Vivek Seshadri

Vivek Seshadri is a principal researcher at Microsoft Research India and co-founder of Karya, a platform focused on providing ethical and dignified digital work to underserved rural communities. With a PhD in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University and a BTech from IIT Madras, his academic work has centred on efficient computer architecture, particularly DRAM-based memory systems.

At Microsoft Research, he is part of the Technology for Emerging Markets group, combining deep technical expertise with a mission to drive social impact. He helped launch Project Karya within Microsoft, which evolved into a broader effort to deliver fair wages and inclusive AI participation through crowd-based tasks tailored for low-connectivity regions. Seshadri highlights issues such as data worker rights, mental health safeguards, and royalty-based compensation models, pushing the discourse on ethical data labour.

Under his leadership, Karya has become a model for responsible AI deployment rooted in Indian linguistic and cultural contexts. Seshadri has also contributed to widely cited research in computer systems, including innovations like Ambit and ChargeCache. Known for his thoughtful approach to technology and equity, he continues to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world social transformation.