiment

32:00 – Growth as a scientific process: Hypotheses, experiments, and iteration

35:00 – Retention curves as PMF: Engagement as the strongest proxy

43:00 – Common traps: Acquisition obsession and vanity metrics

55:00 – Differentiation with MUD: Meaningful, Unique, Defensible advantages

01:03:00 – The ARIA framework: Analyze, Reduce, Introduce, Assist

01:10:00 – Fun Q&A: TED Talks, awkwardness, posture, and Peter Gabriel

Ken Rudin – Growth and analytics leader with senior roles at Google, Facebook, Zynga, and ThoughtSpot. Advisor to startups on scaling growth and building data-driven teams.

Amit Prakash – Co-founder and CTO at ThoughtSpot, former engineer at Google AdSense and Microsoft Bing.

Amit Prakash
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-prakash-50719a2/
Twitter/X – https://x.com/amitp42

Ken Rudin

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenrudin/

Have questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of growth, analytics, and innovation.

Is AI truly delivering ROI, or are we just “burning tokens”? In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, Amit Prakash and Dheeraj Pandey unpack the MIT report that sparked debate on AI’s real impact and revisit the timeless dilemma of whether to build or buy.

They frame the conversation through a pyramid of adoption—from global enterprises with engineering armies, to mid-market firms that buy and configure, to SMBs seeking plug-and-play simplicity. Along the way, they explore the economics of “Supernovas” vs. “Shooting Stars” in AI startups, the integration struggles holding back the mid-market, and the consulting-heavy pitfalls of enterprise “project thinking.”

This candid discussion reflects on lessons from the dot-com era, the stubbornness of leaders like Jeff Bezos and Reed Hastings, and why iteration—not initial insight—defines whether AI experiments evolve into durable products.

Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction: Framing “Agent Season” and the MIT report

02:00 – The ROI Question: Burning tokens or building value?

03:00 – Why Iteration Matters More in AI Than Traditional Software

04:30 – The Pyramid of Adoption: Enterprises, Mid-Market, SMBs

08:00 – SMBs, Plug-and-Play AI, and Startup Archetypes

12:00 – Supernovas vs. Shooting Stars: Startup Economics

15:00 – Dot-Com Parallels and the Role of Cheap Capital

18:00 – Disillusionment and the Stubbornness of Leadership

21:00 – Infrastructure and Iteration Speed: Microsoft vs. Google

30:00 – Mid-Market Struggles: Integration and Context Problems

36:00 – A Warehouse for Work: RAG, Indexing, and Workflows

41:00 – The Consulting Trap in Enterprises

46:00 – Projects vs. Products: The Cultural Divide

51:00 – Internal Apps, Workflows, and the “Build” Mentality

53:00 – Adoption, Habits, and the Design Challenge

55:00 – Design Partnerships as Lifelines

57:00 – Final Reflections on the MIT Report & AI’s Future

Hosts:

• Dheeraj Pandey – Co-founder and CEO at DevRev, former Co-founder & CEO of Nutanix. A tech visionary with deep interest in AI, systems, and the future of work.
• Amit Prakash – Co-founder and CTO at ThoughtSpot, former engineer at Google AdSense and Microsoft Bing, with extensive expertise in distributed systems and machine learning.

Follow the Hosts:

• Dheeraj Pandey:
  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpandey/
  Twitter/X – https://x.com/dheeraj
• Amit Prakash:
  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-prakash-50719a2/
  Twitter/X – https://x.com/amitp42

Share Your Thoughts:
Have questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of AI, technology, and innovation.

How do you build a successful AI company in today's landscape? Do you go broad and build a horizontal platform for everyone, or do you go deep and create a vertical solution for a niche market?

In this episode, Dheeraj Pandey and Amit Prakash dive into one of the most critical strategic challenges facing founders today. They explore the paradox of needing broad context for AI to be intelligent, while also requiring sharp focus to find a buyer.

The discussion covers everything from distribution models (Product-Led Growth vs. Sales-Led Growth), the role of founder bias, the rise of the citizen developer, and why the most successful AI companies of the future, like the most effective leaders, will need to be "T-shaped."

Key Topics & Chapter Markers
[00:01:28] Welcome & Summer Recap
[00:08:04] Introducing the Core Theme: Breadth vs. Depth in AI
[00:10:28] The Technologist's Dilemma: Building a Horizontal Platform vs. a Vertical Solution
[00:12:05] The Paradox of AI: Needing Broad Context for Narrow Problems
[00:15:00] The Persona Problem: Building for a Builder vs. an End-User
[00:27:21] Go-to-Market Models: PLG vs. Forward-Deployed Engineering (SLG)
[00:32:40] Founder Bias: How Personal Ambition, Laziness, and Experience Shape Strategy
[00:42:55] The Hourglass Model: Let Chaos Reign, Then Reign in the Chaos
[00:49:19] Why Every SLG Company Must Have a PLG Motion to Prevent Churn
[00:50:21] The "T-Shaped" Metaphor for People and AI Products
[00:51:30] Context and Memory: Prompt Engineering vs. Fine-Tuning Models
[01:01:20] Finding Your Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM) vs. Total Addressable Market (TAM)
[01:04:40] The Power of "Unreasonable Hospitality" in Customer Focus
[01:06:00] Teaser for the Next Episode: A Deeper Dive into MCP vs. A2A Protocols

Hosts:
Dheeraj Pandey: Co-founder and CEO at DevRev, formerly Co-founder and CEO of Nutanix. A tech visionary with a deep interest in AI and systems thinking.

Amit Prakash: Co-founder and CTO at ThoughtSpot, formerly at Google AdSense and Bing, with extensive expertise in analytics and large-scale systems.

Follow the Hosts:
Dheeraj Pandey:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpandey
Twitter - https://x.com/dheeraj

Amit Prakash:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-prakash-50719a2/
Twitter - https://x.com/amitp42

Share Your Thoughts:
Have questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more in-depth discussions on AI, technology, and innovation!

In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, host Amit Prakash sits down with Professor Debdeep Jena, a leading expert in semiconductors, superconductors, and quantum devices at Cornell University. They explore the fascinating world of quantum computing, from its early 20th-century origins to its transformative potential in modern technology.

Professor Jena delves into key concepts of quantum physics and quantum computing, shedding light on quantum systems, qubits, and the challenges and promises of quantum hardware. With decades of experience in semiconductor research, he explains how quantum computing could revolutionize industries, from computational speed to energy efficiency.

In this conversation, they discuss:

• The birth of quantum mechanics and its evolution into quantum computing
• The role of qubits and superposition in quantum devices
• How quantum computing is tackling complex problems beyond classical computing
• Current advancements in quantum hardware and the roadblocks still ahead
• Professor Jena's perspective on the future of quantum technology and its potential impact on industries like AI, communications, and beyond

This episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about the future of quantum technology and its applications in modern science and industry. Professor Jena provides unique insights into how quantum systems are poised to transform computing, energy efficiency, and even artificial intelligence. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a student of physics, or a professional exploring the frontier of quantum technology, this conversation is packed with invaluable knowledge.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, Entanglement, and the Role of Information in Physics
05:00 – Classical Computation vs. Quantum Computation: Understanding the Basics of Classical and Quantum Bits
12:00 – The Role of Information Erasure and Its Link to Energy Loss in Classical Computing
18:00 – Superposition and Entanglement: The Basis of Quantum Computation
25:00 – Bell's Theorem and the EPR Paradox: Understanding Quantum Nonlocality
32:00 – Quantum Measurement and the Challenge of Formulating the Right Questions in Quantum Computation
40:00 – Shor’s Algorithm and the Promise of Quantum Speedup for Prime Factorization
45:00 – Practical Quantum Computing: Grover’s Algorithm and the Search Problem
52:00 – The Need for Quantum Error Correction and the Problem of Decoherence in Quantum Systems
58:00 – Superconducting Qubits: The Technology Behind Quantum Hardware
1:05:00 – The Challenges of Packing More Qubits: Coherence Time and Integration of Quantum Systems
1:12:00 – Temperature and Cooling Requirements for Superconducting Qubits
1:20:00 – Advances in Quantum Error Correction and Strategies for Scaling Quantum Devices
1:28:00 – Future Directions for Quantum Computing: Materials Science, Algorithms, and Hardware Innovations
1:35:00 – Schrödinger’s Cat: Exploring Quantum Superposition in a Philosophical Context
1:45:00 – The Double-Slit Experiment: Quantum Interference and the Nature of Quantum Systems
1:50:00 – The Future of Quantum Computing: Overcoming Challenges and Expanding Practical Applications
2:00:00 – Concluding Thoughts on the Impact of Quantum Mechanics on Modern Technology and the Future of Computing

Hosts:
Amit Prakash: Co-founder and CTO at ThoughtSpot, former engineer at Google and Microsoft, and expert in distributed systems and machine learning.

Guest:
Professor Debdeep Jena: David E. Burr Professor of Engineering at Cornell University, expert in semiconductors, superconductors, and quantum devices.

Follow the Hosts and Guest:

Amit Prakash: LinkedIn | X
Debdeep Jena: LinkedIn

Have questions or thoughts on AI? Drop us a mail at [email protected]

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insightful conversations on the future of technology and innovation!

In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, hosts Dheeraj Pandey and Amit Prakash sit down with Harpinder "Happy" Singh, AI/ML Engineer at DevRev, to explore the future of AI and machine learning in business automation. Happy, who joined DevRev in 2021, shares his journey from computer science to AI, discussing how DevRev is leveraging cutting-edge technologies like large language models (LLMs) and function calling to streamline enterprise workflows.

Happy breaks down the key concepts of AI-driven workflows, the debate between federated and integrated systems, and the growing importance of Python in AI. He also shares insights from the CodeAct paper, which proposes using Python code execution for more efficient and flexible LLMs. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in enterprise automation and how it is reshaping industries.

They also cover:

• The evolution of AI at DevRev: From workflows to AI-driven automation
• The role of Python in executing complex tasks for LLMs
• Understanding the user-agent-environment model in AI systems
• How federated vs. integrated systems impact AI performance
• The future of AI in enterprise automation and DevRev’s innovations
• Happy’s decision to stay in India and the growing tech ecosystem in India

This episode provides valuable insights into how AI is transforming business operations, making complex workflows more efficient and accessible. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a developer, or a business leader, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the next wave of AI-driven innovation.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Harpinder "Happy" Singh & His Journey into AI

03:00 – Happy’s Early Background: From Shahjahanpur to BITS Pilani

06:30 – Transition to AI at DevRev

09:30 – Bangalore Life and Growing with DevRev

13:00 – AI in India vs. the US

18:00 – Federated vs. Integrated Systems: Which Approach Works Best for AI?

25:00 – The Role of Python in AI

32:00 – User, Agent, and Environment Model in AI

39:30 – The CodeAct Paper: Replacing Tool Calls with Python Code Execution

47:00 – AI in Enterprise Automation: How DevRev Uses AI to Streamline Workflows

54:00 – Looking Ahead at DevRev’s AI Innovations

1:00:00 – Final Reflections: The Future of AI in Business and Automation

Hosts:
Dheeraj Pandey: Co-founder and CEO at DevRev, formerly CEO of Nutanix, a tech visionary passionate about AI and systems thinking.
Amit Prakash: Co-founder and CTO at ThoughtSpot, former engineer at Google and Microsoft, and expert in distributed systems and machine learning.

Guest:
Harpinder Jot Singh: AI/ML Engineer at DevRev, working on the cutting edge of large language models (LLMs), AI-driven workflows, and integrating AI into enterprise systems.

Follow the Host and the Guest:

Dheeraj Pandey: LinkedIn | X

Amit Prakash: LinkedIn | X

Harpinder Singh: LinkedIn

Have questions or thoughts on AI? Drop us a mail at [email protected]

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into the future of AI, business automation, and enterprise technology!

Episode 13 | The Effortless Podcast

In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, hosts Dheeraj Pandey and Amit Prakash sit down with Dr. Sonika Johri, Founder and CEO of Coherent Computing, to dive deep into the revolutionary world of quantum computing. Dr. Johri, a physicist with a PhD in condensed matter physics from Princeton University, takes us on her journey from engineering physics at IIT Delhi to becoming a leading figure in the quantum industry, having worked at Intel and IonQ.

Sonika explains the core concepts of quantum computing—superposition, entanglement, and the quantum state space—and how they fundamentally change how we approach complex problems in fields like chemistry, material science, and AI. She discusses the future potential of quantum technologies, including the exciting prospects for Quantum AI and the shift in programming paradigms as we move from low-level machine code to higher-level abstractions.

They also cover: 

• The evolution of quantum hardware: From small qubits to scaling quantum systems
• What makes quantum computing different from classical computing
• The intersection of quantum computing and artificial intelligence 
• Sonika’s mission to democratize quantum through Coherent Computing
• The current state of quantum software and the tools that will shape the future

This episode offers insights into quantum computing, AI, and how these emerging technologies will reshape the future of computing. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, developer, or entrepreneur, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about the next frontier in technology.

Key Topics & Timestamps:
[00:00] – Introduction to Dr. Sonika Johri & Her Journey into Quantum Tech

[03:00] – Sonika’s early influences: Einstein and IIT Delhi

[06:30] – Understanding Condensed Matter Physics

[12:00] – Quantum Computing vs Classical Computing

[20:00] – How Quantum Can Solve Complex Problems (Chemistry, Optimization, AI)

[28:00] – Quantum Hardware: The Role of Qubits and Their Physical Realization

[35:00] – Programming Quantum Computers: From Low-Level Gates to High-Level Abstractions

[43:00] – Building Quantum Applications: Real-World Use Cases from IonQ and Coherent Computing

[52:00] – The Future of Quantum AI: Machine Learning and Quantum Reasoning

[1:00:00] – Quantum's Impact on Cryptography and Data Security

[1:05:00] – The Mission of Coherent Computing: Making Quantum Accessible

[1:12:00] – Looking Ahead: Future Episodes on Quantum Computing and AI

[1:20:00] – Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts

Hosts:
Dheeraj Pandey: Co-founder and CEO at DevRev, formerly CEO of Nutanix, a tech visionary passionate about AI and systems thinking.
Amit Prakash: Co-founder and CTO at ThoughtSpot, former engineer at Google and Microsoft, and expert in distributed systems and machine learning.

Guest:
Dr. Sonika Johri: Founder and CEO of Coherent Computing, a quantum software startup aiming to make quantum models accessible through developer-friendly tools. Formerly at Intel and IonQ, Sonika brings her experience in building quantum software and applications for industries like finance, chemistry, and optimization.

Follow the Host and the Guest:

Dheeraj Pandey: LinkedIn | X

Amit Prakash: LinkedIn | X

Dr. Sonika Johri: LinkedIn | X

Have questions or thoughts on quantum computing? Drop us a mail at [email protected]

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the future of technology, AI, and quantum computing!

In this episode of The Effortless Podcast, host Dheeraj Pandey sits down with Bipul Sinha, co-founder and CEO of Rubrik, to explore the power of relentless innovation, first-principles thinking, and continuous reinvention.

Bipul shares his journey from Oracle to venture capital, his transition from investor to entrepreneur, and the bold thinking behind Rubrik’s evolution from backup and recovery to cybersecurity and AI-driven data protection. He and Dheeraj reflect on lessons from Larry Ellison, the shifting tech landscape, and the importance of being non-consensus in building transformative businesses.

They also discuss:
🔹 The power of controversial ideas and why misunderstanding is a sign of innovation
🔹 How converging backup and security is reshaping enterprise cyber resilience
🔹 Why businesses must think backwards to execute forwards
🔹 The role of AI in simplifying cybersecurity and data management
🔹 Insights on US Federal, global markets, and the changing economic landscape

This episode is packed with wisdom on leadership, risk-taking, and the mindset needed to challenge the status quo. If you're a founder, investor, or technologist, this conversation will redefine how you think about disruption and reinvention.

• [00:00] – Are you creating the future or burdened by the past?
• [02:00] – Oracle memories: The Larry Ellison mindset & first-principles thinking
• [09:00] – The leap from venture capital to entrepreneurship
• [16:00] – Why big ideas must be controversial to create true value
• [24:00] – The evolution of Rubrik: From backup to cybersecurity to AI
• [31:00] – The power of change & why businesses must continuously reinvent
• [40:00] – AI & cybersecurity: Why protecting data is the new frontier
• [50:00] – Lessons from global markets, US Federal, and economic shifts
• [58:00] – Adhogami vs. Urdhogami: The danger of relying on the past

Host:

Dheeraj Pandey: Co-founder and CEO at DevRev, formerly Co-founder and CEO of Nutanix. A tech visionary with a deep interest in AI and systems thinking.

Guest:

Biplu Sinha: Co-founder and CEO of Rubrik, and former venture capitalist at Lightspeed and Blumberg. Bipul is an entrepreneur and investor with deep expertise in enterprise software, cybersecurity, and data management. Passionate about building enduring institutions and pioneering first-principles innovation.

Follow the Host and the Guest:

Dheeraj Pandey:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpandey

Twitter - https://x.com/dheeraj

Bipul Sinha:

LinkedIn -https://linkedin.com/in/bipulsinha

Twitter - https://x.com/bipulrsinha
 

Share Your Thoughts:

Have questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected]

Don’t forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more in-depth discussions on AI, technology, and innovation!