Prem Natarajan, ISI's Executive Director from 2013 to 2020, shares his journey from a multilingual childhood in India to becoming a leader in artificial intelligence. His early fascination with language led him to pursue computing, starting with IBM’s Watson Research Center, where he worked on handwriting recognition and speech technologies.

At ISI, Natarajan fostered a culture of innovation by expanding research into fields like quantum computing and AI-driven multimedia analysis. He emphasized recruiting top talent and aligning their passions with the institute’s goals, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with moonshot projects. Under his leadership, ISI became a leader in cutting-edge technology, significantly contributing to global challenges. Natarajan also expanded ISI’s reach by opening a Boston office, enhancing the institute’s capabilities and ensuring its continued impact on technological innovation.