“AI gives you wings,” “Wrong things in, rogue things out,” and “Each one, teach one.” From “What is this?” to an indispensable companionIn this episode of Software People Stories – AI and Me, I speak with Ramesh Rajagopal about how AI has moved from something unfamiliar and experimental to an everyday companion that helps him learn, explore, solve problems and make decisions. Ramesh describes his relationship with AI through some wonderful analogies—from Jeeves and Man Friday to Hanuman—capturing how quickly AI has become his go-to source for help. From information search to personal problem solvingOne of Ramesh’s most interesting observations is how dramatically AI has changed access to information. While exploring the life and legacy of Malcolm X, he was able to ask a series of questions and quickly understand what happened to Malcolm X’s family, his organisation and the events surrounding his assassination—something that would previously have required hours of searching. But it is his very real-world examples that bring the conversation alive. When a huge tree fell on the compound of his property in Bengaluru during heavy rains, Ramesh used AI to figure out whom to contact, which numbers to call and what options were available. After several attempts, the right contact was eventually found and the tree was cleared. And when his Lenovo laptop froze, he simply asked AI what to do, followed the instructions and fixed it himself. These moments led to perhaps the most powerful insight of the conversation: AI gives you wings. AI as a thinking partnerRamesh also uses AI to explore alternatives and support decision-making. Whether it is designing a solution for people travelling from India to the US, evaluating different approaches, or looking at investment decisions, he uses AI to generate options, compare pros and cons and structure his thinking. But he draws an important boundary: The human remains in the loop. AI can provide alternatives and analysis, but decisions—particularly decisions involving people—still need human judgment and accountability. Everyone has a role in shaping AIA particularly important part of our conversation is Ramesh’s view that not everyone needs to build an AI model to contribute to AI. The AI architecture may be developed by a relatively small group of specialists, but the knowledge that AI learns from comes from everyone. Blogs, experiences, expertise, documentation and shared knowledge all contribute to the ecosystem. His warning is equally important: “Wrong things in, rogue things out.” As AI multiplies and redistributes information at enormous speed, the quality and accuracy of what we contribute becomes increasingly important. Turning institutional knowledge into AIRamesh shares a fascinating example from PM Power, where years of accumulated expertise from experienced consultants has been captured through blogs and knowledge contributions. That knowledge has now been brought together into an internal AI system called Power Guru, where people can ask questions about management, careers, leadership and workplace situations and receive advice based on the collective experience of the organisation. It is a beautiful example of how institutional memory can become an AI-powered knowledge companion. The AI future: optimism with cautionWhen asked what he hopes AI can achieve over the next five years, Ramesh imagines a world where AI helps us produce food more efficiently, conserve water, generate electricity efficiently and ultimately create a happier, more comfortable world. But he also has a concern: AI used for warfare and destruction. For him, regulation, awareness and human responsibility will be essential to ensuring that the technology serves humanity rather than the other way around. Rapid FireOne AI tool you can't live without? LLMs. One thing you'll never delegate to AI? “My consciousness.” One word to describe your relationship with AI? Love. Your AI aha moment? Every day. Ramesh compares watching AI evolve to watching a child grow—there is always something new that makes you say, “Wow!” One final messageRamesh leaves us with a simple but powerful thought: You cannot ignore AI. Learn it. Use it. Contribute to it. And help others learn it. He sees a new divide emerging between people who understand AI and those who don't. His answer is beautifully simple: Each one, teach one. Because the future of AI isn't just about the people building the models. It is also about all of us who use them, contribute knowledge to them, question them and decide how they should be used. Ramesh can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramesh-br-32a5111/?isSelfProfile=false
