Sakya Dasgupta: A Journey from Gaming To Enabling Embodied Intelligence

Summary

In this episode of Silicon Grape Vine, host Nittin Dad interviews Sakya Duppa, CEO and founder of Edge Cortex, a company focused on creating energy-efficient AI systems for edge devices. Sakya shares his journey from writing a Tetris game at 9 to his PhD in brain-inspired computing and his work at IBM. He discusses the inspiration behind Edge Cortex, the importance of power efficiency in AI, and the future of AI hardware. Sakya also reflects on his personal interests, the significance of taking risks, and the concept of embodied intelligence in AI systems.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sakya Dupta is the founder and CEO of Edge Cortex, a company focused on creating energy-efficient systems for AI applications.
• 🌟 Edge Cortex aims to bring powerful AI models like GPT-7 and multimodal models to edge devices, inspired by the human brain's efficiency.
• 🌐 The company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and operates globally with a presence in the US, Singapore, and India.
• 🎓 Sakya's journey in AI began with an early interest in computer science, inspired by his mother, a computer science professor, leading him to write his first game at a young age.
• 🏫 Sakya pursued higher education in computer engineering and machine learning, with a focus on applying AI to real-world devices and systems.
• 🏢 His professional experience includes working at IBM Research, where he co-invented the concept of Dynamic Bayesian Networks, used in time-series processing.
• 💡 Sakya emphasizes the importance of taking risks and learning from failures, which has been a core part of his entrepreneurial journey.
• 🌱 He highlights the cultural mix and government support in Japan as beneficial for startups, reflecting a growing and diverse tech ecosystem.
• 🔍 Sakya predicts that AI hardware will evolve towards more adaptable and domain-specific architectures to meet the changing demands of AI models.
• 🧠 He is intrigued by the concept of embodied intelligence, suggesting that the physical environment and body can influence intelligence, a concept he aims to apply in creating intelligent systems.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Sakya's company, Edge Cortex?

Edge Cortex focuses on building energy-efficient systems for running AI applications, especially recent models like multimodal, and bringing that power to edge devices.

How does Sakya's background in AI research influence Edge Cortex's approach to technology?

Sakya's background in AI research, particularly in brain-inspired computing and neuromorphic computing, influences Edge Cortex's approach by emphasizing power efficiency and the development of systems that mimic the human brain's intelligence within power constraints.

What inspired Sakya to start Edge Cortex?

Sakya's inspiration to start Edge Cortex came from his work at IBM Research, where he explored how to make algorithms and software efficient for standard hardware, and his experiences with power-constrained environments like robotics.

How does Sakya's early experience with programming influence his career?

Sakya's early experience with programming, such as writing a Tetris game at a young age, sparked his interest in computer science and laid the foundation for his journey into AI and entrepreneurship.

What is the significance of the Sakura in relation to Edge Cortex's hardware?

The Sakura, or cherry blossom, is significant to Edge Cortex as it represents the Japanese culture of renewed joy and inspiration, which is reflected in the company's hardware and work culture.

What is Sakya's perspective on the future of AI and high-performance computing?

Sakya believes that the industry is still scratching the surface when it comes to AI. He anticipates an evolution in Transformer models towards more brain-like efficiency and adaptability, with a focus on domain-specific reconfigurable architectures.

What advice does Sakya have for young entrepreneurs?

Sakya advises young entrepreneurs to learn to fail fast, take risks, and learn from those failures. He also suggests finding the right partners and investors to help in the growth of a company.

What is Sakya's view on the importance of embodied intelligence in AI systems?

Sakya views embodied intelligence as a significant aspect of creating intelligent systems, where the hardware environment plays a crucial role in intelligence, just as much as the software substrate.

How does Sakya's personal interest in watches reflect his approach to technology?

Sakya's interest in mechanical or electromechanical watches, which use silicon alongside mechanical systems, reflects his appreciation for the integration of technology with traditional craftsmanship, mirroring his approach to combining traditional hardware with advanced AI systems.

What hobbies does Sakya enjoy outside of his work in AI and technology?

Outside of his work, Sakya enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and running, which allows him to explore and stay active, reflecting a balance between his professional and personal life.

What is Sakya's opinion on the current state of AI models and their efficiency?

Sakya believes that while today's Transformer models are impressive, there is room for evolution towards greater efficiency, similar to the human brain, which is the ultimate goal for AI systems.