Rethinking AI Collaboration: Vijay Karunamurthy on Voice Agents, Filter Bubbles, and the Future of Dialogue

Ahead of his talk at World Summit AI USA 2025 (June 18–19, San Francisco), we caught up with Vijay Karunamurthy, Field CTO at Scale AI. In this interview, Karunamurthy offers a refreshingly pragmatic view of AI's future—one where collaboration, conversation, and career-aligned learning take center stage. From building voice agents for TIME Magazine to designing AI tutors with purpose, he explores how AI can shift from static tools to dynamic partners that reshape how we learn, communicate, and engage with the world.

What’s your most compelling dream scenario for AI — a breakthrough that would fundamentally improve life on a global scale?

Fundamentally rethink how businesses collaborate.

What’s a recent project or breakthrough you're especially proud of — and what kind of impact do you hope it will have in the real world?

If you had to choose one nightmare scenario that keeps you up at night — whether realistic or speculative — what would it be, and what warning signs should we be watching for today?

AI that isn’t collaborative and keeps people in filter bubbles.

 

Who or what do you think has the power to prevent your nightmare scenario above?

 

Design experiences with collaboration in mind.

What are we not talking about enough in the AI conversation today — something you believe could be hugely important five years from now?

How models are progressing in negotiating with each other and finding areas of agreements.

 

If you look ahead 10 years, what do you think will be the biggest change in our daily lives?

Replacing apps and websites with stories and dialogues.

 

Do you think AGI is near? When will we have AGI?

I think a single model achieving AGI is not near. I think entire communities being enabled to do superhuman things is likely.

Vijay Karunamurthy, Field CTO, Scale AI

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