Link To Smit's Work: https://smitdesai.net/ Smit's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smit-desai-6b54bb83/ Smit on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesmitdesai Podcast and Other Links: https://theideasandboxpodcast.com/ Behance Link to My Artwork: https://www.behance.net/theideasandbox Link to Substack Blogs: https://thecuriousnobody.substack.com/ My Trusty Search Engine: https://www.perplexity.ai/ Welcome to the Idea Sandbox! Today, I'm thrilled to introduce our guest, Smit Desai, a PhD candidate at the University of Illinois specializing in Human-Computer Interactions. Smit's groundbreaking research focuses on voice user assistants, like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. He explores how these technologies can take on new roles—such as exercise coaches, storytellers, health advisors, and research assistants—to enrich our learning and daily lives. In our conversation, we dive into the influence of existentialist philosophy on Smit's work. We draw connections to the artistic projects I've been pursuing, highlighting how philosophy and technology intersect in fascinating ways. We then shift gears to discuss the transformative potential of AI. Smit shares his insights on the 'tsunami of changes' AI is expected to bring, especially its impact on India's IT sector, which stands on the cusp of significant AI-driven transformations. Further into our discussion, Smit and I delve into the principles of co-design and design thinking. We emphasize the importance of prioritizing accessibility in product design and advocating for innovative and ethical approaches to creating technology. This episode is filled with enlightening conversations about AI's future and thoughtful design's role in shaping a better world. I invite you to join the dialogue by leaving comments, sharing feedback, or reaching out on Twitter. Let's continue to inspire each other and spread great ideas, one step at a time. Chapters: 0:00:00 Start 0:05:30 Diving Deep into Caste: A Personal Journey 00:22:17 Existentialism Unveiled: A Deep Dive 00:32:20 Existentialism Decoded: Finding Joy in the Abyss 00:34:37 Embracing 'What Will People Say?' with Confidence 00:41:37 From Cricket Dreams to Reality: Smit's Unconventional Path 00:53:44 Intelligence Unpacked: Navigating Research Worlds 01:00:47 Research Revealed: The Qualitative vs Quantitative Debate 01:07:41 CoDesign Explained: Beyond Conventional Use 01:10:23 Prioritizing Accessibility: A Design Revolution 01:15:09 Voice Assistants: The Future of Research Focus 01:17:50 A Turning Point: Why Voice Assistants Became My Passion 01:23:56 AI Directions: Smit's Predictions and Insights 01:28:12 AI Accountability: The Need for Oversight 01:36:57 AI & India: Preparing for the Revolution 01:47:28 Beyond Communal Distractions: Facing the AI Tsunami 01:50:42 India's Legacy of Innovation: A Historical Perspective 02:00:57 Reflecting on India's SelfAwareness Challenge 02:05:21 Debunking IIT Idolization: A Personal Take 02:10:40 The Truth Behind My Journey: A Candid Confession 02:19:27 Exploring Infinity: The Universe's Endless Possibilities 02:22:07 Admiring Europe: A Design-First Approach Love and cheers from the Idea Sandbox.