Unleashing the Power of AI Tools: From Learning Languages to Optimizing Code

In the last 18 months, my journey with AI tools like ChatGPT, Bing/GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Designer, and others has transformed from casual use to indispensable professional assistance. Here’s a glimpse into the diverse ways these generative AI tools have enriched my personal and professional life:

Language Learning and Translation
- Languages: I’ve learned and mastered Spanish and French, seamlessly translating words and sentences.

Mastering Technologies
- Tech Skills: These tools have been instrumental in helping me learn and excel in various technologies.

Complex Infrastructure Automation
- Azure ARM Templates: I created and enhanced intricate Azure ARM templates that included storage accounts, Azure Data Explorer (ADX), Key Vault, Service Principals, and other interdependent components.
- Automation Scripts: I scripted automated deployments for ARM templates, Databricks clusters, and other dependencies.

Code Optimization
- Performance Enhancement: The AI tools provided design suggestions for improving the performance of Python, Java, and C# code.
- Prometheus Queries: They helped generate and optimize Prometheus queries.
- Kusto Queries: Understanding, fixing, and optimizing Kusto queries became significantly easier.
- Prisma Framework: I generated and understood code for the Prisma framework effortlessly.

Creative Design and Graphics
- Logos and Posters: Created numerous logos, posters, and graphics for various events and occasions.
- Quiz Design: Designed an online multiple-choice quiz with hints.

Web Development
- Blog Creation: Developed a blog using Jekyll, hosted on Netlify.

Professional Presentations and Documentation
- Presentations: Generated comprehensive presentations for reviews.
- Meeting Summarization: Summarized Teams meetings efficiently.
- Document Summarization: Summarized PDF books and articles.
- Resume Enhancements: Improved and updated my resume.

Personal Assistance
- Holiday Planning: Planned holidays with detailed information on food, transport, and accommodation.
- Writing Enhancement: Reviewed and enhanced various writing pieces, including this post.

The Essential Role of AI Tools

AI tools have become as essential today as search engines were for many years. Their utility spans coding, writing (both technical and creative), presentation creation, graphic design, web development, language learning, and much more. From generating summaries to suggesting well-structured learning plans, these tools offer tremendous value when used effectively.

The Art of Prompt Engineering

The effectiveness of AI tools largely depends on how we use them. This is where the knowledge of prompt engineering becomes crucial.

- Basic Prompting: Think of it as having access to an entire library.
- Advanced Prompting: This is like finding a specific book in that vast library.

The better the prompt, the higher the chances of quickly getting the desired outcome. Prompt engineering is the art of communicating eloquently with AI, ensuring precise and effective responses.

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In conclusion, AI tools have significantly impacted my ability to learn, create, and optimize. They have proven to be versatile and invaluable in various domains, emphasizing the importance of mastering the art of prompting for effective use. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a casual user, integrating AI tools into your routine can unlock immense potential.

What do you do?

 What do you do?

તમે શું કરો છો?

आप क्या करते हैं?

¿Qué haces?

あなたは何をしますか？

நீங்கள் என்ன செய்கின்றீர்கள்?

Right from our college (school) days till the retirement age (and beyond), we all ask and encounter this question.

The person asking this question might be a new neighbor, a relative, an acquaintance, someone you met at the bar or gym, or even the staff when you visit a bank!

In reality, the actual question is - What do you do for living?

This 'for living' is assumed. The intent is almost always to know one's financial status, or future prospects.

But does it always have to be this way?

We all do or thrive to do some things with the aim of generating income. This is what brings food on our tables and repays our EMIs. This is what we do for living.

But outside this professional world, most of us also do things that keep us going.

If the hectic work life is bringing chaos in our lives, these activities are bringing much needed sanity. 

For some it is an outing with family, for some it is teaching kids at an NGO, for some it might be a book, and for some it might be a game with friends. We usually don't generate any income out of it nor we do it for that purpose.

It is wrong to categorize these as mere hobbies, as these are as much essential as our professional duties.

What do you do for living - will give only some idea about that person. What do you do to keep going - completes it.

Next time, if you really want to know a person - do ask the second question.

So, What do you do?

GenerativeAI as a thought partner

Couple of years back, during the Covid lockdown, I had worked on creating many short stories about Indian heroes with the purpose of spreading awareness about them. This was before the arrival of GenerativeAI age.

During a break recently, a thought came across on how can one use GenerativeAI to create something simple yet interesting using this already available data.

Thus begun the project of 'Indian Heroes Quiz', with ChatGPT as a new assistant!

Initial Data:

• Stories about Indian heroes in simple language

Project:

• Create a simple online quiz game to create awareness about these heroes.

Part 1 - The Quiz

It all started by creating a rough design on paper about the possible UI of the quiz. Purpose was to keep the UI and Tech Stack simple. 

The prompt was created with specific details and given to ChatGPT, which created fairly accurate version of the code. It's been many years since I have worked on Javascript, but it didn't take much time to understand and enhance the generated code.

The design did went through multiple iterations - 

• flip cards for answer
• randomization of cards and options
• logo and image generation and placements
• scoring calculations
• dataset changes
• making UI mobile/tablet compatible

There is an advantage of having a continued session in ChatGPT. It remembers the context and incremental additions/changes become easier.

Once the generated site was tested locally, like an able partner, ChatGPT provided options for hosting with complete set of instructions. The hosting on Netlify was easier than anticipated and the quiz was live!

Part 2 - The Questions

While the quiz was getting ready, it was important to get the content ready for the same. After all, this was the main part.

Summary was already available for each person. The task was to create hints, options and abstract from this summary. Manually it would have taken a long time and required repetitive effort.

Again, ChatGPT stepped up like an obedient intern. Once the prompt was finalized after few experiments, it generated required information for each individual. It also provided output in formatted JSON as was needed for the quiz.

The Final Result

Enjoy the quiz here and do share your feedback - https://indianheroesquiz.netlify.app/

Learnings

Understanding Prompt engineering is very important while working on GenerativeAI tools. It is imperative to find effective prompt for the specific requirement that contains -

• Primary content
• Specific instructions to set the context and what needs to be done
• Cues (mainly for structured output)
• Examples

ChatGPT works well when bulk data is provided in a text/word file. But there seems to be a size-limitation in the output as it generates output for only a few input mentioned the doc. Thus one may need to repeat this exercise if there are many input entries to be processed.

Was it possible to execute this project in pre-GenAI era?

Yes, of course. Someone with reasonable web/app building experience, could have done it easily, with the help of search as well.

The what new GenAI brings?

It allowed the developer to focus on the overall design by becoming a partner that helped in

• Logic to code generation (without requiring to master the new language)
• Incremental enhancements and optimizations
• Come up with professional looking UI
• Image/logo generation (Microsoft Designer)
• Helping with deployment

Basically changing the focus from implementation to ideation.

At the end technology is as good as how we use it.

From Chaos to Compassion: The Remarkable Ukraine Rescue Efforts

In February 2021, approximately 19,000 Indian students found themselves caught in a precarious situation as the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfolded.

Many people saw and debated the evacuation operation done over the next few days based on what they on the TV.

Let me share you somewhat an insider story of that operation.

The Beginning

The Indian medical students had traveled to Ukraine with dreams of pursuing higher education, but the sudden outbreak of war disrupted their academic journey. Despite receiving notifications from the Indian Foreign Ministry, most students chose to stay in Ukraine until the war was officially underway. The uncertainty of the conflict’s duration played a significant role in their decision.

They worried about losing an entire semester’s worth of studies if they returned to India prematurely. Little did they know that the war would persist for more than two years.

Ukraine shares its eastern border with Russia, making it nearly impossible for students to exit from that side. On the North-Western side, Ukraine borders Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. These neighboring countries provided alternative routes, but each had its own challenges.

Ukraine

(Image courtesy - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18018002)

Operation Ganga

Indian government launched an evacuation mission, Operation Ganga, to rescue its citizens stranded in neighboring countries of Ukraine.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9LNXOdpu5s

Alongside government agencies, ministers, and embassies, global social organizations played a pivotal role in this humanitarian effort.

One such organization was Sewa International. With a team of experienced senior volunteers who had previously worked in crisis situations, Sewa swiftly organized their efforts. 

Sewa International assembled a dedicated team to compile essential information. They created a comprehensive datasheet containing details of all Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine based on the information received from various sources, including Indian Embassy. Having accurate data was crucial for effective communication and coordination during the evacuation process.

The team of online volunteers at Sewa International utilized various messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. Their mission was to reach out to each stranded individual, ensuring they were aware of the evacuation efforts and providing them with necessary instructions. 

By leveraging these digital channels, Sewa established direct communication with those in need. Different volunteers started contacting people stranded in different cities, mainly Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv.

The Rescue Begins

As the Russian invasion unfolded in Ukraine, chaos gripped the streets of cities across the country. As the situation escalated, panic set in, and many sought refuge in underground bunkers with limited network connectivity.

In the midst of this turmoil, Sewa volunteers reached out to the stranded Indian students to provide critical support.

J (Sewa Volunteer): "Hi A, where are you? Are you safe?"

J: "I am calling on behalf of Sewa International. We're here to stay in touch with you and provide information to help you cross the border."

A (Stranded Student): "Ma'am, we're in a bunker right now."

Slowly, trust bridges formed, and emotions poured out. Fearful students shared their plight:

A: "Ma'am, we're frightened. Please help us get out of Kyiv. They're not allowing us on the trains."

J: "A, don't worry. You'll soon find a way."

Any important information that would help in the evacuation was conveyed to the team of volunteers through the channels setup by Sewa team. The volunteers would also coordinate with each other to share information related to specific cities and geographies.

The Challenges

As the volunteers started working, the demographic situation posed challenges. With Western border invaded, only option was to exit via North-Eastern border. But reaching there was not easy. The students in Kharkiv, a city near Russian border, were worst affected. 

Despite the odds, students managed to reach the border town of Lviv. Conversations with their Sewa buddies kept them going during the harsh conditions and kept record of their whereabouts. Some trekked to Romania, others to Poland, covering distances of 15 to 30 kilometers.

Sewa volunteers stationed in Europe played a crucial role. They assisted incoming students settling near the Ukraine border. Locals opened their doors, offering comfort and food to these strangers. Humanity prevailed even amidst conflict.

The Flight

Once away from war-torn Ukraine, students' anxiety shifted to flights to India. A no-fly zone loomed over Ukraine, and flights were scarce. The Indian government enlisted the Air Force to expedite evacuation.

A: "Ma'am, we are now stuck on Romania for two days. When will be get our flight?"

It took time, but one-by-one all of them were accommodated in different flights over the next few days.

Finally, the messages started coming about their safe arrivals.

A: "I have reached India safely. Thank you so much for being there. World needs more people like you." 

Some even sent video messages summarizing the eventful last few days.

These messages encapsulated the bond forged between two complete strangers living across borders in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. 

While the unfortunate war still goes on, the society will remain extremely grateful of those involved in this rescue operation.

The Ukraine rescue operation involving Indian students is a testament to the power of collective action and humanitarian efforts during times of crisis.

Operation Ganga: Indian nationals returning from Poland 

(Photo: Twitter/@Gen_VKSingh)

The Home Connection

How do I know this so well?

This story is close to our heart because my better half, Jyoti, operated a help center from our own residence in Pune. 

The first call/message was done on February 25, 2022, and the last on March 3, 2022. 

Every person contacted returned safely to India. 

This is an example of how sheer goodwill can make seemingly impossible things happen. 

Evacuation of people from an active warzone is a complex operation, and it was the combined effort of many people, from the ministers to ambassadors, government officials to NGOs, made it possible.

We are extremely proud of Jyoti and all other silent heroes involved in this operation.

Trivia - Sewa International helped about 30,000 people across multiple nationalities amidst Russia-Ukraine crisis

https://www.aninews.in/news/world/europe/sewa-international-extends-help-to-about-30000-people-across-multiple-nationalities-amidst-russia-ukraine-crisis20220305200410/

My Soldierathon 2023 Experience: A Marathon for a Cause

The Capriccio Gang

Back: Shreyas, Sharad, Indivar, Jyoti

Front: Nimesh, Samarth, Aurnab, Neha

The Pre-Phase

It all started when I came across following post in one of the WA group about the CME Soldierathon organized by Fitistan. Having already run Lokmat Marathon earlier this year, we were waiting for the winter to arrive to participate in the next marathon. The chance to go inside the CME campus which is usually closed for civilians inspired us to enthusiastically participate in this event. The event was aimed at raising funds and awareness for the paraplegics, who are the soldiers who have lost their limbs or mobility due to war or accidents. After doing the registrations for our Capriccio gang, on Dec 9, we visited PRC (Paraplegic Rehabilitation Center) to collect the BIB and Goodies bag. 

At the venue on the D-Day

#RuknaManaHai

At PRC to collect BIB

The Start

The marathon day arrived soon. While my body and mind were not exactly in an ideal conditions, somehow things fell in line the moment we reached the venue of Soldierathon during the early morning of Dec 17. We were 8 from Capriccio, 4 participating in 10km and 4 in 5 km. Getting inside the CME campus was a big moment. There was something in the air that brought much needed shot of energy, The sky was still a deep shade of blue as the chilly winter breeze brushed against my face but the atmosphere was electric. The idea to have national anthem before the runs is much appreciated as it brought a lot of positivity to the mind.

Marathon starts are always great. Our body naturally starts running alongside so many other passionate runners. Running a marathon is more of a mental challenge than a physical one. A focused and relaxed mind can push you beyond your usual limits making the run enjoyable. Stress and distraction can weigh us down like a heavy backpack. Based on the prior experience, this time I followed the Slow run - Fast Walk strategy from the beginning. This helped me conserve my energy and avoid exhaustion.

Slow Run - Fast Walk -> Slow run for 500-70 mtr followed by fast walk for 2 mins, and repeat.

Kahani me Twist

For the first 3 kms, I was able to do it comfortably and went into a good rhythm. By this point, we reached the stretch alongside the beautiful CME lake. The scenic location was very soothing to the eyes. It is around 4 kms when I started experiencing a bit of discomfort in my lower back and right abdomen. I had some back pain prior to the run for a few days and that re-surfaced during this phase. This made me reduce my speed and pause frequently. Thankfully, the electrolyte liquid at hydration point helped.

As my body got used to the pain, my slow running continued. The next few kms were in the interior areas of the clean CME campus. Morning dew brought its own charm. There were funny hoardings at kilometer milestones which I now eagerly started to look out for. As the roads went up-n-down, the fellow runners changed. Some went ahead, some remained behind. But there was a constant motivation, especially from those experienced runners. I remember an advise by a fellow gentleman that proved quite useful. He asked to keep the arms relaxed during the run instead of constantly keeping them up. This resulted in lesser strain on my right arm which was already in pain.

Closing stage

The reverse countdown had started in my head ever since I crossed the 5 km mark. But I had no idea of the time as mobile was in the arm band. Around 8 km mark, I inquired time from a fellow runner who was wearing a watch. This is when I realized that I managed to cross 8 kms in 40-50 mins. This was a good news. I was able to maintain decent speed despite pain. It gave me an added motivation to continue. I stuck to the Slow Run - Fast Walk strategy till the end of 9 kms. 

A funny incident happened at the milestone of 9 km. I was offered oranges at one of the points, but I couldn't eat those while running. So I had to stop for a while. To make up for the lost momentum, I decided to continue running without break till the finish line. We crossed Gurudwara on the right and parking on the left. This is when I knew the race is in the final stage.

The Finish

As I crossed the line, all the pain and tiredness was forgotten and a divine feeling of satisfaction took over. Shreyas had already reached before me. So we waited at the finish line for the rest of the members of our group. It is as much joy to cross the finish line for yourself as it is to see your friends and family do it. It was the first 5k marathon for my son, Samarth, who did it as a seasoned runner. It was also the first 10k run for Jyoti, my lovely wife, who wanted to end the year on high and she did exactly that!

One-by-one everyone arrived with big smiles on their faces. It was a time to collect medals, take photos and have much needed refreshments. Till this moment, I had no idea that there is yet another surprise in the store here at the CME campus. I knew our friend from Tawang, Major Zubair, was here in Pune. So I sent him our Marathon photo. He called immediately as he too was here in CME for his exams. So here in CME campus, we met Major Zubair in front of the Sarvatra Complex. Life sometimes throw some beautiful surprises. With this, our 4 hour stay at CME came to an end but the moments will remains with us forever.

With Major Zubair Ahmed

Gratitude

I would like to thank the organizers of the wonderful Soldierathon initiative. It not only gave us a memorable morning in the CME campus, but also made us a part of a helping hand towards the braves of our armed forces, The funds raised were donated to the PRC (Paraplegic Rehabilitation Center) for the soldiers who got wounded while protecting us. I learned a lot about myself, my limits, and my potential during these 4 hours. I also learned about the courage and resilience of the soldiers and the paraplegics who inspired me to run for a cause. I am grateful for this experience and I hope to share it with others through this blog.

Can Indian IT create another Jamshedpur?

India was a bit late to join the global Information Technology bandwagon, with only 2.5% contribution in 2001. But in a short span of time, it became an IT outsourcing hub, with the growth of homegrown IT Service industry. Strong institutional support, English proficiency, great talent pool and vast marketplace also brought prominent global IT software makers to India. 2010s saw the exponential rise of Startup industry where IT played a major role. Today, Indian IT industry contributes more than 19% to the global IT spend.

While several cities and towns have emerged as IT hubs in recent years, the Indian IT is mainly limited to top 6 cities - Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Noida and Pune. These cities account for the majority of IT hires in last 20 years. As a result of that, these cities (and few more) have seen quite a push for infrastructure investment by IT companies in these cities. Millions spent by companies on their ultra-modern campuses. Some of these campuses are nothing short of 5-star hotel experience. 

A few examples of these investments:

• Infosys invested Rs. 2,055 crores in its Mysuru campus in 2000s

• Amazon invested Rs 11,400 crores in India in 2019-20

• Microsoft spent nearly a billion dollars on infrastructure investments in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Noida

The question is then, how much of this has benefited the employees? Pay packages have gone up, but so is the cost of living in these cities. It was a challenge to migrate to these cities in early 2000, and it remains so after so many years, for both new and experienced people. Like in the case of Bengaluru, it has instead become more difficult to find a decent home, school and work-life balance in most of these IT cities. A family requires to spend close to 5L just on migration to a city like Bengaluru as per some estimates.

Rents are going through the roof in Bengaluru as fight for flats intensifies

With this background, let’s go back 100 years to re-visit the story of Jamshedpur, India’s first Industrial town. When Jamshedji Tata envisioned India’s first iron and steel plant at Sakchi village, he not only thought about the steel-making plant, but also about a sustainable town to attract and support the people working there. This ultimately resulted in the foundation of Jamshedpur, with proper town planning and having all the basic amenities. This is what I refer to as the Institute Model, which like top educational institutions, also takes care of the housing and other needs of their employees.

During my initial experience, I have seen how affordable housing provided by engineering college helped young staff members, as well as having close proximity broke hierarchy barriers and created lasting personal bonds.

Now, let’s compare this to the gigantic Indian IT Industry has mostly operated in the Coaching Center Model since its inception. Like coaching institutes of Kota, they invest heavily in corporate infrastructure, but leave employee welfare to the mercy of civic authorities. IT has played direct role in increased traffic, increased pollution, inflated property and food prices. Employees getting stuck for hours in traffic or having difficulty finding a decent nearby school for their children, are impacting on the work efficiency of these companies only. 

Campuses of IISc/IITs can be an inspiration to modern IT infra

While these IT companies continue to spend millions on their ultra-modern campuses, little thought is given on building an inclusive eco-system for their employees. This is one of the main reasons for the lack of loyalty or sentiment one has for these IT companies despite working for years. Like coaching center experience, employees and their families will never develop a personal connection with such companies.

It is no wonder that people find it more convenient to move to a western country compared to moving to another city in India.

What stops these companies from creating inclusive campuses with well-planned affordable housing, schools, banks, gardens, and recreational facilities?

Definitely money is not a concern here. These IT giants do need to think and act from the employee’s perspective. Remote work due to pandemic allowed companies to hire talent from across the country. Now as they move towards hybrid models of work and expect employees to migrate, these points become all the more important. There are definite advantages for both.

Benefits for the companies:

• More Talent Willing to Migrate

• Greater Employees’ Efficiency

• Increased Employee Loyalty

• Reduced Attrition Rate

Benefits for the employees:

• Affordable Accommodation

• Easier Relocation (including schooling for kids)

• Inclusive Community

• Greater Work Efficiency (as personal problems are taken care of)

The vision of Jamshedji Tata established India's first planned Industrial city a century ago. This was when there was no air connectivity and rail/road connectivity was also minimal compared to today.

The question remains then

Can today's Indian IT industry be able to create another Jamshedpur?

Do provide your feedback on this based on your personal experience of migration.

The image is created using Microsoft Bing AI.

TechnoVille as envisioned by Bing AI

Book Review - Siddhartha

 

Reference - https://www.amazon.in/Siddhartha-Indian-Tale-Pocket-Classics/dp/9386538202/

This is a book written by the renowned German author Herman Hesse in 1922. It is a timeless classic. The spiritual journey of a young boy in search of an enlightenment is still very much relevant today.

I came across this book through one of the book reading sessions at Microsoft. Book manages to make the experiences of a young boy in his adventurous and searching life very visual and lively. The boy, Siddhartha, starts his journey from his father's home and meets a range of people, traveling to different places, each experience bringing certain changes in his life. As I continued reading, the places and characters in the book became very much alive. They all leave a definite footprints in our minds. 

Through the journey of this young boy, the author takes us through various aspects of our lives, from richness to poverty, from an ordinary ferryman to an exalted Buddha. In most part, the language is easy to understand. Some portions are quite comprehensive when it dives deeper into philosophy. Also at 190 odd pages, it will be over soon.

If one likes classical English literature and is looking for some simple yet meaningful read, this book is definitely recommended. It will surprise you.