Nikhil Malhotra, Chief Innovation Officer & Global Head Of AI And Emerging Technologies At Tech Mahindra On AI, Courage & Innovation

In this engaging episode of Discover Dialogues, Sr. Marketing Director and Editor-in-Chief at TechDogs sits down with Nikhil Malhotra, Chief Innovation Officer & Global Head of AI and Emerging Technologies at Tech Mahindra, to discuss AI, leadership, and the art of turning bold ideas into real-world impact.

Nikhil brings over 20 years of experience in technology, having worked with global organizations like IBM and now leading groundbreaking initiatives at Tech Mahindra. He is the visionary behind Project INDUS, India’s own Large Language Model initiative, and spearheads Makers Lab, Tech Mahindra’s R&D hub, which recently celebrated 11 years of innovation, experimentation, and cross-disciplinary breakthroughs.

Throughout the episode, Nikhil shares insights into the current state and future of AI, highlighting the limitations of today’s systems. According to him, AI is still a “stochastic parrot,” capable of generating probabilistic responses but lacking true common sense, context, and human-like understanding. He explains why we are still decades away from achieving full intelligence in machines, and why human ingenuity, imagination, and creativity remain critical.

The conversation also covers the humble beginnings and evolution of Makers Lab. From a small experimental setup to a global network of labs, Makers Lab has become a platform where ideas are tested, failure is embraced as feedback, and innovation is applied to solve real-world problems. Nikhil emphasizes that the lab is not just a tech space, but a cultural hub fostering curiosity, courage, and collaboration.

Key topics discussed in the episode include:
 

• AI Potential and Limitations: Understanding why current AI is probabilistic, not sentient, and how ethical, inclusive AI can be built.

• Innovation Leadership: Lessons in risk-taking, scaling R&D, and cultivating a culture that balances experimentation with practical outcomes.

• Translational Research in Action: Examples include agricultural solutions, dialect preservation, and AI-driven COVID therapeutic research, demonstrating how applied AI can have tangible societal impact.

• Advice for Next-Gen Innovators: Nikhil emphasizes foundational skills in mathematics, science, and engineering, combined with imagination and courage, as essential for the innovators of tomorrow.

• Global and Indian AI Context: How India can leapfrog in AI adoption through translational research, context-aware models, and ethical frameworks, rather than simply copying global approaches.

This episode is designed for tech leaders, researchers, AI enthusiasts, and students who want actionable insights on innovation, leadership, and AI strategy. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how AI can be responsibly applied, how innovation labs drive real impact, and how courage and persistence shape technology leadership.
 

About Nikhil Malhotra

Nikhil Malhotra is the Chief Innovation Officer & Global Head of AI and Emerging Technologies at Tech Mahindra, where he leads global AI strategy and oversees cutting-edge technology initiatives. He is the visionary behind Project INDUS, India’s flagship large language model, and heads Makers Lab, Tech Mahindra’s R&D hub that recently celebrated 11 years of innovation. With over two decades of experience spanning IBM, and Tech Mahindra, Nikhil combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership, driving projects that translate research into real-world impact while shaping the next generation of technology leaders.