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#AI360Express | Spotlight Series | Aparna Krishna Bhat | Dallas, USA

Updated: 7 days ago

Voices in AI: Aparna Bhat, #EWTAlliance Global Ambassador Shares Her Journey


In the #AI360Spotlight Series, Aparna shares:


At AI360Express, we believe innovation thrives where inclusion leads. That’s why we’re spotlighting real professionals shaping the future of AI.


We asked Aparna 5 questions to uncover what drives her, what she’s building, and what advice she has for the next generation of women in AI.


1️⃣ Origins: What sparked your journey into AI/ML?

I was working at a tech firm in Bangalore, building user interfaces that felt clunky and disconnected from what people actually needed. We'd spend months creating these elaborate dashboards, but users would struggle to find basic information or complete simple tasks. I kept thinking there had to be a smarter way for computers to understand what users really wanted. Why couldn't interfaces adapt to individual behavior patterns? Why did everyone have to navigate the same rigid menu structures when their goals were completely different? That's when I discovered machine learning and realized it could transform how humans interact with technology. Instead of forcing users to learn our systems, we could build systems that learned from users.


2️⃣ Legacy Project: What’s one initiative that defined your impact?

I led the development of an AI fraud detection system that was dealing with millions lost to sophisticated schemes. Traditional rule-based systems were missing coordinated fraud rings and synthetic identity scams while flagging legitimate transactions as suspicious.


Our machine learning platform analyzed transactional and behavioral data in real-time, identifying subtle patterns that human reviewers couldn't catch. We integrated natural language processing to scan records and customer communications, spotting inconsistencies that revealed fraudulent activities.

The results were staggering - we reduced fraud losses by 40% while cutting false positives in half. But the real impact became clear when I saw how much smoother operations became. Legitimate customers were getting their requests processed faster, while we were finally catching the sophisticated fraud schemes that had been slipping through.


What made this project special was seeing how it transformed the entire workflow. The system saved thousands of hours of manual review work, allowing us to focus on complex cases that genuinely needed human judgment. It shifted us from playing defense to being truly proactive. This wasn't just about saving money - it was about restoring trust. Every fraudulent case we prevented meant better service for honest customers and faster processing for people dealing with real needs.


3️⃣ Mentor Wisdom: What’s your top advice for women entering AI?

Honestly, just start building. I see too many women waiting until they feel "ready enough" or have the perfect credentials. Meanwhile, guys are jumping in with half the preparation and learning as they go.


The field moves so fast that what you learn today might be different tomorrow anyway. What matters is curiosity and persistence. Pick a problem you actually care about - maybe it's healthcare, education, climate change - and figure out how AI can help solve it.


Don't get caught up in imposter syndrome. Yes, you'll be in rooms where you're the only woman. Yes, people will sometimes assume you're less technical. But your perspective is exactly what this industry needs. We're building systems that affect everyone, and diverse viewpoints make those systems better.


Find your tribe early - other women in AI, supportive mentors, communities like Women in AI, Women in Data etc. And once you're established, pull others up with you. The technology is powerful, but it's not magic. You can learn it, master it, and help shape how it's used. The world needs your voice in these conversations.


4️⃣ Future Vision: How can AI better empower women in tech globally?

AI can break down barriers like never before. I'm excited about how it's already making coding and technical skills accessible to everyone. A woman in a remote village can now learn Python through AI tutors, get real-time feedback on her code, and build apps without needing expensive bootcamps or universities.


Language barriers are dissolving too. AI translation tools mean developers who speak different languages can collaborate seamlessly across continents. Geographic limitations matter less when AI handles the communication gaps.

But here's what really gets me excited - AI can help us redesign work itself. Remote collaboration tools powered by AI, flexible scheduling assistants, mentoring platforms. We can finally create tech careers that work around life's demands instead of forcing us to sacrifice everything else.


The key is making sure women are involved in building these AI systems, not just using them. We need women training the models, setting the priorities, defining what "empowerment" actually looks like.


Gender equality won't happen by accident - it takes deliberate action. But AI gives us incredible leverage to make changes that would have taken decades before. The future is ours to shape.


5️⃣ Hidden Superpower: What underrated skill drives success in AI?

Curiosity about failure. Everyone talks about being curious, but I mean being genuinely fascinated when things go wrong.

Most people see a model that's not working and think "I'm bad at this." But the best AI practitioners I know get excited when something breaks because that's where the real learning happens. They'll spend hours digging into why their algorithm is classifying cats as dogs, not because they have to, but because they're genuinely curious about what went sideways.


This mindset is huge because AI is fundamentally about experimentation. You're constantly testing hypotheses, tweaking parameters, trying new approaches. If you're afraid of failure or see it as a reflection of your abilities, you'll never push boundaries.

I've noticed that people who come from creative backgrounds often excel here. Artists, writers, designers - they're used to iterating endlessly, scrapping work that isn't right, starting over. That's exactly what AI development looks like most of the time.


The other piece is being comfortable with ambiguity. AI models are black boxes - even their creators can't always explain why they work. If you need everything to be perfectly logical and explainable, you'll struggle. Embrace the mystery.


🎓 Senior Analyst @ EY USA

🎓 MS in Computer Science, The University of Texas at Arlington

📍 Based in Dallas, USA

Aparna is a seasoned technology professional with over 9+ years of experience in Software development, Databases, AI, and Digital Platforms for Next-Generation customer experiences in the IT and Financial Services sectors. She is currently working as Senior Analyst in EY (Ernst & Young) USA in their Financial Services' Wealth and Asset Management practice. She holds a master's degree in computer science specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Databases tracks. She has solved business problems by building highly available, scalable, visually appealing user interface and high-throughput solutions for companies in Transport, Finance, Banking, After car Market, E-commerce, Travel, Shipping and Telecommunication domains. In her current role as a senior analyst, she specializes in leveraging technology and data-driven insights to deliver innovative solutions to complex business challenges. She also excels in aligning technology and business strategies to drive growth and resilience. She works on creating secure, cutting-edge solutions that ensure compliance, optimize performance, and enhance decision-making processes. Her journey has spanned roles where she has integrated advanced technologies into financial systems, automated processes to protect organizational assets. She is also an IEEE Senior grade member.


Whether she’s leading high-impact projects or empowering women in AI, Aparna continues to shape a future where innovation and inclusion go hand in hand.


About AI360Express


AI360Express is a dynamic platform designed to make artificial intelligence accessible and understandable for everyone—from beginners to professionals. Our mission is to deliver concise, insightful, and up-to-date content about AI trends, tools, and applications that empower individuals and organizations to harness the power of AI effectively.


Whether you’re just starting your AI journey or looking to deepen your knowledge, AI360Express provides expert analysis, practical tips, and curated resources to help you stay informed and confidently navigate the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.


Join us as we explore the future of technology together, one byte at a time!


GenAI360Express Podcast



Tune in with Neelima Mangal, a leading voice in tech, #GenAI360Express #Podcast takes you on a journey through the rapidly advancing world of Generative AI — from its creative spark to transformative real-world applications and the rise of intelligent AI agents redefining tomorrow’s workforce.


💡 Whether you're an AI enthusiast, tech leader, or just curious about the next big thing, this is your go-to resource to stay ahead of the curve.


🎙️ #Season Highlights:

🔹 #Season1 – #CreativeAIPower: Demystifying Generative AI—basics, models, and ethics

🔹 #Season2 – #AIInAction: Real-world use cases across industries—healthcare, education, content, and more

🔹 #Season3 – #IntelligentAIAgents: Meet the AI agents transforming the future of work and automation



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Stay Tuned - More interviews coming soon in our #FutureVoices series.



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