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From Khadgam to Chatbots: Letting Go, Leveling Up, and Loving the AI Ride

From Khadgam to Chatbots-image created by author and ChatGPT-5

“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
— Back to the Future (1985)

1. Letting Go of the Old Model

Sticking to your old mental model—your tried-and-tested habits—is like refusing to give up a horse and buggy when Teslas are whizzing past. We cling to the familiar because it’s comfortable, but in AI adoption, that comfort zone can be a trap. Whether it’s how you work, how you communicate, or how you solve problems, if you keep doing things “the old way,” you’ll be left behind in the digital dust.

2. Transformation Fatigue Is Real

Even when people are open to change, organizations often overload them with AI tools and mandates—without enough context or support. The result? Transformation fatigue: a quiet killer of enthusiasm where teams feel exhausted and distrustful. As one recent report put it, “AI’s problem isn’t the tech. It’s trust” (TechRadar Pro, Aug 2025). Gradual rollouts, real training, and clear communication matter far more than flashy launches.

3. The Experience Paradox

In Khadgam, Prithvi proudly says he has “30 years’ industry experience.” But if those decades were just spent replaying the same script, is that really experience? In AI adoption, true experience comes from evolution, not repetition. It’s about outgrowing your current role, experimenting with new tools, and—even if it stings a little—making parts of your job redundant so you can focus on higher-value work.

4. The Skills Gap and Adoption Lag

Across Asia—and especially in India—skill shortages remain a serious hurdle. A recent study found that 58% of Learning & Development leaders cite skill gaps and slow AI uptake as their biggest challenge (TOI, Aug 2025). Without structured upskilling, AI risks becoming another expensive tool gathering dust.

5. The Infrastructure Reality

AI isn’t just a chatbot in your browser—it’s GPUs, data pipelines, storage systems, APIs, and energy costs humming in the background. Choosing the right infrastructure—cloud, hybrid, or on-prem—can make the difference between scalable success and a costly dead end . This decision needs both technical foresight and financial prudence.


A Fun Wrap-Up

Adopting AI isn’t a one-off switch—it’s an ongoing mindset shift. You don’t have to become a machine-learning engineer overnight, but you do have to:

  • Let go of outdated habits.
  • Build trust, not just compliance.
  • Redefine what “experience” means.
  • Close the skill gap.
  • Strengthen your tech foundation.

Because in the end, AI’s role isn’t to replace us, but to elevate us—if we’re willing to take the ride.

“Train to be a plumber.”-Geoffrey Hinton

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(Above image generated using a prompt from Claude Opus 4 and ChatGPT-4o)
(Below Snippet from summary generated using Google AI studio+Gemini 2.5 Pro (free), using the youtube transcript)

Final Messages & Outlook (1:17:19 – 1:19:33, 1:24:08 – 1:25:39, 1:28:10 – End)

  • To World Leaders: We need “highly regulated capitalism.”
  • To the Average Person: Individual actions have limited impact (like separating plastics for climate change). The key is to pressure governments to force large companies to invest heavily in AI safety research.
  • Call to Action on Safety: There’s still a chance to figure out how to develop AI that won’t want to take over. Enormous resources should be dedicated to this, because if not, AI will take over.
  • Hopefulness: He is “agnostic” and genuinely doesn’t know the outcome. When depressed, he thinks humans are “toast”; when cheerful, he thinks “we’ll figure out a way.”
  • Urgency: “Unless we do something soon, we’re near the end.”
  • Plumber Advice Not a Joke: He reiterates his earlier advice seriously, as plumbers are well-paid and their physical work is harder for AI to replicate soon.
  • Other Concerned Experts: He notes a surprising number of people within the AI field now share his concerns but are less public, perhaps due to ongoing employment. He, being older and retired, can speak more freely.

(Below snippet from summary generated using Claude opus 04(paid))

Advice and Predictions

Career Advice in AI World

  • “Train to be a plumber” – physical manipulation jobs safer longer
  • Paralegal assistants won’t be needed much longer
  • Wealth inequality will increase dramatically
  • Universal Basic Income might prevent starvation but won’t provide purpose/dignity

For Those in Power

  • Need “highly regulated capitalism”
  • Force companies to use resources for safety research
  • Current politicians don’t understand technology
  • International cooperation needed but unlikely

For Average People

  • Not much individuals can do
  • Like climate change – not solved by recycling
  • Can pressure governments to force companies to work on AI safety

Timeline Predictions

  • Superintelligence: possibly 10-20 years (maybe less, maybe 50)
  • Job displacement: Already happening
  • University graduates already struggling to find jobs
  • CEO example: Company reduced from 7,000 to 3,000 employees due to AI

Hope for the Future

  • “There’s still a chance” to develop safe AI
  • Should put “enormous resources” into safety research
  • Personally “agnostic” about outcomes
  • When depressed: “people are toast”
  • When cheerful: “we’ll figure out a way”

Key Quotes and Analogies

  • “If you want to know what life’s like when you’re not the apex intelligence, ask a chicken”
  • On superintelligence taking over: “We need to figure out how to make them not want to take over”
  • Mother-baby analogy: Evolution made babies control smarter mothers through crying
  • Tiger cub analogy: Must ensure it never wants to kill you when grown
  • On human specialness: “We thought we were at the center of the universe… white people thought they were special… we just tend to want to think we’re special”
  • Final warning: “We have to face the possibility that unless we do something soon, we’re near the end”

Current State of AI Leaders

  • Some privately believe in dystopian future but lie publicly
  • Motivated by power more than money
  • Sam Altman previously said AI “will probably kill us all,” now says don’t worry
  • Disconnect between public statements and private beliefs

Final Message

The biggest threat to human happiness is joblessness – people need purpose and to feel useful. Mass unemployment is “definitely more probable than not” and is already beginning. Urgent action is needed but the political systems are “all going in the wrong direction.” His advice if you don’t have money: “Train to be a plumber.”

Full video–>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giT0ytynSqg

🎥 The Shape-Shifting Brilliance of Gene Hackman: A Legacy Remembered

image generated by author and ChatGPT-4o

The recent passing of Gene Hackman has left a void in the cinematic world, marking the end of an era defined by his unparalleled talent and versatility. Hackman, who died of heart disease complicated by advanced Alzheimer’s disease, was found in his Santa Fe home approximately a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Gene Hackman’s performances consistently revealed a rare quality: his ability to slip into vastly different characters without relying on major physical transformation. This subtle but powerful skill brings to mind the genius of legendary Telugu actor S. V. Ranga Rao (SVR), who could embody both a humble villager and a commanding aristocrat with nothing but a change in attire—and total conviction.

In much the same way, Hackman’s characters sprang to life through internal transformation. In “Mississippi Burning” (1988), he portrayed a relentless FBI agent navigating the racial turmoil of the segregated South. In “The French Connection” (1971), he became Popeye Doyle, a hard-nosed detective fighting drug trafficking. And in “Crimson Tide” (1995), he transformed into Captain Frank Ramsey, a seasoned commander aboard a nuclear submarine on the brink of war. Despite these drastically different roles, Hackman’s essence remained steady: commanding, convincing, and never overplayed.

🎭 A Note on Acting: SVR, Sukumar, and Subtlety

As the author of Directing Business, I often reflect on the elusive quality of great acting. Drawing from years of observation and many conversations with my father, I define a great actor as someone who brings depth to a character without needing to drastically change their physical appearance.

Courtesy: Sakshi Post

He sees parallels between Hackman and SVR garu—both actors who could seamlessly inhabit any role with minimal costume change. A torn vest turned SVR into a laborer; a silk angavastram made him a landlord. Similarly, Hackman could wear a uniform or a jacket and transform entirely, not through makeup, but sheer internalization.

I also recall being surprised when director Sukumar compared another actor—possibly Allu Arjun—to SVR garu. While I acknowledge his talent, that comparison didn’t sit well with me. True acting excellence, in my view, lies in effortless immersion, something both SVR and Hackman exemplified.

🎬 Hackman in ‘Directing Business’: Leadership on Screen

In my book Directing Business, I explored Hackman’s role in Crimson Tide to illustrate contrasting leadership styles. Captain Ramsey, portrayed by Hackman, is a traditional, instinct-driven leader whose decisive authority clashes with Denzel Washington’s rational, calculated XO, Ron Hunter. Their conflict becomes a case study in real-time crisis leadership, showcasing how personal philosophy, hierarchy, and communication can impact high-stakes decision-making.

Similarly, in Hoosiers, Hackman plays Coach Norman Dale—a man who benches his star player for insubordination. It’s a lesson in principled leadership, and one that I use to explore people management and long-term vision in teams.

These examples underline how Hackman’s screen presence and role selection offer more than entertainment—they offer teachable moments.

📚 Courtesy of MoviSvami GPT: More Hackman Lessons

Additional notes and observations curated by MoviSvami GPT reinforce Hackman’s legacy in management and leadership cinema:

  • Crimson Tide (1995) – A high-stakes lesson in command-and-control versus collaborative leadership. Watch it on Apple TV, YouTube Movies, or Google Play.
  • Hoosiers (1986) – Principles over popularity. The coach’s tough decisions reveal the long game of leadership.
  • The Practice of Management by Peter Drucker – For those inspired by Hackman’s portrayals of leadership, this book is a fitting next step. Available at Amazon India, Akshara Bookstore, and Landmark in Hyderabad.

🎞️ The Final Bow

Gene Hackman never needed to shout to command a scene. He was never flashy, never loud—but always powerful. His quiet confidence, consistency, and total commitment to every role placed him in a league of his own.

Though he has left us, his films endure as reflections of complex human behavior, timeless leadership, and understated genius. For anyone who admires the craft of acting—or the craft of leading—Hackman’s work remains an essential study.

Rest in peace, Gene Hackman.


Courtesy:
Management and Leadership filmography extracted from Directing Business by Lakshmi Narayana
Additional reflections and recommendations courtesy of MoviSvami GPT
SVR Rare Photos at Sakshi post