Leaders in Tech Podcast. Embracing and Investing in AI Technology

Our Head of Engineering and AI, Naveen Bhati recently spoke to Ghazal Mayahi on the Marks Sattin ‘Leaders In Tech’ podcast. They discuss how tiQtoQ is embracing and investing in advancing AI technology. Here's a summary of what they discussed.

GM: Thank you so much for joining us, Naveen. How are you doing?

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NB: Good, thanks, Ghazal. Thanks for having me here.

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GM: Amazing! It would be great if you could give the listeners a bit more insight into your background and your journey in to technology.

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NB: Sure! Hi, everyone, I’m Naveen. I’ve been in tech for around 13 years now. I’ve worn various hats - developer, product engineer, QA, DevOps - you name it. I’m passionate about building products that not only work, but also truly solve problems and add value for users.

Right now, I’m leading initiatives as Head of Engineering and AI at my current company, tiQtoQ. We’re working on creating AI-powered, self-serve products to tackle challenges in software engineering and QA. I’m looking forward to our discussion today. 

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GM: Amazing! Today’s discussion is about the past and future of technology. From your impressive journey, I’m sure you’ve witnessed advancements that you didn’t expect. Looking ahead, what emerging technologies do you think will revolutionise the tech industry in the next 3 to 5 years?

NB: Let’s start with the obvious—AI. The tech landscape is being reshaped by AI, and its impact is only going to grow. While 2023 was the year of AI hype, I believe we’ve only scratched the surface of AI’s potential.

In the next 3 to 5 years, AI will move from being a buzzword to a universal tool, fundamentally changing how we approach problem-solving, innovation, and creativity. For example:

  •  We’re seeing the transformational power of LLMs and generative AI in code generation, data analysis, and intelligence.

  •  As AI becomes more specialised, tools will become smaller and more efficient, like tiny LLMs that are nearly as capable as large ones.

In software development, AI tools can:

  •  Generate code.

  •  Predict and prevent bugs.

  •  Optimise performance.

  •  Architect entire systems based on high-level requirements.

This dramatically speeds up the development lifecycle while allowing engineers and QA professionals to focus on creative and strategic work.

GM: That’s incredible. Are there any other emerging technologies you’re watching closely?

NB: Yes, although I’m no expert in these areas. Technologies like:

  •  Quantum computing: Promising breakthroughs in areas like cryptography, but practical use cases are years away.

  •  Web3 and crypto: Slowly evolving, with potential impacts on digital ownership and decentralisation.

  •  The metaverse: Offers exciting immersive possibilities, but widespread adoption is still far off.

At tiQtoQ, we’re actively preparing for these changes byinvesting in AI capabilities. Our focus is on creating tools that augment engineering and QA capabilities rather than replace them, boosting productivity and efficiency.

GM: Advancements like these bring challenges too.What challenges do you anticipate arising from emerging technologies in the next few years?

NB: AI specifically poses some pressing challenges:

  1.  Data quality and bias: Ensuring AI systems aretrained on diverse, unbiased datasets to avoid perpetuating biases.

  2.  Explainability: Critical for AI systems used indecision-making (e.g., lending, hiring).

  3.  Security: Protecting against threats like prompt injections and securing AI systems from manipulation.

  4.  Talent shortages: The demand for skilled AI professionals far outweighs the supply.

At tiQtoQ, we’re addressing these challenges by:

  •  Upskilling our team in AI and related technologies.

  •  Developing AI-powered solutions tailored to real-world challenges in software development and QA.

GM: Do you have advice for candidates looking to enter the AI field?

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NB: Start with free courses from companies like Microsoft,Google, and NVIDIA. A great starting point is Microsoft’s “AI for Beginners.” Next, gain hands-on experience in AI tools and languages like Python and R. Depending on your focus, you can tailor your learning to:

  •  Consulting.

  •  Machine learning engineering.

  •  Data science.

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‍GM: How do you see AI impacting the future of work,and how can organisations prepare?

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NB: AI will augment rather than replace jobs, automating repetitive tasks and freeing up time for creative, high-value activities. To prepare, organisations need to:

  •  Upskill and reskill their workforce.

  •  Redefine roles and processes.

  •  Focus on ethical AI development.

  •  Ensure data readiness.

I’ve created a mnemonic to remember these: DIGITS—Data, Integrity, Governance, Infrastructure, Talent, and Security.

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GM: You’ve given us so much to think about, Naveen. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

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NB: We’ve covered a lot—AI, ethics, governance, and more. Each topic deserves its own deep dive. Thank you so much for having me!

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GM: It’s been a pleasure. Thank you

Please get in touch to learn more