In this episode of The Digital India Podcast, host Mohd Ujaley speaks with Madhav Sheth, CEO, AI+ Smartphones and Founder of NxtQuantum Shift Technologies. Best known for his leadership at Realme, Madhav now returns with a bold vision: the Ai+ smartphone powered by the new NxtQuantum OS.

In this conversation, he shares:

• The hard lessons from building and scaling smartphone brands in India.

• Why deep tech, R&D, and strong local supply chains are critical for digital self-reliance.

• How AI should move beyond marketing buzzwords to deliver real consumer value.

• His strategy for democratising technology through transparency and localisation.

• The roadmap for targeting India’s mass-market segment and building a global brand from India.

Whether you are a technologist, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of smartphones and AI in India, this episode is packed with practical insights and forward-looking perspectives.

🎙 Digital India Podcast
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⏱ Timestamps:
01:12 – From FinTech to EdTech: Dave Treat's career shift
04:30 – Pearson’s 3 core businesses (Content, Distribution, Assessment)
07:45 – AI tools already used by teachers for 18+ months
11:20 – Why Indian R&D is Pearson’s "innovation lighthouse"
15:10 – Spatial computing’s future in 3D learning
18:40 – Quantum computing’s encryption challenge
20:01 – Startups' role in Pearson's digital transformation journey

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Digital India Podcast, host Mohd Ujaley, Editorial Director of Tech Observer Magazine, speaks with Dave Treat, Chief Technology Officer at Pearson.

They explore the role of AI in education, Pearson’s digital transformation, and the future of personalised learning. Dave also shares insights on legacy modernisation, immersive tech, quantum-safe encryption, and how Pearson works with startups to drive innovation.

Dave Treat shares his views around:

✅ From FinTech to EdTech: Lessons from banking to education innovation
✅ Why Pearson is advancing faster in AI than banks ever did
✅ How the “Learn to Earn” mindset is shaping workforce development
✅ Why teachers need AI—to focus on what matters most
✅ India’s role in Pearson’s global R&D and innovation strategy
✅ How quantum computing could disrupt encryption in education
✅ Why startups help keep Pearson agile—even after 181 years

🎓 A must-listen for educators, edtech founders, policy makers, and anyone curious about the future of learning!

👤 Follow Dave Treat, CTO, Pearson:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidbtreat

📰 About Tech Observer Magazine:
Tech Observer Magazine is India’s premier technology news publication, delivering in-depth analysis on government tech, public sector innovation, defence, enterprise IT, emerging startups, telecom, and consumer electronics.

#EdTech #AIinEducation #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #Pearson #AI #podcast

In the latest episode of The Digital India Podcast, Kayzad Hiramanek, Chief Operating Officer of Edelweiss Life Insurance, shares insights from his 25-year leadership journey across diverse industries. In conversation with host Mohd Ujaley (Editorial Director, Tech Observer Magazine), they explore transformative leadership approaches, systemic challenges in India's insurance adoption, and the technological innovations reshaping financial services.

Hiramanek champions leaders who recruit "people smarter than themselves" and decentralise decision-making. "The true measure of leadership," he observes, "lies in building systems where teams function autonomously—even if it diminishes your own indispensability." His perspective is informed by an unconventional career path that began in hospitality before transitioning through telecom to insurance, demonstrating that adaptive thinking trumps sector-specific expertise.

With life insurance penetration stagnating at 3-4%, Hiramanek pinpoints three critical barriers:

• Demographic Disconnect: Young Indians prioritize immediate needs over long-term protection

• Education Deficit: No standardized curriculum on financial planning fundamentals

• Design Complexity: Actuarial products alienate returns-focused consumers

He credits regulatory innovations like Bima Sugam (unified insurance marketplace) and Bima Vahak (last-mile women agents) for driving inclusion, alongside pandemic-driven digitisation of claims processes through tools like verifiable digital death certificates.

While describing insurance as "the original data science industry" (rooted in actuarial models), Hiramanek offers measured perspectives on emerging tech:

• AI Today: NLP-powered chatbots handle 68% of routine customer queries (internal metrics)

• Underwriting Realities: Still dependent on traditional verification (Aadhaar, medical exams, financial disclosures)

• AI Frontiers: Agentic AI automates workflows but yet to replicate human risk assessment

As regulators work toward Insurance for All by 2047, Hiramanek stresses product simplification and India Stack integration. His leadership mantra—"Fail fast, recover faster"—reflects his cross-industry evolution and applies equally to tech adoption and talent development.

#InsuranceInnovation #LeadershipMatters #FintechIndia #DigitalTransformation #Podcast