Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based software engineer has left a lucrative role at Microsoft to pursue a mission aimed at improving India’s healthcare system through artificial intelligence (AI).
Saksham Gupta (28), who spent over two years developing AI systems for Microsoft Copilot, has decided to step away from the corporate world to study the country’s healthcare ecosystem and identify areas where AI can address critical operational challenges.
Inspired by a desire to create meaningful impact
Speaking about his decision, Gupta said he wanted to work on a problem that directly affects millions of people.
“I wanted to work on something that affected a lot of people and where I could have a direct impact,” he said.
His journey into healthcare innovation was driven by a deeply personal experience after his grandfather suffered a heart attack. The incident exposed him to the complexities of India’s healthcare system and motivated him to explore ways technology could improve patient care and hospital operations.
From building Copilot to studying hospitals
Instead of launching a startup immediately, Gupta has chosen to first understand the healthcare sector from the ground up. He is visiting hospitals, interacting with doctors, administrators and healthcare workers, and studying the day-to-day operational challenges they face.
His objective is to identify practical problems that artificial intelligence can solve, rather than creating technology without understanding real-world needs.
AI for real-world healthcare challenges
Gupta believes AI has the potential to improve hospital workflows, reduce administrative burdens and make healthcare delivery more efficient. By spending time in hospitals and learning directly from medical professionals, he hopes to build solutions that can have a meaningful and lasting impact.
His decision reflects a growing trend of technology professionals leaving high-paying corporate jobs to work on socially relevant challenges, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, education and sustainability.
As India accelerates the adoption of AI across industries, initiatives focused on solving real-world public challenges are expected to play a key role in shaping the country’s digital future.