Welcome to Lost in Layers
Welcome to my new corner of the internet. My name is Arvind, and for the better part of my career, I’ve been a builder. I’m a software engineer at heart, a problem-solver by trade, and—thanks to my time at IIM Ahmedabad—a strategist by training.
This space is the start of a new chapter. It’s about a deliberate pivot from a world I know well to one that has me completely captivated: Artificial Intelligence.
A Quick Rewind
To understand where I’m going, it helps to know where I’ve been.
My journey in tech began at TCS, where I was thrown into the deep end, working for a major airline. It was a formative experience. I had to learn a new language in just three months and eventually took ownership of a critical application that handled about 60% of the airline's total ticket sales. It taught me about scale, responsibility, and the thrill of seeing your code make a real-world impact.
That thrill of building led me to the world of startups. I founded and successfully exited an Ed-Tech venture, a roller-coaster ride that taught me more than any textbook ever could. Beyond my own company, I’ve had the privilege of being in the trenches with other startups, helping them launch their first products. I’ve worked with teams like Canada-based PeakPowerEnergy and Novologic Inc., Where I helped them launch their first product. I was also part of the team at NY-based Teampay that launched their TeamsBot.
From architecting systems to shaping go-to-market strategies, my focus has always been on building things that solve real problems.
So, Why AI? Why Now?
Like many of you, I started hearing the buzz around AI. In my free time, I began to read, experiment, and tinker. What started as professional curiosity quickly morphed into a genuine fascination. I found myself falling down the rabbit hole of machine learning models, neural networks, and the incredible potential of LLMs.
The more I learned, the clearer it became: this isn't just the next trend; it's a fundamental paradigm shift in how we will build, create, and interact with technology. The sheer pace of innovation is exhilarating. As a builder, I feel a gravitational pull to not just use these tools, but to understand them from the ground up.
So, I’ve made a decision. I’m making a career switch to AI. I'm swapping my founder/consultant hat for a learner's mindset, and I'm starting this blog to document the entire journey.
What to Expect From This Space
This blog is my public learning journal, my lab, and my compass. My vision is to build this space in layers:
The Learning Journal: We’ll start at the beginning. I'll be sharing my notes, key takeaways, and challenges as I work through foundational courses like fast.ai and Andrew Ng's renowned Machine Learning Specialisation. No jargon left behind—we'll break it down together.
The Laboratory: Learning isn't passive. As I grasp new concepts, I'll be building unique experiments and projects. We'll dive into the exciting stuff—LLMs, Agentic AI, RAG pipelines with tools like LangChain and LangGraph, and more. I'll share the code, the successes, and, just as importantly, the failures.
The Compass: To keep us all oriented, I'll be publishing a weekly or bi-weekly AI newsletter. It will be a curated digest of the most important news, emerging trends, and upcoming developments in the AI landscape.
The Future: Down the line, You will get full-fledged courses, career advice for those looking to make a similar switch, and one-on-one sessions.
When I’m not coding or reading research papers, you can find me on a court playing a badminton or tennis match. I’m also a licensed paragliding pilot, always looking for that mix of freedom and calculated risk — both in the skies and in startups. There’s a strange parallel between navigating unpredictable air currents and navigating a field as dynamic as AI. Both require a calm mind, a respect for the fundamentals, and the courage to take a leap.
This is my leap. I invite you to join me.
If you're a builder, a fellow learner, a curious professional, or someone just trying to make sense of the AI wave, let's navigate it together.
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