Digital
Weekend Unwind with: Tonic Worldwide co-founder and COO Samir Asher
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind—a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have Tonic Worldwide co-founder and COO Samir Asher.
Asher heads technology and innovation in the digital first integrated agency.
Having set up a team of 160+ people across India, Asher believes in a people-first entrepreneurial culture encouraging the development of talent across verticals. He has been consulting brands for their digital and business transformation initiative by enabling their D2C presence and leads search and organic discoverability for these brands along with their other tech initiatives. He has consulted over 200 brands across multiple countries at Tonic.
He has led multiple industry-first tech initiatives like neurosensory gaming, multi-screen interactive engagement, immersive experiences in the metaverse and generative AI.
So, without further ado, here it goes…
- Your mantra for Life
Eat cake, stay awake, and laugh till your abs ache!
- A Book you are currently reading / plan to read
Hooked: How To Build Habit-Forming Products – nir eyal
- Your Fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Fitness and I go way back. I used to love my gym time; it was where I’d escape, just me and the weights. But when the pandemic hit, things changed. I started working out twice as much at home, getting creative with resistance bands on my terrace and sweating it out with High Intensity Interval Training. If anyone looked up, they’d think they were witnessing a one-person fitness flash mob!
- Your comfort food
A warm bowl of Dal chawal or Tandoori Chicken, Salad
- When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
Treat them like a video game level. Jump, dodge, and power through, knowing that victory awaits at the end!
- Your guilty pleasure
Well, if we’re spilling secrets here, let me confess: my guilty pleasure is a smooth single malt whisky on the rocks.
- When was the last time you tried something new?
I attempted to breakdance like a pro. Let’s just say the only thing I successfully broke was my dignity!
- A Life lesson you learnt the hard way
Geeky gadgets, social apps and tech wizardry may be exciting, but don’t forget to cherish real-life connections. The best algorithms are often found in the hearts of loved ones.
- What gets you excited about life?
The thrill of conquering new challenges, whether it’s tackling a trail, digital innovation, mastering a new skill, or achieving personal goals. Pushing my limits ignites my excitement for life’s journey.
- What’s on top of your bucket list?
Wing walking! Now, if only I could stumble upon a magical lamp to grant me that wish. Fingers crossed!
- If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t take life too seriously. Dance like no one’s watching (but be aware that someone might be recording it for making a viral meme)
- One thing you would most like to change about the world
One thing I would most like to change about the world is the prevalence of internet bullying and the lack of people helping each other. It’s disheartening to see the harm caused by online cruelty and the missed opportunities for kindness and support
- An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
I find motivation and energy through a powerful combination of exercise, music, and gaming. And when I crave a sense of peace, I embrace moments of solitude to recharge and reflect.
- What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
I take a moment to reflect on the positive aspects of my life and express gratitude for the little things that bring me happiness.
- Your go-to stress buster
My go-to stress buster involves enjoying a cup of cinnamon coffee while listening to my favorite music. It’s a delightful combination that instantly uplifts my mood and helps me relax.
Digital
Ethical AI must benefit society, not dominate it, says WFEB chief Sanjay Pradhan at IAA event
At Mumbai event, ethics expert urges businesses and governments to shape AI responsibly
MUMBAI: Artificial intelligence may be racing ahead at lightning speed, but its direction must still be guided by human conscience. That was the central message delivered by Sanjay Pradhan, president of the World Forum for Ethics in Business (WFEB), during the latest edition of IAA Conversations held in Mumbai.
The session was organised by the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Artificial Intelligence Association of India (AIAI) in association with The Free Press Journal at the Free Press House on 7 March. Addressing a packed audience, Pradhan called for stronger ethical leadership to ensure AI remains a tool that benefits humanity rather than one that governs it.
“Artificial intelligence has rapidly become one of the most powerful technologies humanity has created,” Pradhan said. “It is unlocking breakthroughs in medicine, science and creativity at a pace unimaginable just a few years ago.”
But he warned that the same technology carries serious risks. AI, he noted, can amplify disinformation faster than facts can travel, compromise privacy, deepen discrimination and disrupt millions of livelihoods. Referencing concerns raised by AI pioneers such as Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, Pradhan stressed that the real challenge is not whether AI will shape the world, but whether humans will shape it with ethics and wisdom.
Structuring his talk around four guiding questions, why, what, how and who, Pradhan introduced the audience to WFEB’s emerging AI Ethics Partnership, a global platform aimed at advancing responsible artificial intelligence. He outlined four priority concerns that demand urgent attention: disinformation, bias and discrimination, data privacy and job security.
To make the idea of ethical AI easier to grasp, Pradhan offered a simple metaphor. Ethical AI, he said, is like a three layered cake. The outer layer represents the visible value ethical AI creates for businesses and society. The middle layer is organisational culture that moves ethics from written codes to everyday practice. The innermost layer, however, is the most crucial, the conscience of individual leaders.
Drawing from Indian philosophical thought through WFEB co-founder Ravi Shankar, Pradhan noted that while artificial intelligence can reproduce stored knowledge, true intelligence is boundless and rooted in conscience, creativity and compassion. Practices such as breathwork and meditation, he suggested, can help leaders develop the calm clarity needed for ethical decision making.
The event also featured a discussion with Maninder Adityaraj Singh, chief of staff and head of innovation at Rediffusion Brand Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Yash Johri, lawyer, Supreme Court of India.
Opening the session, IAA India chapter president Abhishek Karnani, highlighted the need for industries to understand and engage with AI responsibly.
“AI has to be befriended and understood,” added Rediffusion managing director and AIAI national convenor Sandeep Goyal. “Its ethical use will determine whether it becomes a friend or a foe.”
As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, Pradhan ended with a simple but powerful call to action. Businesses, governments and individuals must work together to ensure that the algorithms shaping the future reflect human values rather than just cold logic.
