Interview with Apurva Nagvekar

Dr. KK begins by expressing curiosity about Apurv's passion for Indian languages, particularly Konkani. Apurv discusses the current scenario of Indian languages in the context of AI and NLP (Natural Language Processing). While languages like Hindi and Telugu have made significant progress in digitalization and NLP, resource-scarce languages such as Konkani face challenges due to a lack of digital presence and limited data for training models. Researchers in India are actively working on techniques to adapt models trained for more widely available languages and apply them to resource- scarce languages.

Dr. KK explores the possibility of research being published in native languages, like Konkani or Marathi, with the aid of language models. Apurv emphasizes that large language models have the potential to bridge the gap and enable research findings to be communicated more easily in non- English languages. This development is particularly significant for regions like India, Africa, and South America, where English is not the first language or the most commonly spoken language for research communication.

Transitioning to a lighter topic, Dr. KK inquires about Apurv 's hobbies outside of AI and computer programming. Apurv reveals a fondness for traveling, enjoying weekend drives and exploring beaches and hills. Having grown up in Goa, Apurv particularly appreciates the scenic beauty and peacefulness of the coastal region.

Dr. KK, an avid reader and motorcycle enthusiast, asks Apurv about his reading habits. While Apurv primarily focuses on research papers, he also enjoys watching movies and documentaries, with Netflix and Amazon Prime being his preferred platforms. Apurv shares his experience attending the international film festival in Goa, where he gained exposure to interesting and thought-provoking movies. Work from Home vs. Office Dynamics

Discussing the changes brought about by the pandemic, Dr. KK asks Apurv about his preference between working from home and working from the office. Apurv expresses that while remote work is suitable for him, he still values the occasional visit to the office. These visits provide an opportunity to align with the product's direction, strategize roadmaps, and engage in fruitful conversations with colleagues.

Transitioning back to the Trinka product, Dr. KK highlights the impressive grammar correction engine developed by Apurv and his team. This engine has outperformed competitors in the academic domain and on-going research aims to further improve its capabilities. Apurv also mentions their work on a text rephrasing module, allowing users to input a sentence that is then paraphrased while retaining the original meaning.