Chai & Chips Podcast

Prakash Mallya
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Technology

Chai & Chips is where semiconductors and deep tech meet Indian ambition. We’re here to educate, inform, and spark curiosity—through sharp insights, real conversations, and bold perspectives from leaders shaping the future of chips and deep tech. From India’s semiconductor strategy to the explosive rise of AI chips, from the geopolitics of silicon to the ethics of supply chains, we go deep. We explore how deep tech is transforming EVs, healthcare, telecom, education, and defence—and talk to the people building, investing in, and regulating the ecosystem. This is the podcast for those who believe deep tech is not just a sector—but a national mission. About Us: Chai & Chips is India’s go-to platform for honest, no-fluff conversations at the intersection of semiconductors, AI, and nation-building. Hosted by global tech executive Prakash Mallya, the podcast draws on over two decades of experience in the chip industry across India, Southeast Asia, and the US. Prakash’s deep love for technology and passion for India shape thoughtful conversations on the forces driving innovation, industry, and the country’s tech ambitions. As AI reshapes industries and supply chains are redrawn, chips have never been more critical to a country’s self-reliance. But are we asking the right questions? With insights from the brightest minds around the world, we explore what it takes—and what history teaches us—to build a resilient deep-tech ecosystem in India that endures. Follow us for sharp takes, real stories, and a vision for a Deep Tech Nation. Twitter: @PrakashMallya LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya Contact: prakash.chaiandchips@gmail.com Timbre Media helps brands talk like people, not press releases.  For over 15 years, we’ve been turning company culture and everyday work stories into engaging video, audio and written content that feels real, not rehearsed.  We make sure your message actually connects.  If you’ve got something to say, we’ll help you say it in a way people want to hear.

  1. Oct 1

    Ep 019 - Can Conversational AI Solve India’s Last-Mile Problem? | Prem Arora & Sriram Gopalaswamy

    AI is often discussed as a way to make software smarter. But in India, one of the most interesting opportunities may be to make technology and essential services easier to understand, access and act on. India is a country of enormous scale, multiple languages and highly fragmented systems. Whether it is adopting rooftop solar, accessing government schemes, buying financial products or navigating healthcare, the technology may exist—but the last mile can still be incredibly difficult.In this episode of Chai & Chips, I speak with Prem Arora and Sriram Gopalaswamy, co-founders of GRX10, about whether conversational AI could become a new interface between people and the systems around them. We explore: Why does the last mile break even when the underlying technology already exists? Can conversation make complex products and services easier to understand and act on? Does speaking to AI in your own language change trust and adoption? Can AI move people from simply getting information to actually getting things done? Where can conversational AI help—and where can it simply make a broken system more efficient? Could India's diversity, languages and fragmented markets actually create a unique opportunity for conversational AI? And ultimately, what must be true for conversational AI to become a force multiplier for India? A conversation about AI, trust, language, technology adoption—and what it takes to make technology work at India's last mile. Chapters:0:00 Introduction, and how the founders came together5:27 The last-mile problem: why good tech still fails to reach people8:31 Why rooftop solar lags: the subsidy and policy maze13:20 From complexity to conversation: the real solar journey19:07 What conversational AI changes: language, memory & access23:44 Building trust with conversational AI29:20 From information to action: getting things done in India35:46 Democratizing expertise at near-zero cost39:28 Lightning Round46:04 Convenience vs. fixing the system, and why India is the bigger opportunity51:03 The force-multiplier vision: small models, GPUs & responsible use56:49 India Vision: the next 10–15 years Resources:Find Sriram on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgopalaswamy/Find Prem on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aroraprem/Find Prakash on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallyaFind Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcastFind Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411

    Ep 019 - Can Conversational AI Solve India’s Last-Mile Problem? | Prem Arora & Sriram Gopalaswamy

  2. Sep 11

    Ep 018 - Preparing Indian Schools for an AI World | Tristha Ramamurthy

    AI is entering classrooms faster than most education systems can adapt.But if AI can answer almost any question instantly, what should schools actually teach?In this episode of Chai & Chips, I sit down with Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy, educator, institution builder and Founder of Ekya Schools, to explore a bigger question: What must be true for Indian schools to prepare children for an AI world?We discuss how AI could change the role of schools, teachers and assessment—and whether education needs to move from simply transmitting knowledge to developing the ability to think, create, solve problems and work with others.We also explore some uniquely Indian questions: Can AI help close the education gap or widen it? How do you rethink a system with millions of students and teachers? And what happens when children become AI-native while the adults educating them are still adapting? In this conversation: Why AI may force us to rethink what school is for Why access to answers is not the same as learning How AI changes assessment and homework Whether the teacher becomes more important in an AI world The importance of teacher development Personalised learning at scale How Indian schools can use AI without widening inequality What children should learn when knowledge becomes abundant What the school of the future could look like One of Tristha's most interesting observations:“School is going to be about the more human stuff… how to be more human in this AI world.”And one question that sits at the heart of the episode:If AI can answer almost anything, what should a school still spend its time teaching? Chapters0:00 Introduction: what must be true for schools in the AI age2:41 How schools' purpose is being reimagined5:40 The future of school: being more human in an AI world8:55 The AI-in-curriculum challenge, and the Young Founders experiment13:25 "You teach how you were taught": why teacher mindsets must change15:50 Answers vs. learning, and the "homework apocalypse"20:24 Skills over knowledge: what we should actually teach kids23:22 Where AI leaves teachers31:47 Lightning Round35:12 AI across India's three school tiers: access, equity & risks42:08 Redesigning school from the ground up46:57 India Vision: education for the next 10–15 years Resources:Find Tristha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristha/Find Prakash on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallyaFind Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcastFind Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411

    Ep 018 - Preparing Indian Schools for an AI World | Tristha Ramamurthy

  3. Jul 31

    Ep 017 - Can India Become a Global Innovation Leader? | Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman

    Can India become a global innovation powerhouse?As AI reshapes geopolitics, economic competitiveness, and national security, one question matters more than ever: What must be true for India to create breakthrough technologies—not just consume them?In this episode of Chai & Chips, I sit down with Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), to discuss how India can build a world-class innovation ecosystem.We explore: Why innovation is a long-term game built on institutions, talent and patient capital The role of ANRF in accelerating India's research ecosystem Why India must become the world's R&D partner How industry, startups, universities and government can collaborate better Why research should be measured by impact—not just publications The importance of bold science and taking bigger research bets Why private sector investment in R&D must increase How GCCs can become engines for India's innovation economy What founders, researchers and students can do to engage with ANRF Dr. Shiv's vision for making India a global leader in AI and deep tech If you're a founder, researcher, policymaker, investor, student, or simply curious about India's future in AI and deep tech, this conversation is for you. 🎙️ Guest: Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)📺 Subscribe to Chai & Chips for conversations on AI, Semiconductors and India's technology future. Chapters:0:00 Introduction: can India create, not just consume, technology?2:55 Where innovation really happens: turning humans into human capital5:08 Why innovation drives competitiveness, sovereignty & the AI era9:04 The talent-vs-frontier gap: efficiency over chasing the frontier15:15 Speed vs. patient systems: AI for Science & collaboration17:57 Private-sector R&D, GCCs & India as the world's R&D hub26:31 Technology diffusion: not every Einstein becomes an Elon Musk32:16 Building institutions for the long term (Bell Labs, DARPA)34:46 Lightning Round38:06 AI as an enabler & what must be true for India42:27 Measuring impact & how to work with ANRF50:41 India's vision for the next 10–15 years Resources:Find Dr Shiv on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivkumar-kalyanaraman-1942451/Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  Find Dr Shiv on X: https://x.com/shivkuma_kFind Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallyaFind Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcastFind Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411

    Ep 017 - Can India Become a Global Innovation Leader? | Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman

  4. Jun 28

    Ep 016 - The Human Edge | Ramya Sampath Sharma

    AI can generate answers.But can it help us build judgment? In this episode of Chai & Chips, I sit down with Ramya Sampath Sharma, CHRO of Saint-Gobain India, to explore how AI is reshaping work, careers, leadership, and learning. We discuss a question that doesn't get enough attention:As AI automates more entry-level and repetitive work, how will the next generation develop the depth, expertise, and judgment that traditionally came from doing that work? We also explore:• The skills that will become more valuable in an AI-first world• Why depth and subject-matter expertise still matter• The future of careers and leadership• AI's impact on inequality and inclusive growth• What organizations can do to build trust during periods of disruptionOne idea stayed with me long after the conversation: AI may generate answers, but judgment is still earned.I hope you enjoy the conversation. Chapters:00:00 Introduction — AI and the Future of Work02:44 Building High-Performance Teams and Talent Systems08:58 Why Culture Matters More Than Individual Brilliance17:51 How AI Is Changing the Nature of Work23:44 The Skills That Will Matter Most in the AI Era28:49 Can Young Professionals Still Build Judgment?33:58 AI in the Enterprise: Adoption, Challenges and Opportunities38:10 Rapid Fire40:30 Will AI Increase Inequality in India?47:14 Leadership, Trust and Human Judgment in the Age of AI57:46 The Vision of India Resources:Find Ramya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramyasampathsharma/Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  Find Ramya on X: https://x.com/ramyassharmaFind Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallyaFind Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcastFind Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411

    Ep 016 - The Human Edge | Ramya Sampath Sharma

  5. Jun 2

    Ep 015 - Can India Build Durable AI Deep-Tech Companies? | Narendra Bhandari

    Everyone is talking about AI.But a more important question is: Where will durable value actually be created?In this episode of Chai & Chips, I sit down with Narendra Bhandari, General Partner at Sea Fund, to discuss the future of AI, deep tech investing, and India's opportunity to build globally relevant technology companies.We explore why some AI companies will create lasting advantage while others may struggle to differentiate, what investors look for in deep-tech startups, and what must be true for India to build durable AI businesses. Some of the questions we tackle:• Is AI creating a platform shift comparable to the internet or mobile?• Where will defensible moats emerge in the AI ecosystem?• How should founders think about deep-tech versus application-layer opportunities?• What are the biggest challenges facing AI startups today?• Does India have a structural advantage in the AI era?• What separates enduring companies from short-lived hype cycles? One idea that stayed with me from this conversation:Technology waves create opportunities. Durable companies are built by those who create lasting differentiation.If you're a founder, investor, operator, or simply interested in the future of AI and deep tech, I think you'll enjoy this discussion.0:56 – Introduction: Why AI deep tech in India matters2:20 – Is this AI wave different? Why it's not just another hype cycle6:13 – The AI stack: Infrastructure, models, and where startups should play15:23 – Deep tech vs. software: How physics and chemistry change the investment timeline 24:10 – Where does value actually accrue — infrastructure, models, or applications?41:15 – Speed round: VC pitch pet peeves and founder philosophy47:15 – What must hold true for AI deep tech to succeed in India54:05 – India's constraints: Capital, compute, and data — are they real?58:04 – India's IT services industry: Disruption threat or massive AI opportunity?1:07:38 – What makes a great deep tech founder1:14:20 – Final Question: India's $100B+ sectors and the research culture gap1:22:18 – Closing thoughts: "It's a great time to build" You can find us on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.If you enjoy conversations like this, please subscribe, share, and let me know your biggest takeaway in the comments. Resources:Find Narendra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narendrabhandari/Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallyaFind Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcastFind Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411 All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium.

    Ep 015 - Can India Build Durable AI Deep-Tech Companies? | Narendra Bhandari

  6. Apr 29

    Ep 014 - AI Meets India Stack: What It Means for the Future of Digital Public Infrastructure - Omprakash Subbarao

    Can AI + India Stack become a global model for digital infrastructure? India has built something few countries have: digital rails at population scale. But what happens when AI is layered on top of Aadhaar, UPI and public digital infrastructure? In this episode of Chai & Chips, Om and I explore a bigger question: Could India have a unique advantage in the AI era because of its digital public infrastructure?We discuss: Why India Stack may matter even more in the age of AI How AI could transform public infrastructure at massive scale The opportunities and risks ahead What must be true for India to lead in this next wave One idea from this conversation stayed with me: AI alone may not be the advantage. AI + infrastructure might be.If that interests you, I think you’ll enjoy this episode. Chapters:01:00 - Introduction — What Must Be True for AI in DPI?04:17 - Om’s Journey into India’s Digital Public Infrastructure08:44 - Why India Stack Is Different from the Rest of the World14:25 - The Core Building Blocks: Identity, Payments and Trust26:52 - Opportunities at Population Scale: Health, Services and Inclusion31:49 - Consent, Privacy and the Governance Challenge42:10 – Ayushman Bharat – Risks, Opportunities & Impact50:58 – Rapid Fire54:07 – Why our R&D is weak; Case for India as a Use Case Factory01:07:08 - Building AI Applications on Top of India Stack01:10:33 - How to Build for Trust at Population Scale01:21:53 – Final Question – Vision for India You can find us on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Subscribe to Chai & Chips for conversations with founders, operators, investors and thinkers building the future of India. Resources:Find Om on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omprakash-subbarao-5372564/Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallyaFind Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcastFind Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411 All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium.

    Ep 014 - AI Meets India Stack: What It Means for the Future of Digital Public Infrastructure - Omprakash Subbarao

  7. Apr 7

    Ep 013 - Can AI Improve How Children Learn in India? - Vidya Jayaraman

    Can AI Actually Improve How Children Learn in India? AI is entering classrooms faster than ever — but does it actually help children learn, or does it just give them the answers? In this episode, host Prakash Mallya sits down with Vidya Jayaraman — chemical engineer turned math educator, founder of Math Adventures (acquired by Byju's in 2018), and now founder of StudyMatix — to ask the question that really matters:What must be true for AI to genuinely improve how children learn?In this episode: Why Vidya left a successful engineering career to teach math from her dining table in Bangalore The core problem with Indian education: we equate marks with success and rote learning with knowledge Why "process over answer" is the thread running through everything she has built How technology can empower teachers — without replacing them The real risks of AI in classrooms (hint: it's not just about the wrong answers) What "equal access to high-quality education" means vs. just "access" Her vision for India's learning outcomes in the next 10–15 years One quote to remember: "Every child, regardless of where they were born, what language they speak, or how much their family owns, is capable of genuine, joyful, meaningful learning. Our job is simply to build a world that makes it possible." — Vidya Jayaraman Chapters:00:00: Introduction — What Must Be True for AI to Improve Learning?01:58: Meet Vidya Jayaraman — From Chemical Engineer to Math Educator05:31: The Journey: Math Adventures, Byju's, and StudyMatix09:55: India's Education Crisis — The Stretched Teacher Problem17:50: Why Ed-Tech Has Failed to Deliver on Its Promise23:23: The Real Opportunity for AI in Education30:04: What Good AI-Powered Learning Actually Looks Like35:30: Rapid Fire40:48: Bridging Learning Gaps — AI With Pedagogy at Its Core54:33: Safety, Screen Time & What AI Should Never Replace56:10: Final Question - India's Vision for Learning Outcomes in 10–15 Years You can find us on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Subscribe, share, and leave us a review — it helps us grow this community and keep the conversations coming. Resources:Find Vidya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidya-jayaraman-69466247/Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallyaFind Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcastFind Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium.

    Ep 013 - Can AI Improve How Children Learn in India? - Vidya Jayaraman

  8. Mar 6

    Ep 012 - How Secure Are Your Habits? Defeating AI Scams - Anil Valluri

    What must be true for AI to materially improve India’s cybersecurity outcomes?In this episode of Chai & Chips, I speak with Anil Valluri, a technology leader who has spent over four decades at the forefront of India’s technology and infrastructure evolution. As AI rapidly enters enterprise environments, cybersecurity leaders face new opportunities — and new risks. In this conversation, we explore what must actually change for AI to deliver meaningful improvements in cybersecurity outcomes. In this episode, we discuss:• The hidden risks of unsanctioned GenAI usage inside enterprises• Why AI success in cybersecurity will depend more on usage than models• The evolving role of cybersecurity leadership in the AI era• India’s opportunity in chips, infrastructure, and talent• Career lessons from 40+ years of leadership in technologyChai & Chips is a long-form conversation series with leaders shaping technology, business, and policy in India and globally.Chapters:02:22: Context – Why AI and Cybersecurity Matter Now03:05: Anil Valluri’s 40+ Year Journey in Technology10:12: How India’s Technology Landscape Has Evolved17:05: Threat Model and How AI changes that27:05: The Hidden Risks of Unsanctioned GenAI in Enterprises34:20: Rapid Fire41:00: State of India Readiness on AI + Cyber Defence54:10: What should not be automated in Cybersecurity55:40: Leadership Lessons from Four Decades in Technology1:08:53: Final questionIf you enjoyed the conversation, please subscribe to the channel for future episodes. Resources:Find Anil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anil-valluri-5046b8/Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/  Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallyaFind Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcastFind Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411 All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium.

    Ep 012 - How Secure Are Your Habits? Defeating AI Scams - Anil Valluri
See All (19)

About

Chai & Chips is where semiconductors and deep tech meet Indian ambition. We’re here to educate, inform, and spark curiosity—through sharp insights, real conversations, and bold perspectives from leaders shaping the future of chips and deep tech. From India’s semiconductor strategy to the explosive rise of AI chips, from the geopolitics of silicon to the ethics of supply chains, we go deep. We explore how deep tech is transforming EVs, healthcare, telecom, education, and defence—and talk to the people building, investing in, and regulating the ecosystem. This is the podcast for those who believe deep tech is not just a sector—but a national mission. About Us: Chai & Chips is India’s go-to platform for honest, no-fluff conversations at the intersection of semiconductors, AI, and nation-building. Hosted by global tech executive Prakash Mallya, the podcast draws on over two decades of experience in the chip industry across India, Southeast Asia, and the US. Prakash’s deep love for technology and passion for India shape thoughtful conversations on the forces driving innovation, industry, and the country’s tech ambitions. As AI reshapes industries and supply chains are redrawn, chips have never been more critical to a country’s self-reliance. But are we asking the right questions? With insights from the brightest minds around the world, we explore what it takes—and what history teaches us—to build a resilient deep-tech ecosystem in India that endures. Follow us for sharp takes, real stories, and a vision for a Deep Tech Nation. Twitter: @PrakashMallya LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya Contact: prakash.chaiandchips@gmail.com Timbre Media helps brands talk like people, not press releases.  For over 15 years, we’ve been turning company culture and everyday work stories into engaging video, audio and written content that feels real, not rehearsed.  We make sure your message actually connects.  If you’ve got something to say, we’ll help you say it in a way people want to hear.

Information

  • Creator
    Prakash Mallya
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © https://www.timbremedia.in
  • Show Website
    Chai & Chips Podcast