Dr. Chinmay Hegde is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Managing Director of Astrikos.ai, Bengaluru. Earlier, as the Director and CEO of Covidh Technologies, he was instrumental in building a diverse clientele that included several significant MNCs and Indian IT and healthcare organizations. 

Dr. Chinmay founded Netocol Systems & Solutions and executed multiple PAN-Asia projects in Computer Asset Management, Healthcare, and Networks. He played a key role in the organization’s acquisition by Aptus Industries Ltd – a Bombay Stock Exchange-listed company 2012.  

INDIAai interviewed Dr. Chinmay Hegde to get his perspective on AI.

Can you elaborate on the role of AI in Astrikos.ai’s platform? How does it contribute to transforming IT and OT convergence? 

Astrikos.ai leverages AI and machine learning to integrate IT and OT systems, transforming operational efficiency seamlessly. Our S!aP (Smart Interop Analytical Platform) enhances decision-making through: 

• AI-Driven Insights: Advanced algorithms provide actionable insights for strategic decisions. 
• Real-Time Data Fusion: Integrates and analyses data from various sources, detecting patterns and anomalies instantly. 
• Predictive Analytics: Forecasts trends and anticipates challenges using machine learning models. 
• Situational Awareness: Offers intuitive visualizations and real-time metrics through a unified dashboard. 
• S!aP’s cloud-native, source-agnostic design supports platforms like AWS, Azure, and AVEVA, optimizing cross-platform analytics. 

Your expertise includes building business models and defining technology visions. How do you envision the future of AI-driven business models in the ICT sector? 

AI will elevate the ICT sector by automating complex data analysis, allowing professionals to focus on higher-value tasks. As AI adoption grows, so will the demand for AI-related skills, leading to expanded educational and training opportunities. Future business models will be increasingly AI-driven, with services and products tailored to customer preferences through advanced data insights. 

How does Astrikos.ai integrate its platform with existing IT and OT systems in various industries? 

Astrikos.ai's platform, S!aP, is designed to integrate existing IT and OT systems across various industries seamlessly. Here's how it works: 

• S!aP uses a pluggable adapter framework to connect with standard sensors, BMS, ICT, IoT solutions, and other IT platforms. 
• It supports real-time aggregation of operational data like power consumption, thermal data, and hardware health. 
• S!aP is suitable for on-premises deployment and features independent REST APIs for each architectural layer, including Data Collection, ML, and Data Visualization. 

The platform includes:

• A customizable portal for user-specific configurations.
• Supporting the addition of new device types.
• KPIs.
• Use cases. 

It integrates with native dashboarding tools via SSO for a unified user experience and complies with security, compliance, and data privacy standards. 

S!aP receives regular updates, including software upgrades and new trained models, at least once a quarter. 

As an open platform, S!aP seamlessly interfaces with multi-vendor environments and extracts data from OEM capital equipment. 

How has implementing Astrikos.ai's Intelligence Platform in the second phase of Uttar Pradesh's UP-112 enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency response operations across the state? 

Implementing Astrikos.ai's Intelligence Platform in Uttar Pradesh's UP-112 has significantly enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency response operations across Uttar Pradesh. The platform meets all customer requirements and introduces advanced features that empower security forces to perform their duties more effectively. With AI-driven insights, the platform revolutionizes public safety and emergency management by focusing on: 

• Data intelligence and data quality 
• Crime anticipation and optimal resource deployment 
• Incident trends and risk terrain modelling 
• Emergency trend pattern analysis and forecasting 
• Response time analysis 
• Optimisation advisories 

How do you see the role of AI evolving in the next five years, especially in infrastructure management and optimization? 

AI will transform infrastructure management and optimization in the next five years by enabling proactive issue detection, optimized resource and energy management, intelligent decision-making, self-managing systems, and seamless IoT integration. It will also enhance asset life cycle management and advanced threat detection and provide actionable recommendations through automation. 

What are some of the key AI-driven innovations Astrikos.ai has introduced to enhance infrastructure efficiency and innovation? 

Astrikos.ai has introduced AI-driven innovations through S!aP, a platform that enhances infrastructure efficiency by integrating and analysing data from multiple sources like sensors, social networks, traffic, and weather feeds. This platform provides advanced AI/ML/DL insights and acts as a unified framework for big data management, offering powerful analytics and visualization capabilities beyond standard industry platforms. 

What are the latest trends and challenges in cybersecurity that Astrikos.ai is addressing with its solutions? 

Astrikos.ai addresses the latest cybersecurity trends and challenges, including the rise of complex cyberattacks, phishing, social engineering, ransomware, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). The company also focuses on zero-day vulnerabilities, cloud security, and the increasing role of AI in sophisticated cyber threats. 

How do you see the role of AI evolving in the next five years, particularly in smart technology, cloud computing, and cybersecurity? 

AI will transform smart technology, cloud computing, and cybersecurity in five years. AI will enhance user-centric design and sustainability in smart systems, while in cloud computing, it will be seamlessly integrated, enabling businesses to harness its power without in-house expertise. Edge computing will grow, bringing AI closer to the network’s edge to reduce latency and bandwidth use. In cybersecurity, AI-driven automation will accelerate response times and mitigate cyberattacks. As AI systems become more adaptive, they will continuously learn from new threats, strengthening Identity and Access Management (IAM) and defending against advanced adversarial techniques. 

What advice would you give to aspiring tech entrepreneurs looking to make an impact in the AI and ICT sectors? 

For aspiring tech entrepreneurs aiming to impact AI and ICT, staying updated on technological advancements, especially in networking, cybersecurity, AI/ML, and data analytics, is crucial. Innovate by designing products and services that address real customer needs, ensuring they are both cutting-edge and user-centric. Prioritize sustainability in your solutions to align with global trends and responsibilities. Build solutions that are not only innovative but also robust and scalable. Lastly, cultivate and leverage strategic partnerships to enhance your offerings and extend your market reach. Success requires combining technical expertise, customer focus, and strategic vision.