Pune: Data intelligence and machine learning are at the forefront of transforming global industries, fundamentally reshaping how businesses process, analyse, and derive value from data. As the volume and complexity of data continue to grow exponentially, organizations are increasingly relying on advanced analytical tools and algorithms to extract actionable insights.
Central to this evolution is Artificial Intelligence (AI), which provides the capability to not only understand complex, high-dimensional datasets but also to make informed decisions and predict future outcomes with unprecedented accuracy.
Mr. Shailesh Chauhan, now a Product Manager at Meta is a key figure in the advancement of data intelligence and machine learning, driving cutting-edge innovations that bridge the gap between unstructured data and actionable business insights.
His work focuses on developing AI-driven solutions that enable organizations to harness data more effectively, optimize decision-making processes, and improve overall operational efficiency.
In this interview, we explore Shailesh’s perspective on the rapid evolution of data intelligence and machine learning, his significant contributions to the field, and his strategic vision for the future of AI in business and society.
Q1: Firstly, Can you share about what motivated you to pursue a career in data and machine learning, and how have your experiences along the way shaped your expertise in these fields?
Shailesh Chauhan:
My journey into AI and data started with my academic background. I have done my Master’s in Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where I began to explore the power of data and machine learning. This led me to work with some of the world's most influential tech companies, including Amazon and Uber, where I had the opportunity to drive innovations in data analytics and product development.
However, my foundation goes beyond just academic achievements. I grew up admiring my grandfather, whom I call Pitaji. His relentless curiosity and pursuit of understanding, no matter the complexity of the subject, deeply influenced how I approach my work. Pitaji taught me that any field, when approached with the right mindset, can become a meaningful one. His lessons of hard work, curiosity, and the drive to make a difference continue to inspire how I view challenges and opportunities in my career. These values remain central to my work today and guide my efforts to create impactful, data-driven solutions.
Q2: Can you tell us about your current role at Meta and what drives your work in data and recommendations?
Shailesh Chauhan:
In my role as Product Manager at Meta, I am focused on leading initiatives that enhance user engagement and personalization for billions of users across the platform. My passion for AI stems from its immense potential to enrich user experiences and make technology more intuitive.
By leveraging data intelligence, we can turn massive amounts of data into actionable insights, which significantly improves how users interact with our platform. It's inspiring to see how AI can create smarter, more personalized experiences, and that's what drives me every day.
Q3: Nowadays, we can see industries increasingly adopting search or chat based experiences for enterprise data, and you have worked on one such product. What is your perspective on the potential impact of these technologies on the industry?
Shailesh Chauhan:
I worked with such technology in my previous role at ThoughtSpot, where I led the initiative to build a Google-like search experience for enterprise data. Our goal was to make data accessible and useful for non-technical business users.
We understood that business leaders often have questions but lack the technical expertise to uncover the answers buried in huge datasets. We wanted to make data accessible and useful for anyone, regardless of their technical background.
By introducing AI-driven insights, we significantly reduced the time to get actionable results. Companies like Walmart and Capital One were able to make faster, data-informed decisions, which had a direct impact on their operations.
I believe that projects like this enable companies to make faster, data-driven decisions, impacting their operations and reinforcing the industry’s shift toward user-friendly, AI-powered analytics.
Q4: Server less Business Intelligence (BI) solutions are gaining traction across industries, significantly improving data processing speeds. How do you perceive the role of server-less BI solutions as an advancement in the field?
Shailesh Chauhan:
In my experience at Amazon, I had the opportunity to work extensively with AWS QuickSight, a serverless BI solution developed by Amazon. My primary responsibility involved leading the implementation of the SPICE engine, which resulted in a remarkable improvement in data processing speeds by 10 times.
QuickSight was designed to eliminate the traditional barriers to real-time insights, enabling businesses to focus on extracting value from their data rather than being concerned with the infrastructure required for its processing.
As serverless solutions like QuickSight evolve to become more scalable and robust, they will offer substantial support to businesses managing large datasets and rapidly changing demands.
Such technological advancements position serverless BI solutions as powerful, flexible tools that can greatly enhance data visualization and business intelligence, ultimately driving efficiency and innovation across industries.
Q5: How do you approach handling complex datasets, and do you believe real-time data visualization can significantly enhance the process?
Shailesh Chauhan:
I believe that handling complex datasets requires a structured approach to ensure both efficiency and accuracy in deriving actionable insights. I have always been deeply interested in data visualization and its powerful implications for problem-solving, but my interest in data visualization took concrete form with Kepler.gl, an open-source geospatial tool I developed at Uber for real-time visualization of complex datasets.
Kepler.gl enabled city planners, policymakers, and data scientists to identify patterns and trends that might have otherwise been overlooked, effectively bringing data to life. This tool has empowered data-informed decision-making across industries like urban planning, logistics, UX enhancement, and route optimization. I presented this work at the Strata Conference in London, and it has since been used to drive insights in transportation and city infrastructure.
I think if solutions like Kepler.gl were widely implemented, they could redefine industry standards. By offering accessible and actionable insights from complex spatial data, these tools could set new benchmarks for data accessibility, visualization, and strategic decision-making, creating a framework for significant change across various sectors.
Q6: Considering your deep technical expertise and experience across various companies, what key insights or thought leadership would you impart to aspiring AI professionals looking to shape the future of this field?
Shailesh Chauhan:
Apart from regular technical work, Mentorship is an integral part of my work. I believe it's not just about teaching technical skills but fostering a mindset that encourages continuous learning and innovation. I often share my knowledge with peers, junior colleagues, and I make it a point to guide emerging professionals and startups, offering advice on product strategy, career growth, and how to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and data science.
I also engage with wider audiences through speaking events, such as AWS On Air and ThoughtSpot webinars, where I discuss key topics like natural language processing (NLP) and relational search. It’s rewarding to share my experiences and help others recognize the potential of machine learning in solving real-world problems.
The future of AI and data is incredibly promising. As technology advances, AI will become increasingly integrated into everyday life, empowering businesses to make smarter, faster decisions. AI’s rapid evolution brings new challenges and endless possibilities.
My advice to newcomers in the field is to stay curious, embrace ongoing learning, and focus on solving practical problems. AI has the potential to transform industries and solve significant challenges, and the next generation of leaders will be pivotal in driving that change.
Q7: How do you perceive the role of technology in today's community, and what principles guide your approach to ethical considerations in your work with AI and data intelligence?
Shailesh Chauhan:
For me, data and technology has a very important role in today’s community building. I've been very fortunate to be working as an advisor to Foxberry on their Digi Engagement Platform product to convert the data provided by citizens of a municipal area to provide personalized recommendations from their city of jurisdiction.
The product has a proven track record of bringing administration closer to its citizens through improved communication & engagement. Digi Engagement Platform has been live in 2 major cities of India, has a registered citizen base of more than 350,000 households, and recently won the IEEE Smart Cities award.
I also believe community building needs to be coupled with ethics and shouldn’t be an after-thought. Ethics is not a checkbox, rather, it is attached to how one can create systems people will trust. As AI continues to evolve, it is essential to ensure that the technology is transparent, accountable, and respects user privacy.
Bias is a critical issue in AI, and it’s something I take very seriously. My approach is to create systems that are not only efficient and innovative but also responsible and fair. AI has the potential to shape the future in profound ways, and I believe it’s crucial that we develop it with a strong ethical framework to benefit both businesses and communities at large.
This Q&A gives insights into Shailesh Chauhan's journey and his contributions to AI and data, shedding light on his efforts to make data accessible, drive innovation, and mentor the next generation of AI professionals.