Desi talk

www.desitalkchicago.com – that’s all you need to know 8 COVER STORY October 24, 2025 BUSINESS Meet The AI Chatbots Replacing India’s Call-Center Workers firm cut thousands of jobs last year, but its CEO told Reuters in September the company is now “trying to course correct” and use the technology to improve products rather than reduce costs. Chatbots have limitations. While most generic e-commerce-related queries posed by a Reuters reporter were handled well by LimeChat bots, some stumped them. When LimeChat client Knya’s bot was asked for proof of its claim that a million medical profession- als trust its products, such as its stethoscopes, it replied: “I am sorry, I don’t have enough information to answer your question.” Knya didn’t respond to a request for comment. Customer surveys show chatbots are still disliked by many. An August 2024 EY survey of 1,000 Indian consum- ers found 62%made purchases influenced by AI rec- ommendations, compared with 30% globally. Yet, “the desire for a human connection remains strong,” EY noted, with 78% preferring online platforms that provide human support. LimeChat’s Gupta, though, said well-trained AI agents could resolve queries faster than humans. He said many standard bots pass conversations to a human agent when they encounter angry customers: “You need a very small number of people to just handle negative experiences.” FROM JAVA TO AI In the 1990s and 2000s, India’s tech boom fueled rural-to-urban migration. Cities like Bengaluru became outsourcing hubs as domestic firms, including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys andWipro, grew into global juggernauts. That expansion trickled through to Ameerpet, a Hyderabad neighborhood where university gradu- ates fill classrooms to learn IT skills and earn certifi- cations for tech jobs. Ameerpet’s training centers traditionally of- fered courses in Microsoft Office and programming languages like Java. Visiting in April, Reuters found these centers are increasingly focused on AI training. Outside one, Quality Thought, a banner featured a robot overlooking a globe with the letters “AI.” The center was offering a nine-month course in AI data science and prompt engineering for about $1,360, more than double the price of a traditional web-development program. “Recruiters are asking for students with basic AI skills,” staffer Priyanka Kandulapati said. “We are going to streamline our courses even further to suit the demand.” In a discussion with startup founders last month about the pace of change, venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who co-founded Sun Microsystems, offered a stark view of the future for India. “All IT services will be replaced in the next five years,” he said. “It’s going to be pretty chaotic.”. -Reuters PHOTO:REUTERS/RISHIKA SADAM People walk around a complex of software skill training centres surrounded by multiple billboards in Hyderabad, India, April 25, 2025. - Continued From Page 6 Hundreds Attend TiECON East 2025 To Focus On The “Heart Of Entrepreneurship” F rom billion-dollar founders to first- time entrepreneurs, more than 450 attendees gathered at the Sheraton Boston Hotel for TiECON East 2025, a much-anticipated conference, organized by TiE Boston and co-hosted by TiE NewYork. TiECON East is the flagship confer- ence of TiE Boston, part of the global TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) network. TiE Boston is one of the oldest and largest TiE chapters. With this year’s theme, “The Heart of Entrepreneurship,” the day-long event explored the deeply human aspects of building ventures—courage, creativity, clarity, and resilience, organizers said in a press release October 16, 2025. “This was a very unique conference in the sense that it was very different from a typical entrepreneurial conference,” said President of TiE Boston Purnanand Sarma. “It went straight into the heart of entrepreneurship—what drives people to build, take risks, and overcome adversity. The attendance was fantastic, and the energy was undeniable. We want to keep up this momentum and continue offering something truly unique every year.” The event kicked off with a keynote conversation between Nitin Nohria, former Dean of Harvard Business School and now Partner and Chairman at Thrive Capital, and Steve Papa, founder of Paral- lel Wireless and Endeca. “Steve Papa has scaled multiple com- panies, built category-defining technolo- gies, and shaped global industries,” said Dr. Atul Dhir, TiECON East 2025 Co-Chair. “The opportunity to hear him in conversa- tion with Nitin Nohria—a thought leader on leadership and performance—was a rare gift for entrepreneurs at any stage.” Added Dhir: “In addition to exploring the inner mindset and the creative side of entrepreneurship, we had a powerful session on the breakthrough technologies in mRNA and the evolving AI technology ecosystem.” Another major highlight was the after- noon keynote by Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley, who brought a storied public and private sector experience to the discussion. As the newly appointed Secretary of the Execu- tive Office of Economic Development and former Managing Partner at Founder Collective, Paley shared insights on grow- ing the state’s innovation economy and how entrepreneurs can help drive impact at scale. “From navigating uncertainty to build- ing with resilience, our speakers exempli- fied the emotional and intellectual depth that entrepreneurship demands,” said Co- Chair of TiECON East 2025 Satish Bhat. “Beyond the talks, the environment—the Innovation Showcase, networking loung- es, breakout sessions—was charged with creative energy and collaboration.” The Innovation Spotlight featured over 20 early-stage startups innovating in AI, digital health, robotics, and cross-border ventures to highlight what TiE considers the next wave of bold ideas and ambitious founders. Attendees traveled from across the U.S. and India to attend. “Boston and NewYork chapters have developed a unique synergy,” said Jignesh Patel, President of TiE NewYork. “This partnership has brought new energy and reach to TiECON East, and we’re excited to keep building together. Other chapters should absolutely look to this as a model.” Panel topics ranged from creative leadership and emotional resilience to technology’s role in social transformation. “This year’s theme really resonated,” said Dr. Dhir. “We didn’t just talk about product-market fit or capital strategy. We focused on the mindset, the heart, and the personal grit it takes to truly innovate.” By a StaffWriter PHOTO:TiE Boston An estimated 450 entrepreneurs gathered for the TiECON East 2025 event.