What’s the Point of EkStep and India’s AI Mission? | Ft. Shankar Maruwada

Описание: In this episode of What’s the Point, we sit down with Shankar Maruwada — Co-Founder and CEO at EkStep Foundation, and one of the key architects behind Aadhaar — for a conversation that goes far beyond technology. This is a story about vision, purpose, and what it truly means to build for 1.4 billion people.

From his early days selling soap at P&G to co-creating one of the world’s largest digital identity systems, Shankar’s journey is anything but conventional. Now, through EkStep, he’s harnessing the power of AI to drive inclusion at scale — using technology not just to innovate, but to uplift.

We explore how India's greatest advantage may lie in its digital public infrastructure — a system that connects “India” and “Bharat”, enabling meaningful access across languages, geographies, and social divides. From voice-enabled payments to AI-powered education, this episode dives into how purposeful technology can become a great equaliser.

If you're curious about the intersection of technology, equity, and impact — or simply want to hear from someone building for real-world change — this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Video timestamp:

00:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome
01:55 – Aadhaar to EkStep: The Journey
05:43 – What Is EkStep Really About?
08:50 – ChatGPT Shock & India’s AI Moment
12:03 – AI for Bharat vs AI for India
15:54 – Why I Chose Philanthropy Over Profit
17:55 – Reaching 200M: The Diksha Story
21:33 – DPI × AI = India's Superpower
24:42 – Designing Tech That Actually Works
27:10 – India Doesn’t Need a Google
31:07 – AI and the Solo Startup Era
34:28 – What India Can Learn from the West
37:39 – The Future of UPI & Aadhaar
41:32 – IDs in the Age of AI Agents
43:31 – Shankar’s Favourite AI Use Case
47:15 – Don’t Fear AI, Learn With It
48:32 – Journalism, Regulation & Open Source
53:52 – Autonomous Vehicles in Bangalore?
55:10 – Final Thoughts & Outro

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