Vidhi Chugh is a renowned global AI thought leader and innovator with expertise in the intersection of product development, sciences, and engineering. Her contributions to AI and ML solutions have significantly helped organizations enhance their decision-making processes, making business operations smarter and more efficient. Besides, she is heading a global initiative with AI4Diversity to educate communities of color about AI. Her recognition as one of the “World’s Top 200 Business and Technology Innovators” speaks volumes about her impact in the field of artificial intelligence. As an AI changemaker and a future CIO, Vidhi has established herself as a forefront figure in tech innovation.
Additionally, her listing as a “Women to Watch” by Women in Analytics and inclusion in the “Women in AI Ethics” global directory highlight her as an exemplary leader, inspiring women in technology and ethics globally. She passionately promotes the inclusion and growth of women in STEM and has been featured on “Million Stem” as an inspiration for the next-gen. She has also served as a Global Ambassador for the Women in Data Science (WiDS) in partnership with Stanford University and is recognized with “Global AI Inclusion” award for making significant contributions to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Vidhi shared her professional trajectory, insights on diversity and inclusion in tech, her favorite quote, future plans, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Vidhi. What inspired you to pursue a career in AI?
From the earliest days of my career, I found myself questioning inefficiencies and repetitive tasks—things I felt could easily be handled by machines. Whether it was simple automation or leveraging algorithms to uncover patterns, I was always drawn to the idea of delegating mundane tasks to technology, enabling humans to focus on creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
This ideology has always resonated with me, and AI felt like a natural fit. I have been a data person for a long time that eventually got extended to building AI algorithms.
What aspects of your current role bring you the most joy and fulfillment?
What truly fulfils me in my current role is the ability to create and implement AI solutions that truly transform how we work and think. I love the challenge of translating business problems that are often abstract into actionable innovations—seeing concepts evolve into tools that empower not just organizations, but also the teams I work with.
It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the impact of these solutions, from streamlining processes to enabling people to focus on strategic and creative endeavors. Collaborating with talented minds and watching technology amplify human potential is what makes this journey so meaningful for me.
What role do you see AI playing in driving social impact and positive change?
I have always believed that technology is supposed to serve humanity — that is its sole purpose. Similarly, when it comes to AI — I see it creating positive change by addressing some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Thinking of some of the ways it is already being put to good use, it is making a significant impact in following key areas —
* Improving access to quality education through personalized learning platforms
* Enhancing healthcare with predictive diagnostics and treatment plans
Moreover, for AI to be a true force for good, responsible AI principles must be embedded by design — that implies designing and implementing them with fairness, transparency, and inclusivity at its core.
What impact do you believe increased diversity and inclusion would have on innovation, creativity, and progress in your industry?
For a technology as transformative as AI, it is even more important to include diverse and inclusive teams — for when people from varied backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives come together — not only do they bring their unique insights, but also challenge the status quo that helps bring change at the grassroots level.
Such diversity of thought is the catalyst of change for good, building solutions that serve the global audience and not just a selected few.
By creating solutions that treat everyone equally, take everyone together — one where everyone feels valued and heard, we don’t just build better technologies, but also a better future.
Who has been a personal role model or mentor to you throughout your career?
Being a data-person, my role model is Mr. Ram Kumar for his thoroughness and advocacy on the significance of multiple tenets of data.
How do you stay ahead of the curve in terms of emerging AI trends and technologies, and what role do you see AI playing in shaping the future of your organization?
Being a lifelong learner, I dedicate 1-2 hours everyday to stay on top of what’s latest happening in the industry — be it through reading research papers or fellow visionaries’ thoughts.
How do you keep your mind healthy and stay resilient? And how do you motivate your team?
I practice mindfulness and deep breathing exercises, but what I truly enjoy that benefits me a lot as an AI leader — is going for a walk into nature.
Walking brings mental clarity and helps structure thoughts while planning my day.
What is your favorite quote?
“What got you here, won’t get you there”
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Pandemic has been a great teacher for all of us, that highlighted how building plans can take their own shape and path. Therefore, I prefer being serendipitous as it has served me well throughout my career.
What advice would you give to young women who are interested in following in your footsteps?
We all are constantly learning from each other and growing together, and along this journey, we develop our own unique approaches. I am glad to share what worked for me:
* I strongly believe in the power of narratives. The narratives we construct not only shape how we present ourselves to others but gradually influence our self-perception. Out of all the people who can doubt you or your skills, it certainly should not be you. Whether someone stands with you or not, you must be your cheerleader.
* Own your career; nobody will come to make it easy for you. Step out of your comfort zone, raise your hand, and say “yes” to challenges. Learn from others – networking plays a big role now. The power of networking cannot be overstated—engage with peers, mentors, and industry experts, and gain insights into their projects and the technologies they are exploring.
* My insatiable curiosity has been a driving force, and I advocate for adopting a mindset of lifelong learning. Given the profound and expansive nature of AI, it’s impossible to know everything. Approaching each problem with a lens of curiosity and consistently questioning the status quo – offers a fresh perspective that often leads to innovative solutions.