Meet Raj Mehta | Social Entrepreneur & AI Ethicist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raj Mehta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raj, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As we bear witness, it seems that the machine age may indeed be soon upon us—artificial intelligence seems to be growing even more pervasive, impacting every aspect of our society and daily lives. Consequently, the industry’s insatiable demand for accurate, diverse, and secure data has significantly surged—it is evidently and rapidly becoming the new oil. I truly believe that data will be at the forefront of future innovation in this new digital era. Yet, I was quite surprised and shocked when I learned that conventional data-generation methods and solutions oftentimes raise ethical and practical concerns. For example, researchers from University of Southern California (USC) found biases rampant in approximately up to 38.6% of ‘facts’ used by AI, concluding that a lot of data and thereby AI/ML models cannot be considered to be fair.

As I continued to research and learn more, I wondered what if there could be a way to address this pressing issue? Could it be possible to replicate traditional real-world data sets, without compromising their original attributes and characteristics?

As I brainstormed and experimented further with different ideas, I discovered and was drawn to the novel concept of synthetic data. Essentially, synthetic data is computer-generated data that mirrors the characteristics and patterns of real-world data, without containing any actual confidential or sensitive information. It can be likened to creating a digital twin of traditional real-world data.

What I find particularly intriguing about synthetic data is that it has the potential to allow data scientists to inject fairness into AI models and prevent the proliferation of algorithmic biases, promoting equitable and unbiased decision-making. Algorithmic bias is a pertinent issue—for example, Gartner (2018 study) predicted that up to 85% of AI projects could potentially deliver erroneous outcomes due to biases in data, algorithms, or the teams responsible for managing them.

I’m also excited about another key transformative application of synthetic data—for augmenting data in use cases where only limited real-world data is available, especially in life-critical applications, such as rare diseases and medical science. Synthetic data can also allow for broader access to essential data in industry applications where data privacy and security compliance is of utmost priority, such as GDPR, HIPAA, etc. I truly believe that nearly all industry verticals, including Financial Services, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Retail, IoT, Robotics, etc., will both drive demand and benefit from the emergence of synthetic data.

I am convinced of the transformative potential of synthetic data, and that’s why I founded Crowdruption, with an aim to disrupt the already established data science industry, by focusing on innovative synthetic data solutions for Fair and Responsible AI.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Crowdruption takes a differentiated approach to synthetic data generation models and methodologies. There are several different approaches to generating synthetic data, including Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), that till now, have predominantly been used in isolation rather than in combination. Through hypothesis-led simulations, I have developed hybrid statistical model approaches that synergistically integrate both the realistic data generation capabilities of GANs with the probabilistic frameworks of VAEs. This unique approach aims to improve and enhance data accuracy and availability, while also retaining the mathematical and statistical properties of traditional real-world data and preserving privacy, security, and transparency. I have already filed for a Patent for this innovative synergistic approach, and I am developing my Synthetic Data platform/toolkit.

I felt incredibly proud on the day when I filed for my Patent. It was not only a moment of joy, but also a moment that truly signified the strides I was making with my venture. The prior several months of brainstorming and building potential prototypes had finally come to fruition.

I have also launched a crowdsourcing platform COllaborative INnovation Network (COINN), with an aim to build and nurture a vibrant online community of passionate future data leaders, through Hackathons, Workshops, etc.

I am working with a leading university as my research and development partner, to collaborate and accelerate development of my Patent-Pending synthetic data platform/toolkit. Additionally, I am in discussions with industry advisors and a leading startup accelerator/incubator for advisory support and funding opportunities to catalyze Crowdruption’s growth strategy.

I am truly excited for Crowdruption’s future prospects. According to Gartner, use of synthetic data in industry applications is expected to grow from 1% to 60% in the coming years, and the synthetic data generation market is expected to grow at more than 35% CAGR (per Allied Market Research).

Looking back, building Crowdruption has been a momentous journey of research, acquiring technical know-how and subject matter expertise, cultivating a business-focused mindset, and so much more. I had initially set out on this relatively uncharted trail without much prior knowledge or defined path; I was simply driven by mere optimism, hope, and a self-belief that I will succeed. In a true trailblazer style, it’s like the feeling of being a maverick on a riveting journey to achieving the impossible.

What I have learned through this experience is the importance of perseverance, hard work, optimism, and dedication. It’s important to always pursue and nurture your passions, staying laser-focused on your goals with an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Through the transformative potential of synthetic data, I sincerely hope to play a small, yet meaningful role in shaping the new innovation economy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would ensure that my friends visiting Atlanta experience its unique, diverse culture and get a glimpse of its vibrant cityscape. I would certainly extend the intrinsic warmth of Southern Hospitality, which is an inherent cultural value I have always imbibed, having grown up in the South.

I would take my friends on an exploration of the great outdoors—whether it’s stepping out onto a lush green course bonding with friends over a round of golf, catching the breathtaking sunset views reflecting off the sparkling waters of Lake Lanier, and/or marveling at Stone Mountain’s captivating Drone and Light Shows. For the more adventurous friends, going River Rafting on the Chattahoochee River, hiking on the scenic Appalachian Trail, and retreating to the cabins of the picturesque North Georgia mountains, would be the perfect experience.

For the sports buffs, a trip to Atlanta cannot be complete without cheering on our sports teams, whether it’s the Falcons, Atlanta United FC, Braves, or Hawks at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Truist Park, and State-Farm Arena. I can’t wait for the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches that will be played in Atlanta at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium!

I would also take my friends on a downtown trip exploring the artistic culture of Underground Atlanta, catching a show at Fox Theatre, and of course, experiencing the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola is a must. No trip to Atlanta is complete without visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, learning about the civil rights movement, and seeing firsthand the birth-home of Martin Luther King Jr.—where it all started.

At the end of the day, savoring authentic Southern cuisines in the Buckhead district and enjoying Atlanta’s world-renowned Jazz scene is always a great way to wind down.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I absolutely loved the book “The Ethical Algorithm: The Science of Socially Aware Algorithm Design” by Professors Michael Kearns and Aaron Roth. “The Ethical Algorithm” focuses on many of the current modern-day and futuristic use cases of algorithms, anything from mortgage loans to navigation apps, and highlights intrinsic ethical pitfalls of these algorithms. Through a case study and solution-oriented approach, this book offers unique insights on how algorithms could potentially be adapted, with an aim to mitigate the unintentional impacts of algorithms.

My learnings from “The Ethical Algorithm” have always served as a guiding light for Crowdruption’s principles and commitment towards Responsible and Fair AI—the premise of synthetic data. Ethics in algorithms are not necessarily a widely discussed topic in today’s modern society, so this book was a great learning opportunity for me to gain a better perspective on several specific nuances surrounding the same.

Website: https://www.crowdruption.com/