Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the world, transforming industries and businesses at an unprecedented pace. With its ability to analyze massive amounts of data, identify patterns, and generate valuable insights, AI is empowering organizations to make informed decisions, enhance efficiency, and drive innovation. One of the pioneering organisations helping businesses as well as social sector stakeholders utlise the power of AI is Apurva.ai- an open innovation platform that harnesses the collective wisdom of networks to solve complex problems. By connecting diverse stakeholders, leveraging generative AI, and promoting inclusivity, the company aims to democratize knowledge, foster collaboration, and contribute to the development of more equitable and sustainable societies.
Apurva.ai was founded with a mission to address large-scale problems by effectively harnessing the collective power of ecosystems. The driving force behind Apurva.ai was the recognition of untapped potential within collective wisdom and the need to empower non-profit organizations in technological innovation. The platform transforms interactions and knowledge within organizations, partners, and communities into building blocks, which can be combined to generate fresh insights and wisdom, even accessible to those who have not participated. Apurva.ai provides tailored solutions to social entrepreneurs, funders, and enablers, facilitating holistic problem-solving and decision-making through the amplification of collective wisdom.
In this comprehensive interview with TheCSRUniverse, Anand Rajan, Mission Leader and Co- founder at Apurva.ai takes us through their journey and progress, unique offerings, and dimensions for future growth. We delve deeper into the process through which Apurva.ai is striving to solve large-scale problems and paving the way for equitable access to transformative technologies and collective wisdom for social good.
Scroll down for more insights on the tremendous potential of AI and how Apurva.ai is harnessing it to bring positive social change:
Q. Take us through the journey of Apurva.ai- who are the founders and what motivated them to start the company?
A. It all began with a pressing question: How can change leaders effectively harness the collective power of their ecosystem to tackle large and complex problems with greater speed and efficiency? There was always a strong drive to address large, complex problems with increased speed and efficiency.
The current availability of exponential technologies presented an opportune moment to fully harness their potential impact. Unlike in the past, when access to these tools was limited, now is an ideal time to utilize them for effective problem-solving.
Additionally, there was a firm belief in the importance of ensuring that non-profit organizations, NGOs, and civil society are not left behind in technological innovation. They should have equitable access to transformative technologies for addressing large-scale challenges. It is not solely for-profit entities that should reap the benefits of these advancements; the non-profit sector should also be empowered to leverage these tools. This motivation is rooted in the recognition that these organizations are the ones with the greatest need for such technologies and have the potential to create significant positive change.
The motivations driving Apurva.ai encompass a burning desire to solve large-scale problems, the accessibility of exponential technologies, and the imperative to provide non-profit organizations with equitable access to innovative solutions. This ensures their active involvement in technological advancements for effective problem-solving.
Apurva.ai was founded upon the realization of untapped potential within collective wisdom. In today's interconnected world, valuable information and expertise are often fragmented and difficult to access, hindering our ability to make meaningful and sustainable impact.
Acknowledging the power of networks, Apurva.ai aims to facilitate organizations in leveraging collective wisdom on a large scale. The founders recognized the amplifying capabilities of exponential technologies like Generative AI, which can process vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and generate valuable insights. Through its technology infrastructure, Apurva.ai empowers tackling complex systems problems.
At the heart of Apurva.ai lie the values of inclusion, trust, and emergence. Inclusion ensures diverse perspectives and expertise are considered, fostering a comprehensive understanding of challenges. Trust promotes collaboration, encouraging individuals and organizations to openly contribute their knowledge. Recognizing emergence, Apurva.ai values the idea that collective wisdom emerges through the interactions and collaborations of diverse stakeholders.
By embracing these values, Apurva.ai aims to democratize knowledge and empower individuals and communities. The organization strives to drive positive change, promote inclusion, and contribute to the development of more equitable and sustainable societies.
You can say I was the originator of the idea behind Apurva.ai. I have global expertise in both corporate and development sectors. I am guided by Sanjay, an experienced leader who has been at the forefront of advancing Societal Platform Thinking at Ekstep Foundation and Nandan, co-founder and chairman of EkStep Foundation, renowned for co-founding Infosys and serving as its non-executive chairman, who is an advisor to Apurva.ai.
Together, the team behind Apurva.ai strives to make collective wisdom accessible, foster collaboration, and drive positive societal change.
Q. Could you explain in simple terms what Apurva.ai does and what are some of its unique offerings and solutions for the market?
A. Apurva.ai enables any Change Leader (Social Entrepreneur, Funder, Enabler, etc) to solve problems with greater speed and efficiency. It does this by amplifying the collective wisdom of a network there by enabling holistic, efficient and comprehensive problem-solving. Collective wisdom emerges during interactions among diverse actors, but it diminishes once the interaction concludes, making it inaccessible to those who haven't participated.
Apurva.ai transforms all knowledge and interactions that occur within organizations, among partners, or communities into building blocks. These blocks can be combined to generate fresh insights and wisdom, even after the interaction has ended and accessible by those who have not participated.
We provide tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of social entrepreneurs, enablers, or funders working with their ecosystem to solve large and complex problems. Our main focus is on facilitating interactions and harnessing the collective wisdom of networks. While specific solutions are not elaborated upon, Apurva.ai's emphasis lies in empowering different groups, such as non-profits, founders, orchestrators, and change-makers, to leverage collective wisdom for effective problem-solving and decision-making.
Q. You lay strong emphasis on the concept of "collective wisdom". Could you explain what this means in the context of your organization and how you harness it?
A. Apurva.ai is an open innovation platform designed to empower change leaders in harnessing and amplifying the Collective Wisdom of their Network.
Collective Wisdom is an emergence that occurs when individuals or groups from different segments of the society come together to solve a complex systems problem. Each group brings a unique understanding of certain aspects of the problem, and when we combine these diverse perspectives, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of the broader system that we can't achieve alone.
At Apurva.ai, we harness collective wisdom by creating a platform that facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing among various stakeholders. We provide tools and resources that enable individuals and organizations to contribute their unique perspectives and expertise to the collective pool of wisdom.
Through our platform, we encourage active participation and engagement, promoting inclusivity and diversity of thought. By connecting different actors in the ecosystem and leveraging generative technologies, we facilitate the exchange of knowledge, insights, and best practices.
We recognize that collective wisdom thrives when there is trust, transparency, and open communication. We foster an environment where individuals and organizations feel empowered to share their ideas, experiences, and lessons learned.
By harnessing collective wisdom, Apurva.ai enables Change Leaders and problem solvers to access a wealth of knowledge and insights. This collective intelligence serves as a valuable resource for generating innovative solutions and driving positive change in complex societal problems.
Apurva.ai leverages collective wisdom by providing a collaborative platform, promoting inclusivity, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and insights among diverse stakeholders.
Q. Who are your major clients and partners at the moment? What are some of the most common issues that clients expect you to help with?
A. Apurva.ai caters to a diverse range of clients, including government bodies, civil society organisations.
It ensures that the voice of the communities remains central to all decisions, it is important to engage with various stakeholders who can act as curators, foundations, collaborators, or orchestrators. These roles play a crucial part in connecting and amplifying the voices of different solvers and funders within your context.
To achieve this, Apurva.ai focuses on several key aspects. Firstly, it emphasises the importance of capturing the voice of communities and incorporating it into the design process. This ensures that the solutions developed truly address the needs and aspirations of the people they aim to serve.
Secondly, By bringing together individuals and organizations with varied expertise and experiences, these groups become a rich source of collective wisdom, fostering innovation and collaborative problem-solving.
Thirdly, Apurva.ai recognizes the significance of strengthening interactions within organizations and with their partners. By facilitating seamless and productive communication channels, Apurva.ai enhances collaboration and knowledge sharing, enabling more effective decision-making and implementation of solutions.
Another important aspect for Apurva.ai is making institutional knowledge more consumable. It seeks to break down complex information into digestible formats, making it easily accessible and understandable to a wider audience. This approach enables stakeholders to tap into the wealth of institutional knowledge, empowering them to make informed decisions and take impactful actions.
Apurva.ai's client base spans government bodies, civil society organizations, and various sectors like livelihood and education. It focuses on incorporating community voices into design decisions, creating open public groups to harness collective wisdom, strengthening interactions within organizations and with partners, and making institutional knowledge more consumable. These strategies enable Apurva.ai to foster inclusive, informed, and impactful solutions for complex societal challenges.
Q. Your team mentioned using AI and generative systems for solving large scale issues like climate change, healthcare and disaster relief. Please elaborate how Apurva.ai is moving or plans to move in this direction.
A. Apurva.ai's approach to disaster relief and resilience involves actively incorporating the perspectives and voices of affected communities in the decision-making process. The platform serves as a collaborative space where community members can share their experiences, concerns, and insights related to the impact of disasters. By ensuring community inclusion, Apurva.ai enables decision-makers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and needs faced by those affected.
Through its collaborative platform, Apurva.ai facilitates the integration of community voices into disaster relief and resilience planning. Decision-makers and stakeholders can access the valuable information and recommendations provided by the communities, leading to more effective and relevant initiatives. From the initial stages of gathering community insights to the design and implementation of solutions, Apurva.ai supports the entire end-to-end process of disaster management.
Apurva.ai also extends its capabilities to healthcare initiatives. Within the healthcare sector, the platform enhances the quality of interactions among medical practitioners. It provides real-time insights, ideas, reflective questions, and suggestions, fostering engagement and knowledge exchange among healthcare professionals. The accumulated knowledge from these interactions is consolidated, creating a digital brain accessible in users' preferred language. This empowers healthcare stakeholders to collaborate and generate innovative solutions to address healthcare challenges.
In the agriculture sector, Apurva.ai recognizes the significant role farmers play in driving innovation. The platform aims to bridge the gap between farmers and facilitate the sharing of their valuable innovations with others, regardless of language or location. By enabling farmers to learn from and adopt each other's innovative practices, Apurva.ai enhances efficiency within the agricultural ecosystem. The platform also integrates the expertise of agricultural researchers, the decisions of policymakers, and the insights from farmer producer organizations, fostering a collective wisdom that drives sustainable and innovative approaches in agriculture.
Overall, Apurva.ai's approach centers around community participation, collaboration, and the exchange of collective wisdom. By incorporating diverse perspectives, the platform empowers stakeholders to develop inclusive and effective solutions that address the specific needs of communities impacted by disasters or facing challenges in healthcare and agriculture.
Q. In what ways does Apurva.ai ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI in its operations? How do you address concerns related to privacy, bias, and transparency?
A. Apurva.ai is committed to ensuring the responsible and ethical use of AI in all its operations. To address concerns related to privacy, bias, and transparency, the platform incorporates multiple measures. There are six key points to consider regarding Apurva.ai's knowledge generation and curation:
- Trust - Ensuring that the knowledge and insights generated originate from sources we trust, rather than the internet.
- Provenance - Maintaining traceability to the sources of knowledge.
- Telemetric governance - Providing transparency and a better understanding of the interactions that happen on the platform.
- Feedback Loops - Establishing a process of continuous learning and improvement.
- Credentialed users - Granting access to qualified and trustworthy users.
- Bias Mitigation - Incorporating diverse sources and strategies to prevent bias.
By considering these six points, Apurva.ai maintains a robust approach to knowledge generation, verification, adaptability, and continuous improvement, thereby strengthening its value proposition as a platform for leveraging collective wisdom.
Q. What kind of growth does Apurva.ai expect to achieve in the near to medium future, both in terms of its market presence and impact on social problems?
Apurva.ai has a comprehensive roadmap for continuous growth and advancement. The organisation’s key areas of focus include:
- Global South: Apurva.ai aims to become a platform that caters to the specific challenges and needs of countries in the Global South. By being available in several global languages, supporting voice and text based interactions and in offline and online mode, Apurva.ai seeks to address critical global needs.
- Sectoral Focus: Apurva.ai prioritises sectors particularly in areas of Healthcare, Energy, Disaster, Policy, Agriculture, Climate, Livelihood, Education. By concentrating efforts in these sectors, Apurva.ai strives to create positive sectoral impact and drive meaningful change.
- Do-it-Yourself (DIY): Apurva.ai aims to provide self-service capabilities, enabling both small and large organisations to leverage the platform and promoting comprehensive problem-solving. This DIY approach empowers organisations to take full advantage of Apurva.ai's capabilities and tailor them to their specific needs.
- Inclusion: Apurva.ai strives to enhance accessibility for users across multiple platforms, including popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Furthermore, our future plans involve enabling Interactive Voice Response (IVR) interactions in local languages through feature phones, thereby promoting multilingual support.
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