AI For Good: Meet Our New Head of Data & Artificial Intelligence

As AI disrupts industries globally, erthos??is expanding its AI capabilities to meet the needs of the sustainable materials industry.?

(7-10 Minute Read)

By Danielle Taylor, Head of Mktg. & Comms., erthos?

Last year, erthos? introduced ZYA?, a first-of-its-kind AI predictive modeling tool that has revolutionized the company's approach to sustainable material innovation. In alignment with erthos?'s mission to mitigate the global plastic pollution crisis, ZYA? offers unique material insights to build solutions designed as direct substitutes for traditional plastics, primarily for packaging.?

Co-Founder and Head of Product Kritika Tyagi, who spearheaded ZYA?’s initial development, explained, "ZYA? transformed our extensive research and development efforts into a dynamic platform, empowering us to leverage AI in material science. This has opened new pathways to broaden our capabilities beyond material discovery and development to contribute to our supply chain"

To expand ZYA?’s core features in alignment with the company vision, CEO & Co-Founder Nuha Siddiqui, alongside Tyagi, recognized the need for top-tier expertise. After an extensive search, they are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ashwin Tumne as erthos?'s first Head of Data and Artificial Intelligence. With a vision that marries AI innovation with sustainability, Dr. Tumne is poised to lead erthos? through its next phase of growth.

About Dr. Tumne?

Dr. Tumne is a seasoned data leader, holding a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. His professional experience spans leadership roles with high-profile organizations such as KPMG, Scotiabank, Paytm, and Flipp, and he is a startup veteran in the fintech, biotech, and adtech spaces.?With expertise in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Big Data across diverse applications and industries, Dr. Tumne has driven technology innovation and its commercialized advancement, successfully leading projects and teams of all sizes. As a well-established leader, Dr. Tumne considers peer mentorship a foundation to his leadership style, fostering a culture of collaboration, and empowering teams to spearhead innovations.

The Future of AI at erthos??

As we sit down with him today, we touch on his vision for AI at erthos?, briefly exploring how his approach to leadership and innovation is steering the company towards new greater heights in sustainable material science.

With your extensive background, including co-founding another Toronto-based fintech start-up, what unique experiences are you most excited to bring to your role as Head of Data & Artificial Intelligence at erthos??

Dr. Tumne, Head of Data & AI, erthos?: ?I’ve gained a lot of perspective and experience, both from my time as a scientist in the biotech industry and as a builder of Data & AI teams in the finance and e-commerce sectors.? I’m seeing both worlds coming together at erthos?, with ZYA? doing something I thought years ago was near impossible — using machine learning and generative AI to virtualize the discovery and optimization of high-potential sustainable materials.

This type of cheminformatic technology is in its infancy but there’s potential to disrupt multiple points of value across the sustainable material innovation and procurement supply chain. Client success in this space is a function of science and engineering and economic and governance factors. This very much resonates with my past experiences building enterprise data & AI platforms and teams in healthcare, fintech, and e-commerce spaces, and I’m seeing all these worlds intertwined inside ZYA?.

What inspired you to join erthos??

Dr. Tumne, Head of Data & AI, erthos?: What truly inspired me to join erthos? was the company's unique commitment to 'AI for good.' This vision extends beyond the widely recognized uses of AI in language tools, aiming to revolutionize the discovery, development, and scaling of sustainable materials.

The innovative work being done here, particularly with ZYA?, isn't just cool—it's crucial. It represents a modern approach to transforming the material science industry towards sustainability, driving adoption. Being part of a team that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible and drives real, meaningful change was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Stay tuned as we unpack "AI for Good" throughout this year, there's so much to dive into there.

Given erthos?'s commitment to leveraging AI for sustainable material development, what singular climate challenge are you most passionate about, and why does this particular issue resonate with you?

Dr. Tumne, Head of Data & AI, erthos?: The one thing I’d love for us to all solve together is how we return to nature what we take from it, and do it in a way that benefits both nature and us as a society.?

The challenge that resonates most deeply with me, and what I find particularly inspiring about erthos?'s mission, is the concept of regenerative ecosystems: creating a harmonious balance with natural ecosystems, no matter what we extract from them. It’s about finding solutions that allow us not only to take from nature but also to give back in ways that are beneficial for the environment, our health and practical sustainability as a society.

I see regenerative ecosystems spanning beyond innovation for the sake of progress; I would rather see it directed towards solving this critical challenge—how to effectively return to nature what we borrow. This means developing and championing sustainable materials that yield sustainable products that are also capable of contributing positively to the environment once their lifecycle is complete. I believe that focusing on this can transform how industries interact with the natural world, making a significant and positive impact on our planet.

Stepping into the role of Head of Artificial Intelligence at erthos?, what are you most excited about in this new position?

Dr. Tumne, Head of Data & AI, erthos?: What excites me most about joining erthos? is the opportunity to contribute to a team culture. I found the team at erthos??to be a very high-trust, cohesive, and productive team with multi-disciplinary expertise. I was amazed by all of the things erthos? does under one roof. I am also incredibly excited to build out our Data and AI team, focusing on attracting top talent who are not only skilled in Digital and Cloud technologies but are also passionate about sustainability and the positive impact a platform like ZYA? can make on the environment.?

I look forward to contributing to our collaborative environment where creativity and innovation thrive.

As erthos? continues to push the boundaries of scientific AI, what fundamental misconception about the sustainable materials industry do you believe needs clearer understanding, and how does this impact progress?

Dr. Tumne, Head of Data & AI, erthos?: The one thing about the sustainable materials industry that I think everyone needs to understand is that it’s absolutely needed in our time and place on this earth. I don’t think we can continue going down the road of traditional plastics or other synthetic materials in the same way we have. I think we need to start thinking from the Earth, back to the Earth — think beyond the goods we create along the way.

As nations like the US and China accelerate their investments in AI, the global race in AI technology is intensifying. However, this rapid development brings its own set of challenges, particularly in terms of environmental impact. How do you plan to navigate these challenges?

Dr. Tumne, Head of Data & AI, erthos?: The global expansion of AI is exciting yet requires careful consideration. As a technology leader, I'm deeply conscious of the rapid pace at which AI technologies are advancing.?

Like any new industrial-scale technology, there come unique environmental implications, and the global explosion of data centers is no exception.? At erthos?, we take these challenges seriously and understand we can take this nascent technology to solve an even graver environmental issue facing us around forever plastics.? Even with ZYA? as a data and AI we’re thinking from the earth, back to the earth and bringing that to every producer of consumer goods

I see the global proliferation as a positive.? erthos? has an international clientele and many come to us with unique challenges that are ‘think global, act local’ when it comes to driving adoption of sustainable materials, market-by-market, including navigating specific challenges based on national contexts.? We focus on developing technologies that push the boundaries of what's possible but do so in a manner that is responsible and aligns with our firm commitment to sustainable solutions globally.

During our first meeting, your personal passions really stood out and highlighted your creativity and tie to culture. Could you share with our readers how these interests, especially outside of Data & AI, shape your approach at erthos??

Dr. Tumne, Head of Data & AI, erthos?: I'd be remiss if I didn't share my passion for music. I love music and have a major record collection at home. I consider myself deeply creative, and music is a fundamental channel through which I express my creativity. Much like a well-composed piece of music, successful technology innovation also requires a harmony of ideas and a rhythm in execution. My passion for and understanding of music deeply influences how I infuse creativity and collaboration within the erthos? team, enhancing our ability to design innovative solutions that resonate well with sustainable development patterns.

Stay Connected

We are so excited to welcome Dr. Tumne as the new Head of Data Artificial Intelligence–a seasoned leader who is already making strides towards adoption and impact of AI within the sustainable materials industry.

Stay updated on all things erthos?—from career opportunities and technological advancements to company news—by visiting planeterthos.com.

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