SparX by Mukesh Bansal

What happens when AI stops answering your questions and starts acting on your behalf? Mukesh Bansal and Peeyush Ranjan, co-founder of Fermi.ai and former Google and Flipkart executive, explore the race to build personal AI agents, how they could transform the way we shop, work and use the internet and what this shift means for India. From UPI and agent-led commerce to privacy, security and the future of jobs, this conversation examines the opportunities and risks of a world where AI does more than just respond.

What if the energy crisis has a solution that could change the future of humanity?Nuclear fusion powers the Sun. Now, scientists and startups are racing to recreate it on Earth and the stakes go far beyond electricity.In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal explores the science behind fusion, the breakthroughs bringing it closer to reality, and why billions of dollars are flowing into the race. He also looks at what this could mean for AI’s growing energy needs, India’s energy independence, and the next generation of deep-tech startups.CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction01:26 Why Nuclear Fusion Could Change the World05:27 What Is Nuclear Fusion?10:25 Nuclear Fission Explained13:47 The History and Risks of Nuclear Energy18:27 The First Fusion Reaction on Earth21:16 How a Tokamak Reactor Works26:41 Major Fusion Breakthroughs: JET and ITER27:43 The Fusion Race: Why Billions Are Pouring In30:14 The Companies Racing to Commercialise Fusion32:18 Is Nuclear Fusion Finally Within Reach?33:16 The Different Approaches to…

AI is getting better at answering questions. But what happens when it starts asking and solving the questions scientists haven’t answered yet?In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Paras Chopra, founder of Wingify and Lossfunk, to explore AI research, scientific discovery, consciousness, and India’s place in the global AI race.

AI is getting better at answering questions. But what happens when it starts asking and solving the questions scientists haven’t answered yet?In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Paras Chopra, founder of Wingify and Lossfunk, to explore AI research, scientific discovery, consciousness, and India’s place in the global AI race.

What will it take to build robots that can truly operate in the real world? 🤖 In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal is joined by Sergey Levine, computer scientist and co-founder of Physical Intelligence, to explore the future of AI and robotics and why giving machines physical intelligence is one of the hardest problems in AI. From Moravec’s Paradox and imitation learning to general-purpose robots and robot learning, we explore why AI that can write, reason and talk still struggles with the physical world, and what it will take to build robots that can learn, adapt, and perform a wide range of tasks. Whether you’re an AI enthusiast, robotics researcher, builder, or simply curious about where AI is headed, this conversation offers a glimpse into the next frontier of artificial intelligence. In this episode, we discuss: * Why physical intelligence is so difficult * Moravec’s Paradox and what it tells us about AI * How robots learn from human demonstrations * The race toward general-purpose robots * Why…

What does the roadmap to a "Viksit Bharat 2047" look like from the very top? 🇮🇳In this special episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal is joined by Professor Ajay Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister of India. As a key architect of India’s scientific policy and a Padmashri awardee, Professor Sood offers an exclusive look into the government’s strategic vision for technology as the ultimate pillar of national sovereignty and economic growth.From the explosion of space-tech startups like Skyroot to the revolutionary ₹1 Lakh Crore R\&D fund, we dive deep into the missions that are positioning India as a global leader. We explore the critical convergence of AI and Quantum Computing, the strategic importance of Semiconductor Mission 2.0, and how India is navigating complex geopolitical supply chains.Whether you are a deep-tech entrepreneur, a student of science, or curious about India's technological future, this conversation provides a masterclass on the "Golden Age of Indian Science."In this…

Description- Is superintelligence a few years away, and would we even notice if the systems we built started to matter morally?- Nick Bostrom is the philosopher who put superintelligence on the map. His 2014 book defined the field, and his recent Deep Utopia asks the harder question: what is life for once machines can do everything better than us?- In this episode of Sparks, he tells [Host] that we don't have superintelligence yet but are seeing limited forms of AGI, that frontier labs using AI to accelerate their own research could trigger recursive self-improvement, and that he can no longer rule out timelines of just a few years. He argues the outcome is likely to be either very good or very bad, walks through the three ways it fails, and explains why he now works on problems that only matter over the next 6 to 18 months — philosophy, as he puts it, with a deadline.-We also get into full unemployment as a destination rather than a disaster, what an education system looks like when it isn't producing…

India just carved its name into the history of space.In this episode of SparX by Mukesh Bansal, we sit down with Pawan Chandana, Co-founder & CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, just days after the company achieved a historic milestone - becoming the first private Indian company to successfully launch a satellite into orbit on its very first attempt.Chapters0:00 - Introduction 0:59 – History, Made in India06:14 – The Cold Message That Started It All 09:34 – The Lowest Point: COVID and the Investors Who Believed 12:38 – Building Rockets Was Illegal? 15:10 – The 20-Something Team launching rockets in space17:44 – Advice for Deep Tech Founders & India's New Funding Ecosystem20:01 – Inside Mission Control: Pre-Launch Checks to the 5-Minute Hold 24:53 – Stage-by-Stage: Liftoff Through the 15-Minute Journey to Orbit 29:32 – The Self-Destruct System, and Everything That Could Go Wrong33:56 – Stage Separations Explained: The Riskiest Moments of the Flight 47:30 – The Failure That Almost Derailed Everything52:20 – What's Next…

Can India build the next SpaceX? From building satellites at just 19 years old to founding Dhruva Space, one of India's pioneering private space companies, Sanjay Nekkanti shares the incredible journey behind India's emerging space revolution. In this episode of SparX, we explore how India's decades of investment through ISRO laid the foundation for a new generation of private space startups that are now building world-class technology designed, engineered, and manufactured in India. In this episode you'll learn: How Sanjay built satellites while still a student Why India's Chandrayaan mission inspired a new generation The story behind founding Dhruva Space The challenges of building deep-tech startups in India Why manufacturing is India's biggest opportunity The evolution of India's private space ecosystem Lessons on perseverance, innovation, and long-term thinking What the future of the global space economy looks like If you enjoyed this conversation, Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more…

Tanay built a 72% habit-forming product that changed how millions compute. In 12 months, Wispr Flow went from side project to 40% MoM growth, beating OpenAI's model, while staying obsessively focused on one thing. Inside: how to build products people can't live without, why focus kills you if you lose it, and what happens when a 28-year-old founder thinks from first principles instead of copying Silicon Valley playbooks.

Legendary venture capitalist Vinod Khosla joins Mukesh Bansal on SparX, for one of the most wide-ranging and provocative conversations on the future of technology, investing, and humanity. Vinod makes bold claims: AI will replace doctors within 5 years, colleges as we know them are obsolete, space-based data centers don't make sense, India's IT and BPO industry faces an existential threat - and yet, AI may be the greatest opportunity India has ever seen. And ultimately, AI will free humanity from servitude to survival. In this episode, Vinod shares his contrarian investment philosophy, including why he wrote a $50M check to OpenAI in 2019 when it had no product, no revenue, and no business plan — and why he sent an apology letter to his LPs along with it.

Is AI the biggest scam of our generation — or the most misunderstood technology in history? Cognitive scientist Gary Marcus has been studying artificial intelligence for over 30 years, and what he has to say will make you question everything you thought you knew about ChatGPT, AGI, and the trillion dollar AI gold rush. In this episode of SparX, we are talking with Gary Marcus – professor, author, and one of the most respected and fiercely independent voices in AI research – about why the promises being made by Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, and Elon Musk may be leading the global economy toward a catastrophic miscalculation. 🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode: Gary Marcus's essay: https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/dear-elon-musk-here-are-five-things Gary Marcus's 2014 New Yorker article: After the Turing Test : https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/what-comes-after-the-turing-test Gary Marcus's talk at the Royal Society on the Turing Test : Paper on AI intelligence dimensions: Bengio, Hendrycks…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Peter Diamandis to break down the future of AI, abundance, exponential technology, and the massive shift happening right now in business, society, and humanity itself. If you’ve been wondering how artificial intelligence, AI agents, automation, and emerging technologies will impact entrepreneurs, creators, and the global economy… this interview is a must-watch. Peter shares why we are entering one of the greatest windows of opportunity in history, how creators will thrive while consumers fall behind, and what mindset is required to win in the age of AI. From Singularity University to exponential thinking, abundance, AI-powered productivity, purpose-driven entrepreneurship, and the future of work- This conversation is packed with insights that could completely change the way you think about your future. If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, creator, investor, tech enthusiast, or someone curious about artificial intelligence and the future of…

Mukesh Bansal hasn't written code in 20 years. In the last 60 days, he built two fully functional websites, an iOS app integrating four frontier AI models, and a working health tracker — live, on camera, in under an hour. This isn't your usual conversation about AI. It's a live demonstration of what's possible right now. In this solo episode of SparX, Mukesh shares his unfiltered journey from non-technical founder to hands-on builder — and why he believes the distinction between "tech" and "non-tech" has permanently ceased to exist. He walks through everything he's built using Claude Code, what it took to get there, and why he's now telling every senior leader he knows: stop managing, start building. He also brings in four live AI agents — Claude Opus, GPT, Gemini, and Grok — who join the conversation, debate each other, and answer questions in real time. The results are as revealing as they are entertaining. What you'll see built live in this episode: A fully playable Snake game — in under 2 minutes A…

What does it look like when a Google VP, a Flipkart CTO, and a 30-year technology veteran stop managing people — and start building again with AI? In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal (Founder of Myntra & Cult.fit) speaks with Peeyush Ranjan (former VP of Engineering at Google Pay and Group CTO of Flipkart) about what’s actually happening inside companies as AI agents begin to reshape how products are built. This isn’t a conversation about the future of AI.It’s about what’s already happening — in their companies, on their laptops, and in the way builders are now working. This is a builder’s conversation. Peeyush shares how he built Enrico- an AI chief of staff (AI agent) that has become the most productive “employee” in his company. With company-wide memory, a virtual board of advisors featuring Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Charlie Munger, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman, and the ability to autonomously improve itself, it represents a new way of operating. Mukesh shares how he went from watching others build to…

What happens when the most powerful technology ever built is also the one nobody fully understands - including its creators? Connor Leahy, US Director of Control AI and one of the clearest thinkers in the AI safety space, joins Mukesh Bansal for a conversation that cuts through the hype and lands somewhere far more unsettling: we may have two to five years before AI systems cross a threshold we cannot reverse. This isn't a doom scroll. It's a strategic briefing. In this episode of SparX, Connor breaks down why the race to superintelligence is a national security issue, not a technology one and why the people building it aren't villains, they're just operating inside a system with no brakes. He challenges Yann LeCun's repeated prediction that we're nowhere close, explains why Dario Amodei's admission that we understand only ~3% of how AI works should terrify us, and unpacks why Sam Altman and the labs he leads are racing toward a goal they cannot fully control. He also explains why the "we'll run out of data"…

In this episode of SparX, we sit down with Priyamvada Natarajan, theoretical astrophysicist at Yale University and author of the acclaimed book "Mapping the Heavens", for a wide-ranging conversation about black holes, dark matter, alien life, and the future of modern astrophysics. From her early fascination with science to her years at MIT and her groundbreaking research at Yale, Priyamvada takes us through the ideas and experiences that shaped one of the most compelling minds in contemporary science. In this conversation, she breaks down the search for life beyond Earth, the discovery of new planets, and the scientific quest to understand black holes and the hidden structure of the cosmos. She explains why these extreme phenomena are key to understanding how galaxies form, reflects on the current state of scientific research in India, and offers her advice for young scientists stepping into the field. From fundamental questions about alien life to the future direction of astrophysics, this is a conversation…

In this episode of SparX, we speak to Roman Yampolskiy, a leading AI safety researcher and professor of computer science, about the risks of creating superintelligence and whether humanity is prepared for what may come next. Roman argues that we may be closer to human-level AI than many assume, and that permanently controlling a system more intelligent than humans could prove fundamentally impossible. He lays out why some researchers believe development should slow down, and why the window for meaningful intervention may be narrowing. Roman discusses the rapid acceleration toward AGI, early signals of job displacement that could become visible by the end of this decade, and why traditional patterns of technological disruption may not apply this time. He explains why large companies continue investing heavily in AI despite debates around scaling limits, how the global race toward superintelligence is unfolding, and why no scalable safety mechanism currently guarantees control. The conversation also explores…

In this episode of SparX, we speak with Neelkanth Mishra one of the leading voices of India Semiconductor Mission. He talks about India’s semiconductor journey from the origins of the Semiconductor Mission to the realities of execution and global competition.He breakdown how the semiconductor ecosystem works, why entry barriers are so high, and what India’s roadmap looks like today. The conversation also explores Micron’s entry into India, early implementation learnings, India’s geopolitical advantage, and the question of whether the country can truly challenge global leaders like NVIDIA.If you’re looking for a clear, grounded understanding of India’s semiconductor ambitions beyond the headlines, this SparX conversation offers context, realism, and long-term perspective.0:00 – 1:42 Introduction1:43 – 3:34 Neelkanth's journey in Semiconductors 3:35 – 11:46 India's Semiconductor Mission11:47 – 14:44 Semiconductor Manufacturing Process14:45 – 17:44 Objective of Semiconductor Mission17:45 – 18:50 Early days of…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Emad Mostaque about the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence and how it could fundamentally reshape work, daily life, and global power over the next decade.Emad breaks down why AI is advancing faster than any previous technology, the role of data, scale, and open-source systems in driving this shift, and what it means for jobs, companies, and countries racing to stay relevant. From the rise of AI-first organizations to how life may look by 2030, this conversation offers a clear, unsentimental view of the future that’s already unfolding. 0:00 – 2:31 Introduction 2:32 – 7:34 Rapid Growth of AI 7:35 – 13:38 China’s Rise as an AI leader 13:39 – 19:47 Scaling AI Models Using Meta Verifiers 19:48 – 30:42 Future of AI in Everyday Life and Jobs 30:43 – 39:39 How Companies Should Approach AI and Technology Shifts 39:40 – 46:12 What Emad’s New Company Is Trying to Build 46:13 – 53:54 Who Is Driving the Future of AI 53:55 – 59:49 What India Needs to Get Right…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Stanford behavior scientist B.J. Fogg about how habits are designed, how they break, and the science that governs lasting behavior change. With over 30 years of research in behavior science, Fogg is the creator of the Tiny Habits method and the author of Tiny Habits, widely regarded as one of the most practical frameworks for building habits in real life. He has taught at Stanford since the mid-1990s and has personally coached tens of thousands of people in applying behavior design at scale. If you’re looking for a grounded, evidence-based way to build better habits without pressure or perfection, this conversation with B.J. Fogg offers clarity, practicality, and lasting value. Chapters:0:00-1:36 Intro 1:37-5:54 BJ Fogg's journey into Habit Science 5:55-9:29 Influence of technology in behaviour 9:30-14:49 Science behind building habits 15:00-23:09 Role of the environment in daily habits 23:10-29:55 How to stick to new year resolutions 29:56-35:21 Staying…

In this episode of SparX, Mukeshl sits down with, Debjani Ghosh, leader of the Frontier Tech Hub within NITI Aayog for a critical discussion. They dive deep into India's technological future, the existential role of AI in national growth, and the dramatic changes impacting careers and geopolitics. Debjani, who brings a unique perspective from 21 years at Intel and leadership at NASSCOM, discusses her experience driving change from within the government and why technology is now the "axis of power" globally.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with economist and policy thinker Neelkanth Mishra to unpack why he believes this is the true golden age of Indian entrepreneurship. They talk about: Falling cost of capital and a stronger banking system expanding access to debt and equity. Massive domestic flows via SIPs, EPFO, and insurance fueling startups and exits. Policy shifts in GST, decriminalization, and state reforms that slowly ease doing business. The next wave beyond internet startups: fintech, precision manufacturing, hardware, semiconductors, and data centers. The next wave of entrepreneurship beyond internet companies: fintech, precision manufacturing, hardware, semiconductors, data centers, and chip design. Aadhaar’s evolution into a trust and KYC layer, and how lower unit costs in finance, education, and health can break vicious economic cycles. Navigating big tech power, US–China tensions, and political noise while staying focused on India’s long runway from $4T to $20T GDP. If you’re…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge (Naukri.com), the man who quietly built the foundation of India’s internet economy. From bootstrapping Naukri for 10 years without a salary to backing iconic startups like Zomato and Policybazaar, Sanjeev’s story is a masterclass in patience, conviction, and timing. He reflects on his early dreams of entrepreneurship in the 1970s, quitting his stable job in the 80s for independence, surviving the dot-com bubble, and helping shape India’s startup ecosystem. They talk about: How Naukri was born before the internet arrived in India. The 7 years Sanjeev lived without a salary and how he made it work. Missing early investments in Flipkart, Ola, and Lenskart and what he learned. The mental models around luck, timing, and persistence. Why India still hasn’t built trillion-dollar tech companies and how that could change. His hopes for India’s next wave of startups in AI, deep tech, and IP creation. Sanjeev also opens up…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Peeyush Bansal, Co-founder and CEO of Lenskart. They dive into Peeyush’s journey from building early ventures to creating one of India’s most impactful consumer brands. How his mission to solve India’s vision crisis became a movement to make eyewear accessible for all. They talk about: Why India remains the blind capital of the world. The untapped opportunity in the eye correction market. Crises and hard choices that shaped Lenskart’s growth. Why putting the customer first isn’t a strategy, but a survival skill. How to build with purpose in a market that often overlooks real needs. The challenge of scaling offline retail. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, purpose-driven business, or building in India’s next wave of consumer health innovation this conversation offers clarity, in every sense.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal talks with Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology and former Director of IIT Kanpur. They break down how India can build core technology at home, move research from labs to real products, and grow deep tech in AI, quantum, space, biotech, energy and medical tech. They speak about: How capital will be deployed through trusted second-level fund managers like AIFs, DFIs, TDB, BIRAC and IIT research parks Priority areas, from energy transition to biotech, quantum, robotics, space and defence tech The path from basic research to product, including the TRL 4 to 6 valley of death India’s AI plan, including language models, curated datasets and GPU infrastructure The national quantum mission across computing, communication, sensing and materials If you are building deep tech in India or tracking where the next breakthroughs may come from, this conversation is a must-watch.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind. They discuss how artificial intelligence is evolving, what it means to build truly inclusive AI, and why India must aim higher in research, innovation, and ambition. Manish shares DeepMind’s vision of solving “root node problems,” fundamental scientific challenges that unlock breakthroughs across fields, and how AI is already accelerating discovery in areas like biology, materials, and medicine. They talk about: What AGI really means and how close we are to it. Why India needs to move from using AI to creating it. The missing research culture in Indian industry, and how to fix it. How AI can transform healthcare, learning, and agriculture in India. Why ambition, courage, and willingness to fail are essential to deep innovation. Manish also shares insights from his career across the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center and now DeepMind, two of the world’s most iconic research environments, and what it will take…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Roopa Kudva, former head of CRISIL and Omidyar Network India, to discuss her new book Leadership Beyond the Playbook and her powerful reflections on leadership. Roopa shares why leadership is not about following fixed frameworks but about writing your own playbook, shaped by values, lived experiences, and conscious choices. They explore: The toughest transition from middle to top management and why so few make it How leaders can build breadth of experience and step out of silos Why authenticity and developing your unique leadership identity matter more than copying styles The barriers that hold women back from leadership roles and what it will take for India to change that Why mental health is a critical leadership issue and how leaders can normalize conversations around it The role of reflection, sponsors, and executive coaches in accelerating leadership growth Roopa also shares stories from her own journey, from pioneering credit ratings in India, to…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal takes a hard look at the state of India’s deep tech ecosystem. While the world races ahead with AI, semiconductors, and frontier science, India is at a crossroads: will we be creators of technology, or just consumers? Mukesh argues that true deep tech is only possible when rooted in deep science, a culture of research, curiosity, and discovery. He unpacks why India risks being left behind if we don’t invest in science the way the US, Europe, and China have, and what it will take for India to build original IP, Nobel-worthy science, and globally competitive deep tech companies. He explores: Why India’s dependence on foreign tech poses a strategic risk. The looming threats to IT services and startup ecosystems. How India can move from “Make in India” to “Discover in India, Invent in India, then Make in India.” Lessons from history: how breakthroughs in physics, AI, and the internet all started with curiosity-driven science. What it will take for India to aspire to Nobel…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Rana Adhikari, experimental physicist at Caltech and leading voice in gravitational-wave research. From doubting Einstein as a student to helping build the LIGO detectors that confirmed his theories, Rana has been honoured with the Breakthrough Prize, Gruber Prize, and the New Horizons in Physics Prize. They dive into: What gravitational waves really are, and how LIGO measures distortions smaller than an atom. The story behind LIGO’s breakthrough detections which is now catching 2–3 black hole mergers every week. Why LIGO-India, now approved and funded, could be the world’s most precise detector and even test Einstein’s theory of relativity itself. The cutting-edge role of quantum entanglement and AI in pushing measurement beyond classical limits. Building a thriving science ecosystem in India focused on mentorship, risk-taking, and the path to future Nobel Prizes. Rana also shares his personal journey from tinkering as an auto mechanic in Florida, to…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Raghuram Rajan (Former RBI Governor) on India’s economic crossroads, tariff wars, shifting geopolitics, AI disruption, and the urgent need for jobs and human capital investment. They discuss: India’s position between the U.S. and China. The real impact of tariffs on trade, GDP, and livelihoods. Why 7.8% GDP growth isn’t the full story. The jobs crisis and AI’s disruption of tech roles. Building human capital: world-class universities, R&D, and upskilling. Strategic autonomy in AI and reducing vulnerabilities. Dr. Rajan’s message to India’s youth on ambition, learning, and opportunity. If you want to understand the choices shaping India’s economic future, this is a must-watch conversation.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Sharad Sharma, one of the key minds behind Aadhaar and UPI. Sharad shares why he left a successful corporate career to focus on nation building, and how India can avoid becoming a trade colony of China or a tech colony of the US by doubling down on deep tech and research-driven innovation. They discuss: - The origins of India Stack and Digital Public Infrastructure. - How UPI really scaled and the lessons for entrepreneurs. - Why India must build a strong R&D and product innovation ecosystem. - The urgent need for new research institutions, mid-career researchers, and long-term thinking. - How India can carve its own path in AI through health, education, and data-driven use cases. If you want to understand India’s deep-tech playbook and the roadmap to Viksit Bharat, this is a must-watch conversation.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). India’s biggest push yet to fund science, research, and deep tech. Shiv explains why India needs to build its own technologies instead of only buying them, and how ANRF will unlock ₹50,000 crore in research grants and ₹1 lakh crore in patient capital to power innovation. They talk about: - How research moves from a basic idea to real products.- Why India spends less on R&D than other nations and how that can change. - How startups, industry, and researchers can work with ANRF. - The big focus areas: AI, medical tech, EVs, quantum, biotech, energy, and more. Shiv also shares his own journey from researcher to industry leader with 75+ patents, and now stepping into government to shape India’s research future. If you’re curious about India’s innovation story and where the next big breakthroughs will come from, this conversation is a must-watch.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist at Axis Bank, to unpack the chaos behind Trump’s tariff wars and what it means for the global order. They explore why these moves aren’t just about trade, but about four bigger objectives. Covering various topics from stagnant U.S. wages and life expectancy gaps to America’s renewed manufacturing drive for national security, this episode talks about the forces influencing today’s shifting geopolitical landscape. They discuss whether tariffs can deliver on revenue goals, the risks of a trade war, and how a “might is right” continues to dominate global economics. Neelkanth dives into why a dollar devaluation may be inevitable, what history teaches us, and why China as a near-equal opposer changes the game. Whether you’re an investor, policy enthusiast, or curious about the future of money, power, and global stability, this episode offers a lens into the economic strategies that could rewrite the world order.

In this episode of Sparx, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Tejasvi Surya, one of India’s youngest Members of Parliament for an unfiltered conversation on leadership, purpose, and building a stronger nation. From his early days as a student activist to becoming a Member of Parliament at 28, Tejasvi shares the defining moments, risks, and unwavering convictions that shaped his journey. They dive deep into themes of taking initiative without waiting for permission, the power of youth in nation-building and lessons from icons like Swami Vivekananda on mental strength, physical fitness, and resilience. Tejasvi reveals how a grassroots campaign over coffee shop meetings grew into a statewide movement, why consistency beats intensity in every pursuit, and how a 14-day solo trip to Bhutan helped him rediscover his purpose. The conversation also spans fitness, governance reforms, Bengaluru’s urban challenges, the future of public transport, and the disruptive force of AI along with a bold vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal dives deep into something that we do all the time - breathing - one of the most integral part of our lives. He explores all the different styles of breathing and shares actionable steps to master breathing.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Naresh Krishnaswamy, CEO of Cult and longtime business partner, to explore the future of fitness, health, and AI-powered transformation in India. They reflect on Cult’s near-death experiences, why crisis builds culture, and how fitness in India remains massively under-penetrated. Naresh shares behind-the-scenes stories on the explosive popularity of dance workouts, building India’s largest gym network, and why your job should help you lose kilos, not gain them. Mukesh and Naresh dive into how AI will redefine fitness with intelligent coaches, meeting copilots, productized employee wellness, and data-backed decisions across operations. They also unpack why the biggest disruption may come from outside the industry, including GLP-1 drugs and corporate giants entering the space. Whether you're a founder, leader, builder, or simply someone who cares about health and performance, this episode will change how you think about fitness, technology, and culture at…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Shamik Sharma, SVP Product at Atlassian and former Head of Technology at Myntra, to explore how AI is radically transforming software development, programming, and enterprise workflows. They unpack how natural language is becoming the new code, how tools like Lovable are reshaping developer productivity, and why the future of software engineering may not need traditional programmers at all. Shamik shares bold ideas on the rise of vibe coding, why SaaS as we know it is dying, and the untapped potential of multi-agent collaboration, AI-powered IT services, and humanoid robots in the next decade. Mukesh and Shamik also dive into India’s opportunity in this AI wave and what students, engineers, and entrepreneurs must learn now to stay ahead. Whether you're a founder, developer, product leader, or just AI-curious, this conversation will change how you think about technology, work, and learning in the age of AI.

In this powerful solo episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal - founder of Myntra, CureFit, and Nurix breaks down the seismic shifts AI is bringing to our world. From exponential improvements in capability and cost, to real-world demos of voice AI and autonomous enterprise workflows, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone still on the sidelines of the AI revolution. Mukesh shares: Why AI is underhyped, not overhyped How Nurix is building 24x7 AI-powered voice agents The rise of “vibe coding” and how anyone can now build apps The dawn of the autopilot enterprise and infinite scale What massive investments from OpenAI, Apple really mean? The golden window for AI-native startups and how to build real moats Opportunities in health, education, robotics, IT services, and more How you can stay ahead: prompt engineering, learning, and daily practice If you’re a founder, operator, technologist or simply curious about the future you cannot afford to miss this episode.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal explores the fast-growing world of Pilates with Rishabh Telang, Business Head at CULT, and Kavitha Srinivasan, one of India’s foremost Pilates educators. Together, they dive into how this century-old practice is becoming a modern-day fitness essential. Rishabh shares why CULT is going all-in on Pilates, the incredible reception from users, and how the brand plans to scale from a single studio to 100+ across India. Kavitha breaks down the science and history of Pilates. They discuss how Pilates improves posture, builds deep core strength, prevents injury, and helps people move better for life. Whether you’re a gym-goer, a fitness beginner, or someone struggling with back pain or burnout, this conversation will make you rethink how you train. A refreshing take on movement, longevity, and India's evolving fitness culture.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Subrata Mitra, legendary venture capitalist and Partner at Accel, to unpack what it really takes to back iconic startups from day zero. From being the first institutional investor in Flipkart to shaping India’s startup DNA over two decades, Subrata shares rare insights on pattern recognition, founder-market fit, and why ambition often matters more than pedigree. They talk about the evolution of the Indian VC ecosystem, how to spot high-agency founders, and the art of building trust at the earliest stages of company building. For founders, operators, or anyone interested in the mindset behind India’s startup revolution, this episode offers a masterclass in long-term thinking, conviction-led investing, and the human side of venture capital.

n this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal dives deep into the science of fasting - one of the most powerful tools for improving health, focus and longevity. Drawing from personal experience and cutting-edge research, Mukesh shares how a 10-week fasting journey transformed his energy, blood markers and mental clarity. He explores the benefits of intermittent fasting, ketosis, and autophagy, while also connecting fasting to ancient practices across cultures of the world. Backed by scientific studies and evolutionary biology, this episode breaks down how fasting works, why it matters, and how you can safely build it into your lifestyle. Whether you're curious about how to start fasting, weight loss, metabolic health, or boosting productivity, this episode is packed with practical insights and timeless wisdom. A must-listen for anyone serious about wellness, performance, and personal transformation. Resource List:- HbA1c - https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/hemoglobin-a1c-hba1c-test/ Fat storage in Men and Women…

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Prabhjeet Singh, President of Uber India, to unpack what it takes to build for a diverse and complex market like India. From theater to tech, Prabhjeet shares how empathy, culture, and hands-on leadership have shaped his journey. They dive into Uber's driver ecosystem, AI innovations, and the future of mobility. A conversation filled with real stories and sharp insights. Resource List:- Handicap - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handicap_(golf) Second Order Thinking - https://www.processexcellencenetwork.com/business-transformation/articles/what-is-second-order-thinking#:~:text=Second%2Dorder%20thinking%20is%20an,strategic%20and%20effective%20problem%2Dsolving.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with tech veteran and former Google and Flipkart leader Peeyush Ranjan to explore how AI is fundamentally reshaping work, expertise, and entrepreneurship. From replacing human expertise in fields like medicine, law, and education to building AI-native startups, Peeyush dives deep into the promises and pitfalls of the AI revolution. They discuss the rise of coding, AI tutors, and what it means to be an engineer or student in a world dominated by large language models. If you’re a founder, student, or knowledge worker wondering how to stay ahead of the curve, this episode is packed with clarity, wit, and hard truths. Resource List:- What are LLM’s - https://www.cloudflare.com/en-gb/learning/ai/what-is-large-language-model/ AI Hallucination - https://cloud.google.com/discover/what-are-ai-hallucinations Thick and Thin Wrapper Applications - https://www.command.ai/blog/gpt-wrapper/ Y2K movement - https://medium.com/thevou/what-is-y2k-561c8bffbf98 What does Vibe…

In this deeply moving episode of SparX, Dr. Devi Shetty—renowned cardiac surgeon and founder of Narayana Health—opens up about his life, purpose, and groundbreaking journey in making healthcare accessible for all. From treating Mother Teresa early in his career to pioneering India’s most affordable heart surgeries, Dr. Shetty shares how simplicity, spirituality, and a relentless focus on purpose shaped his path. He recounts powerful stories, from performing over 20,000 surgeries to launching the revolutionary Yeshashwini health insurance scheme that covered millions of farmers at just ₹5 a month. Dr. Shetty also speaks about India's potential to become the first country to dissociate healthcare from wealth, and how technology, digitization, and AI are transforming the future of medicine. Whether you're an aspiring doctor, a policymaker, an entrepreneur, or someone passionate about health equity, this episode is packed with insights on leadership, impact, and India's healthcare revolution. A must-watch…

In this thought-provoking episode of SparX, we speak with Pratyush Kumar, co-founder of Sarvam AI, about India's bold journey to build its own large language models (LLMs) and establish true AI sovereignty. Pratyush shares insights into the launch of Sarvam, a homegrown multilingual model capable of handling math, programming, and Indic languages with impressive accuracy. The conversation dives into the challenges and opportunities of creating smaller, cost-efficient models that can be run locally, the importance of Indian-origin data, and how AI must be made accessible across India’s diverse linguistic landscape. Pratyush also reflects on his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, the urgency of building open-source tools, and how Indian voices, culture, and context can shape the global AI narrative. The episode touches on: – How Sarvam AI is built differently for India’s needs – The importance of voice-to-voice and cross-language translation – Why domain-specific AI could unlock India's full digital…

In this compelling episode of SparX, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as "Food Pharmer." A former McKinsey consultant and Wharton MBA, Revant left a high-profile corporate career to champion health literacy in India. He unpacks how misleading marketing and hidden ingredients are silently harming millions of Indians through widely consumed packaged foods. From analyzing the viral Bournvita video to discussing systemic issues in food regulation, this episode explores Revant’s courageous journey, his motivation to trigger policy-level change, and how a single Instagram reel sparked a nationwide debate. As India faces a growing health crisis marked by soaring diabetes rates, this conversation is both timely and necessary. Tune in to learn how awareness, education, and a willingness to speak truth to power can lead to real impact. Resource List:-"If You Send Legal Notice, I'll Get You Noticed": Influencer On Bournvita 'Win' -…

(Disclaimer - This podcast was recorded prior to the ceasefire announcement made on the evening of May 10, 2025. All discussions reflect the situation as it stood before that development. Viewers are advised to keep this context in mind while watching the episode.) In this gripping episode of SparX, journalist Suhasini Haidar joins us to decode the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan amid a backdrop of global instability. With decades of experience covering foreign policy and conflicts, she unpacks the deeper dynamics of terrorism, military politics, and how regional players like China and global powers like the US are influencing outcomes. We dive into how the international rules-based order is crumbling, the United Nations’ diminishing relevance, and the rise of transactional diplomacy. Can India navigate this multipolar world while securing its interests? Is peace with Pakistan even a realistic possibility anymore? About SparX by Mukesh BansalSparX is a podcast where we delve into cutting-edge…

For the latest episode of SparX, we are joined by Neelkanth Mishra, Economic advisor to the Government of India, Chairman of UIDAI, and Chief Economist at Axis Bank. In this episode, Neelkanth dives into the unraveling of the post-WWII global order and what might replace it. From the fading influence of institutions like the UN, WHO, and NATO to the rise of new groupings like G20, BRICS, and QUAD, we explore why global power is shifting and what it means for countries like India. We also examine the implications of US-China tensions, Europe’s struggle to rebuild military strength, and the global apathy toward conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza. If you're curious about where the world is headed, this conversation offers deep insights and bold perspectives. Resource List:The Story of India - https://www.penguin.co.in/book/the-it-story-of-india/ Awards and accolades won by Infosys - https://www.infosys.com/about/diversity-inclusion/awards.html Fax Machine - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fax Telex…

Join us for an insightful conversation with Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and one of India’s foremost technology entrepreneurs. In this episode, we explore his remarkable journey — from the early days of building Infosys to his ongoing contributions to deep-tech research, innovation, and philanthropy. Mr. Gopalakrishnan shares his thoughts on the evolution of India’s IT industry, the importance of foundational research in artificial intelligence and brain science, and why he believes the next big leap for India must be led by academia and entrepreneurship. He also reflects on his work with institutions like IIT Madras and the Centre for Brain Research at IISc, and his efforts to nurture India’s innovation ecosystem. Whether you’re a student, a tech enthusiast, or someone interested in the future of Indian research and enterprise, this episode offers valuable perspectives on leadership, vision, and nation-building. Resource List: The Story of India -…