AI to tech in India: New ASEI chief Piyush Malik speaks

RITU JHA

The American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI) has appointed Piyush Malik as its new national president for a three-year term.

This was announced on February 6 at the ASEI annual general meeting, held virtually this year and presided over by Dr Pradeep Khosla, chancellor at the University of California San Diego.

The ASEI was founded in 1983 in Detroit, Michigan with the objective of exchanging and collaborating technologies between India and the United States. The not-for-profit organization provides a platform for networking, career advancement, community service, mentoring and technology exchange for professionals, students, and businesses in the US and abroad.

At the February 6 meeting, Silicon-valley based Malik, an IIT alumnus and an entrepreneur, mentioned various programs the ASEI has introduced, such as Engineering Tales, Mentor Connect, University Connect, Getting Real with Engineering, and Youth Technology Exposition, to keep things exciting and happening.

Malik, who is also the founder of ASEI Silicon Valley chapter, told indica News: “We have plans for increased mentoring and greater relationships with universities and national engineering bodies to increase skill sets and employability of engineers amongst the diaspora.”

Asked if Artificial Intelligence would kill millions of jobs, he said: “It’s an augmentation for efficiency, not elimination of jobs, with AI. As an AI practitioner myself, I see this domain from the eyes of my clients as well as my partnering technology companies like Google, Microsoft and others closely.”

He added: “We need to be making progress with AI and it will eliminate repetitive takes by humans but free them up for more value-added and creative tasks with more emotional intelligence for employees,” he added.

At the February 6 event, chief guest Dr Khosla shared his story of going from being an ordinary immigrant to becoming the CEO of one of the top US Public Universities with an annual budget of $6.1 billion.

People of Indian origin are excelling in engineering in the US in companies all around the USA and they have broken the glass ceiling multiple times and very successfully and got visibility,” Khosla said at the event.

With visibility comes great responsibility towards the broader community to give back and that’s where ASEI fits in.” he said.

Malik said last month the ASEI hosted Amit Kumar, consul general of India in Chicago, for a virtual fireside chat on January 28 on the heels of India’s 72nd Republic Day.

Consul General Kumar emphasized how significant India-US relations are and highlighted collaborative efforts in the areas of energy, science and technology.

Just in the last year alone, India received around $57 billion of investment focused on digital space,” he said.