Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology like ChatGPT has exploded over the last five years, reshaping the world at an astounding speed that has only continued to accelerate. “With nearly a decade of experience in learning and applying various AI and ML technologies, I’ve been fortunate to witness, and contribute to, the evolution of the field firsthand,” 2018 DigiPen MS in Computer Science graduate Aakash Chotrani says. When recent conversations with friends and family inevitably turned to the hot topic of AI, Chotrani was surprised to discover that many were unaware of how the tech was already influencing their daily lives. So, naturally, he wrote a book to explain it.
Drawing from his cutting-edge career on the AI team at Oracle, one of the world’s largest software companies, as well his early days specializing in the technology at DigiPen shortly before today’s AI boom began, Chotrani authored Humans and AI Coexistence in 2024. “It serves as a comprehensive guide for absolute beginners, regardless of their technical background, offering an overview of the AI and ML industry, the current state of innovation, and the ethical and privacy considerations that individuals should be mindful of as these technologies continue to evolve,” Chotrani says.
Long before Chotrani became a published authority on AI, he was a young video game fan. Playing his first PC titles as a 7-year-old ignited a long-running passion for technology and programming. The spark continued through his undergraduate studies as he discovered the Unity game engine and developed a small mobile game. Realizing he was ready to turn his game technology hobby into a career, he began hunting for the right graduate program to make his dreams a reality.
“I researched numerous programs across the U.S. and found DigiPen’s MS in Computer Science curriculum to be the most rigorous and inspiring,” Chotrani says. “While engaging with a variety of challenging coursework, I found myself especially captivated by artificial intelligence — and ultimately chose to specialize in it.”
Chotrani quickly found an outlet to apply his growing AI and ML skills to real-world challenges by interning with DigiPen’s Research & Development (R&D) team. “One of the key projects involved predicting lap times for IndyCar racing, leveraging historical race data to enhance performance insights,” Chotrani says. Another R&D project had him developing ML models to make course recommendations for DigiPen students to help them excel given their personal academic history.
“DigiPen’s curriculum is uniquely aligned with the tools, technologies, and demands of the industry, giving me a significant head start upon graduation,” Chotrani says. “I entered the workforce better prepared and more confident than many of my peers at similar levels.” Indeed, after a few years applying his AI skills developed at DigiPen in roles at various startup companies, Chotrani joined Oracle’s AI Services team as a member of the technical staff in 2020.
Over the past five years at Oracle, Chotrani has worked closely with researchers and data scientists to turn their ideas into new AI and ML features — enhancing the world’s most widely used database software while making it easier for users to access and benefit from advanced AI capabilities. “These technologies have unlocked countless new applications across industries, revealing gaps in the market that are ripe for innovation,” Chotrani says. With millions of customers relying on Oracle technology, Chotrani has led a broad spectrum of AI initiatives, including natural language processing (popularized by ChatGPT), predictive value modeling, and most recently, healthcare system optimization.
We can thrive in a future where human potential is amplified, not replaced, by intelligent systems.
“There has been a strong push to apply advanced machine learning techniques to improve the U.S. healthcare system,” Chotrani says. Aiming to enhance patient care outcomes and operational efficiency, Chotrani has developed a number of AI applications at Oracle that empower doctors. “My team and I have contributed to several impactful healthcare solutions, including developing models to automatically summarize notes from doctor-patient conversations, predicting drug efficacy, and generating key metrics and insights,” Chotrani says.
Working at the forefront of AI and ML during its precipitous rise over the last five years has found Chotrani and his team charting lots of new territory together. “As the adoption of AI and ML accelerates, there is a growing need to establish standards and benchmarks to ensure consistency, reliability, and performance,” Chotrani says. “My team and I are currently focused on addressing this need — developing frameworks to evaluate, validate, and operationalize AI and ML efforts at scale.” Chotrani has had plenty of impact on the AI field in other areas as well, publishing robust academic research covering everything from disease prediction to fraud detection.
Alongside that work, Chotrani set out to address another major need — general public understanding — with his 2024 book Humans and AI Coexistence. Over four chapters, Chotrani’s book tackles the origins of AI technology, its inflection point in the new millennium, its skyrocketing present-day growth, and the controversial debates over its future that are already making headlines around the world.
“Whether met with enthusiasm or skepticism, AI is undeniably here to stay, and it’s evolving at an exponential pace,” Chotrani says. “These technologies empower individuals to perform complex tasks without deep specialization, make sense of the overwhelming volume of data generated daily, and even save lives. The key lies in embracing this change and adapting with it, so that we can thrive in a future where human potential is amplified, not replaced, by intelligent systems.”
Just as AI has unlocked new possibilities for others, Chotrani credits his time at DigiPen for amplifying his own potential, setting him on the cutting-edge course he blazes today. “Studying at DigiPen was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I had the privilege of learning from industry-leading professors in a hands-on, application-driven environment that closely mirrored real-world challenges,” he says. “The strong professional relationships I formed with faculty not only enriched my academic journey but also played a pivotal role in securing impactful internships that shaped my career trajectory.”