Redefining Intelligence For Real-World Change
Dr. Bhagirath Bhardwaj
Sr. Director at Softsensor.ai and Founder GarvAiLab Pvt Ltd.
Softsensor.Ai and GarvAiLab
Redefining Intelligence For Real-World Change
Dr. Bhagirath Bhardwaj
Sr. Director at Softsensor.ai and Founder GarvAiLab Pvt Ltd.
Softsensor.Ai and GarvAiLab
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how businesses understand and inÁuence human behaviour, the real challenge lies not in building smarter models but in creating intelligence that people can trust and connect with. Few professionals have navigated this space with as much depth and purpose as Dr. Bhagirath Bhardwaj, Senior Director at SoftSensor.ai and Founder of GarvAiLab Pvt. Ltd. From his early days as a software engineer to leading global data and AI teams at Knowlarity, Essex Lake Group, OLX, and Unacademy, his journey reÁects both technical mastery and human insight. Over the years, he has pioneered systems for real-time recommendations, fraud detection, and personalised engagement, earning multiple U.S. patents and inspiring teams across industries. In an exclusive conversation with TradeFlock, Dr Bhagirath Bhardwaj opens up about his journey, leadership philosophy, and what it truly takes to advance the next frontier of applied AI.
Your journey from coder to AI leader has been remarkable. What defined your path?
It has been a great journey. I have been fortunate to meet incredible mentors and colleagues who guided me at every step and saved me years of trial and error. I started exploring data science around 2010, when there were no ready-made tools or libraries. I was coding neural networks manually in C++, writing every mathematical function in vector form. That early grind taught me how intelligence is actually built, not just applied. Later, I joined the Advanced Distributed Machine Learning Lab, where I was the only non-PhD researcher among scholars from IIT Kanpur, Spain, the US, and the UK. That experience shaped my foundation and approach to learning. At OLX, I built the data science function from the ground up, working on fraud detection, AI chatbots, and recommendation systems. We were processing around 500 GB of data daily and blocking thousands of fraudulent accounts in real-time. That scale and sense of purpose convinced me that AI could truly transform businesses.
"We should use Generative AI as an enabler, not a shortcut. True innovation still depends on curiosity, patience, and the desire to learn."
What inspired you to start GarvAiLab, and what problem were you solving?
GarvAiLab was born from my experience in the used-car market. The automobile resale market in India is vast but highly fragmented, with models such as C2B, B2C, and D2D. Large companies spend enormous amounts on marketing, yet still struggle to stay profitable, while the local dealers who keep the market alive often face the toughest challenges. I wanted to empower those dealers. We built platforms such as CarTopNews and A1Looks that connect them directly with buyers through AI-driven dynamic pricing. Pricing determines whether a car sells quickly or sits idle for months. Our algorithms calculate optimal buy and sell prices in real time, helping dealers maintain profitability and control. “That is what I call practical AI, technology that genuinely empowers people who make the industry move.”
You have earned patents and a doctorate. How have these shaped your perspective?
A PhD in AI or mathematics completely changes how you think. It is not about passing exams or earning grades. It is about discovering something truly new. That process trains your mind to recognise what will work and what will not, often even before you start experimenting. It saves time, effort, and resources for everyone involved. I rarely use the title “Dr.” because my patents feel more meaningful. They represent real-world problems solved. One of my favourite inventions is a bidirectional AI chatbot developed long before GPT existed. It could understand both sides of a conversation and make buyer-seller exchanges more human. Another is an ondevice recommendation engine that processes data locally to preserve privacy while delivering instant results. These creations were not theoretical ideas. They addressed real challenges at scale and proved that deep research can lead to impactful innovation.
What do you see as the true impact and risk of Generative AI?
Generative AI is already transforming how people work, from developers and designers to teachers and farmers. I once used ChatGPT with my father to decide which crops to grow in Himachal based on rainfall and altitude. That moment showed how far AI has come in making knowledge accessible to everyone. The benefits are huge, from faster innovation to smarter decision-making and enhanced creativity. Yet there is also a hidden risk. It is taking away the opportunity to learn deeply. Many people now rely on AI for quick answers without understanding the fundamentals behind them. When unpredictable problems appear, they struggle to adapt. “We should use Generative AI as an enabler, not a shortcut. True innovation still depends on curiosity, patience, and the desire to learn.”
What advice would you give emerging AI leaders today?
AI should never be viewed as a replacement for people. It should be viewed as a force that enables teams to tackle more complex challenges with the same resources. The real purpose of AI is not cost-cutting but capability expansion. Empower your teams to experiment, to learn, and to take ownership of what they build. Success is not only about delivering projects or launching new products; It is also about how motivated and valued your people feel while building them. Every leader should focus on culture and stability. Since the arrival of Generative AI, many professionals have become uncertain about their roles. It is the leader’s responsibility to give them clarity and confidence. When people feel safe and trusted, they do incredible things, and that becomes the true strength of any organisation.
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