Joy of building things by Madhav Shankar

Is the current AI boom another tech bubble waiting to burst? In this episode of "Joy of Building Things," Madhav Shankar takes a critical look at the promises and pitfalls of generative AI. We explore the frustrating and sometimes bizarre flaws in AI-powered coding, image, and video generation that users are encountering daily. From "hallucinating" code to the unsettling world of the uncanny valle...

In this episode of "Joy of Building Things," host Madhav Shankar confronts the imminent and profound impact of Artificial Intelligence on the global workforce over the next five years. The episode opens with the jarring reality of AI-driven job displacement, sharing the personal story of a copywriter made redundant by ChatGPT, and citing predictions of up to 300 million job losses. However, the na...

In this episode of "Joy of Building Things," host Madhav Shankar delves into the transformative world of AI agents and AI browsers, exploring how these intertwined technologies are set to revolutionise our interaction with the internet. The episode begins by demystifying AI agents, portraying them not as futuristic concepts, but as increasingly practical tools that can autonomously handle complex...

This episode of "Joy of Building Things," hosted by Madhav Shankar, delves into what truly made startups unicorns in India in 2025. Contrary to the frenzy of previous years, 2025 was a period of maturation and strategic evolution for the Indian startup ecosystem. Key takeaways from the episode include: • Fewer, but Stronger Unicorns: In 2025, India saw six confirmed new unicorns, with a combined v...

The episode underscores the need for responsible AI deployment, focusing on efficiency innovations like model pruning and quantization, and using carbon-aware software to shift workloads to greener energy times or locations. Integrating renewable energy to power data centers is also crucial. Policymakers are encouraged to mandate transparent reporting of AI's environmental effects and ensure that...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it's actively shaping the world our children are growing up in. From personalised learning tools to interactive entertainment, AI is integrated into many aspects of their lives. But what does this mean for their development? In this episode, we explore the profound impact of AI on children, examining both the incredible opportunities...

With AI now generating text, images, and music, some claim it has "outpaced human creativity" on certain metrics. Does this mean creativity, as we know it, is dying? Join us as we tackle this provocative question. While AI excels at rapidly generating ideas and content, acting as a potent brainstorming tool, human creativity involves a richer blend of originality, intention, emotion, and personal...

Join us for an inspiring session with Aditya Sharma, the visionary behind Ecotyl, a brand rooted in the power of natural and sustainable living. Ecotyl is more than just a brand; it's a commitment to providing 100% natural, eco-friendly, and high-quality products while nurturing the planet.   In this exclusive collaboration, we'll delve into Aditya's journey and the philosophy that drives Ecotyl's...

This Episode talks about Optimizing your profile, share valuable and engaging content (diverse formats, strong hooks, storytelling), understand the algorithm (meaningful comments, dwell time, native content), actively engage, post consistently, repurpose content, consider AI, and track performance. Balance professional and personal content, use humor appropriately, create savable frameworks, and s...

Dive into the future of entrepreneurship with your host, Madhav, on this episode of Joy of Building Things (JBT). We unpack ten high‑impact AI‑powered ideas—from specialized virtual assistants and privacy‑first personalization to predictive maintenance and next‑gen financial planning—alongside ten non‑AI ventures, like circular‑economy marketplaces, hyper‑local delivery, ethical fashion, and repai...

This episode explores the rapidly evolving intersection of technology and mental health care, focusing on the potential and challenges of digital mental health technologies (DMHTs). We examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in initial mental health screenings by analyzing video, text, and audio data to prioritize high-risk patients. However, questions remain about the validity of A...