The Revolution of Artificial Intelligence : Prof. Lipika’s Journey of Transition and Innovation

Q1. Could you describe your professional journey and share any memorable experiences or insights that have shaped your career?

I am not sure whether a professional journey can be described as a “joy ride”, but that’s how mine has felt – challenging, exciting, and entertaining! Having completed a PhD in Artificial Intelligence in the early nineties, I have lived through the AI winter to enjoy the AI spring. Throughout the eighties and nineties, computing was mostly about numbers. AI was present in laboratories, but was slowly going out of fashion. However, the success of search engines and the introduction of Web 2.0 led to an explosion of non-numerical data in the form of text, images, videos and graph networks. Industries became interested in gathering intelligence from this kind of data, waking Artificial Intelligence from hibernation. I was then teaching at IIT Delhi and saw this as a golden opportunity to move to industry from academia. We worked on generating analytical insights from complex, heterogeneous data. Language processing technologies were maturing, but many problems remained unsolved, keeping our research plates full. Now, with generative AI, we see yet another paradigm shift. AI technologies have moved to the forefront, right into the hands of end-users. The research problems have also shifted. The excitement of it all prompted me to make another shift in my career– this time back from industry to academia! In a nutshell – I have always ensured that there was never a dull moment in my career, even if it meant making unorthodox moves.

Q2. How did your early education in Mathematics and Computer Science at IIT Kharagpur influence your career trajectory in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics? How do you think these areas can help you answer important questions in the fields of healthcare and sustainability analytics?

My training in Mathematics and Computer Science has enabled me to be both an abstract thinker and a problem-solver. Mathematics strengthens logical reasoning, while computer science provides skills in computational theory, algorithm design, software development, and systems understanding. There is no magic in a computer solving a problem, including in Artificial Intelligence, which is grounded in Probability theory, Statistics, Optimization, Information theory, and Machine learning. These theories, applied in data-driven ways, have transformed AI. My journey has been continuous, always learning and integrating new knowledge, and IIT Kharagpur prepared me to be a lifelong learner.

In any organization today, over 95% of data is textual, including communications, project reports, feedback, and training documents. Text is a primary form of communication in healthcare, with data locked in prescriptions, nursing reports, radiology and pathology reports, and extensive biomedical literature. Natural Language Processing (NLP) is crucial here, as it enhances predictive and personalized healthcare applications while adding explainability and interpretability. While numbers record health events, text provides information about causes, interventions, responses, adverse effects, and prognostic pathways.

In sustainability analysis, besides energy consumption and generation data, sales and marketing numbers, and pollution data, much supplementary information is locked in company reports, media and public forums, and regulatory agency reports. These sources offer insights about actions, risks, threats, and opportunities. NLP technology unlocks these insights. Previously, my focus was on seamlessly integrating multi-source heterogeneous information for decision-making. Now, with generative AI, we envision generating possible futures, analyzing them from multiple perspectives, and choosing the best one for realization.

Q3. Receiving the Distinguished Scientist award by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 2012 is a significant achievement. What does this recognition mean to you and your work, and can you also share insights on your involvement with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)?

Being recognized by peers is a tremendous morale boost and inspires one to push boundaries. Working at TCS Research was highly rewarding for the opportunities to tackle diverse real-life problems, making the experience invaluable.

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society. ACM (India) advances computing within the country in collaboration with the global body. As an Eminent Speaker, I disseminate knowledge in my research areas and organize academic conferences. I’ve also been actively involved with ACM(W) in India since inception, supporting women computing professionals.

Q4. What led you to be actively involved in activities related to promoting women in STEM? Why do you think this is significant?

Coming from a privileged background, it took me time to realize the world was not as fair as I thought. As a faculty member at IIT Delhi, I met female students and colleagues who faced severe hurdles in pursuing their careers. While balancing a demanding job and a small child was tough for me, I had the freedom and strength to persevere— something many girls lacked. In the industry, the situation was similar. Very few women had the grit and mental make-up to continue against adversarial social circumstances, compounded by inadequate training and workplace adversities.

When ACM(W) was formed in India in 2013, a few of us were invited to be founding members. Unlike in the West, studying science is not a taboo for Indian girls, but they struggle with managing careers, households, and social expectations. Our goal was to design programs that instill self-confidence and the desire to be self-reliant, providing equity before equality. We have seen positive changes, but some issues persist and new ones arise. We continually evolve programs to address these challenges.

Q5. How do you think Ashoka University will contribute to your professional trajectory as you continue your academic journey?

As AI reshapes the landscape of technology, it is also changing the core fabric of society. Future technologists must focus on human-centric system design, as technology will be widely used for solving day to day problems. From education to health, no aspect of human life is likely to be immune from its effects. This has necessitated scientists to take a relook at this technology from philosophical, social and cultural points of view. Ashoka University with its strong footing in liberal arts can be the ideal catalyst to nurture this process.

AI will change existing socio-cultural and economic norms, behavioral patterns and the design paradigms. However, ethical concerns about indiscriminate use of AI technology are significant. Like all powerful technologies, it has the potential to play havoc. Content created with malintention can wreck the society. As it becomes difficult to segregate the real from the fake, security concerns are on the rise. Data-driven technologies also threaten copyrights. AI is now not only about science, but also about ethics, responsibility, social insights and humanity. I believe Ashoka stands perfectly poised to help me explore deep into the applications of AI, its effects and thereby also shape the future of AI.

Interviewee: Lipika Dey, Professor of Computer Science, Ashoka University
Interviewers: Ms Kangna Verma and Dr. Yukti Arora (Academic Communications, RDO, Ashoka University)