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NxtWave's Podcast with Akshat Kumar

🏆 NxtWave has an energetic student community of thousands of students who started learning early in college and aspire to build a great career in technology. [

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Through these sessions, we aim to engage students on different topics and help them build a better perspective on how these technologies can impact the real-world scenarios.

Duration - 60 minutes

Speaker profile

Akshat Kumar

Machine Learning Engineer, Intel Corporation

IISc, Computational and Data Sciences

AIR 206 with GATE score 798.

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Akshat’s LinkedIn⁠

Host profile

Avinash Dara

Head of Product, NxtWave

Ex- NVIDIA | iB Hubs | IIIT Hyderabad

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LinkedIn⁠

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Theme-AI for Everyone: Becoming the Driver, not the Replaced

Introduction & Setting the Stage

Goal: Set the tone, introduce the guest, and spark curiosity.

Host Introduction Welcome to Academy podcast series. Today, we have a very special guest — Akshat Kumar, a Machine Learning Engineer at Intel and a research scholar at IISc. Akshat has a fascinating journey from non-CS background to becoming a key player in AI and machine learning.

Akshat, thank you for joining us today! We’re excited to hear about your journey from your early education to becoming a key part of Intel's AI team. Could you please share how you started, and how your education and early experiences helped shape your career?

You have also interned briefly as a Journalist, its quite interesting, would love to know more about it.

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Section 1 — Navigating the Tech World: From College to Intel

Goal: Discuss Akshat's early journey, schooling, and how he ventured into the tech world.

Akshat, you’ve worked in multiple fields and have now built a strong career at Intel. How did you transition from your college days into the world of tech, especially with your initial background in Printing Engineering?

Questions:

You scored AIR 206 in GATE 2021, even though you were from a different background. What was your experience like preparing for GATE, and how did your college life influence your decision to switch paths?

Do you think that non-CS students have a unique perspective when entering AI, and how did your background help you in that sense?

At IISc, you’ve been involved in AI research. What are some of the biggest breakthroughs you’ve worked on?

Many students are unsure about research as a career path. Can you share why you think research in AI is so important, and what kind of work you're doing that could impact industries?

You have also worked on 15+ projects, can you share about some of your best work and how it added value to your career?

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Section 2- AI: Not Just for Engineers — A Roadmap for All Students

Goal: Discuss how students from various backgrounds can engage with AI and tech, not just engineers.

AI is often seen as something for engineers, but it’s actually a field that spans various disciplines. Akshat, how do you think students from all backgrounds can engage with AI?

What do you think are the essential skills that students from all fields can develop to get started in the field of AI?

speaker notes- can share anecdotes from your experience

With AI changing every industry, what are some future AI applications and advancements you find most exciting and how can students prepare to be part of these?

Can you also share your personal roadmap to AI, what worked and what did not?

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Section 3- AI Today and Tomorrow: Becoming the Driver, Not the Replaced

AI is rapidly transforming industries and the job market. Akshat, we’ve all heard the concern: ‘Will AI replace human jobs?’ But we know it’s not just about being replaced — it’s about learning to drive AI. How do you see the future of AI evolving, what skills should students develop today to ensure that they’re not just working with AI, but actively shaping and driving it?

AI is often seen as a tool to assist humans, but it also has the potential to take over many tasks. In your opinion, what separates the AI creators from the AI users, and how can students set themselves apart as creators?

In the future, AI-driven jobs will require a different set of skills. What areas do you think will thrive in an AI-dominated world, and how can students position themselves to excel in those areas?

Example Discussion:

Could you share an example of a task or role where AI will definitely be an asset, but human ingenuity will always be required? How does this blend of AI and human intelligence shape future careers?

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Section 4- Fun Segment: "3 Things" Section

Now, let’s switch gears and dive into our ‘3 Things’ Section. We’ll ask you to give us your top 3 recommendations on various things

3 books you would recommend every student in tech or AI should read?

3 things you do to stay motivated

3 AI tools all students must explore and use

your 3 go-to sources for AI news

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Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts

Goal: End with actionable advice and motivational closing.

Akshat, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you today. As we close, could you share one key piece of advice for students looking to pursue AI or tech careers?

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