Teaching The New AI Generation - Fusemachines

Introduction

Growing up with a mother who was a school teacher left a profound impact on my life. I vividly remember walking to her school, which was just a hundred meters away, and observing the students being taught inside the classrooms. Witnessing my mother’s dedication to education instilled in me a deep appreciation for its transformative power. Like many South Asian parents, my mother envisioned a future for me as a doctor or engineer—a common expectation in our culture.

Fortunately, I was granted a full scholarship to the United States. However, fate had other plans as I discovered my passion for computers and decided to pursue a degree in computer science. My dream began to crystallize around developing machines that could understand and communicate with humans. This ambition culminated in the creation of a customer service solution with a focus on integrating machines with humans, thereby inspiring the name of my company, Fusemachines.

The journey started in a small room that now holds cherished memories—just a single chair and a table, but it has since blossomed into a thriving business over the past 11 years. Fusemachines specializes in providing AI products and services tailored for enterprise clients, focusing on industry-specific and problem-oriented solutions. Our flagship AI studio and AI engines cater to various challenges that our clients face. We also offer teams of engineers who customize and construct bespoke AI solutions.

In addition to my entrepreneurial pursuits, education remains my passion. For about a decade, I’ve been teaching AI-related courses at Columbia University. My mission with Fusemachines is to democratize access to AI, particularly within underprivileged communities such as Nepal. Coming from the Nir family of Kathmandu—known as the "japo," which literally means "farmers"—I experienced firsthand the financial hurdles that can come from an unstable income in agriculture. Education was the catalyst that transformed my challenging life into one of quality and opportunity. Sadly, my elder sister had to sacrifice her schooling for my education, and it is her dream that continues to motivate me to excel.

My college experience introduced me to talented individuals like Samir, who, after a talk I gave on speech-to-speech translation, sought to join our venture. I hired all three aspiring individuals, and more than a decade later, they have risen to head different departments within Fusemachines. In 2013, as AI technology surged, we faced challenges in sourcing human resources. As a solution, we created an AI fellowship program in Nepal in 2017, which has attracted thousands of applicants each year.

Our fellowship classes encompass topics ranging from machine learning and deep learning to computer vision and natural language processing, as well as fundamental mathematics and programming skills critical to AI. Importantly, students do not bear any financial burden for this education; our goal is to make AI scholarship education accessible.

Beyond Nepal, we have expanded our vision with teams across various Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Rwanda, along with offices in the United States and Canada. Talent exists worldwide, but opportunities often do not. Education holds the power to change lives, uplift skills, and create new possibilities. I am passionate about helping individuals realize their potential, understanding that the right educational opportunities can dismantle barriers.

This journey has been long yet fulfilling; realizing the impact we’re having on countless lives brings immense pride to me, my family, and especially my mother.

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Keyword

• Education
• AI
• Computer Science
• Entrepreneurship
• Fellowship Program
• Access
• Opportunities
• Nepal
• Fusemachines

FAQ

Q1: What is Fusemachines?
A1: Fusemachines is a company that provides AI products and services tailored for enterprise clients, focusing on specific industry and problem-oriented solutions.

Q2: What inspired the founder to pursue AI?
A2: The founder's passion developed from observing the impact of education and technology during their upbringing and a desire to create machines that can understand and communicate with humans.

Q3: When did the AI fellowship program start?
A3: The AI fellowship program in Nepal was established in 2017 and has since garnered thousands of applicants each year.

Q4: Is there any cost associated with the fellowship program?
A4: No, students are not required to pay anything for the AI scholarship education provided by the fellowship program.

Q5: How has Fusemachines expanded its influence?
A5: Fusemachines has set up teams across various Latin American countries, as well as maintaining offices in the United States and Canada, to enhance access to AI education globally.