In an era where technology is reshaping industries and redefining human potential, Ashutosh Garg stands at the forefront of one of the most transformative revolutions in the world of work. As the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Eightfold AI, a global talent intelligence platform, Garg has reimagined how organizations hire, retain, and empower their workforce through artificial intelligence and deep learning.
But behind his extraordinary success story lies a journey marked by intellectual brilliance, relentless innovation, and an unwavering mission—to help every individual in the world find the right career.
Ashutosh Garg: From IIT Delhi to Global Innovation
Ashutosh Garg’s story begins in India, where he earned his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi)—a place that honed his analytical and creative thinking. His passion for data, algorithms, and problem-solving led him to pursue advanced research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he completed his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
At UIUC, his groundbreaking work in machine learning earned him the Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award, a recognition reserved for the brightest minds. This early academic excellence foreshadowed a career defined by innovation, with over 50 patents, 35+ research papers, and 6,000+ research citations to his name. Garg was also a recipient of the IBM Research Fellowship and the Robert T. Chien Award for research excellence.
A Trailblazer in Artificial Intelligence
Long before artificial intelligence became a buzzword, Ashutosh Garg was already pioneering its practical applications. His tenure at Google saw him leading efforts in personalization and search optimization, shaping the foundation of modern data-driven experiences. He later served as a research scientist at IBM Research, delving deeper into machine learning and information retrieval—fields that would later define his entrepreneurial path.
In 2009, Garg co-founded BloomReach, a cloud-based marketing and digital experience platform that leveraged AI to make the web more relevant for users. Under his leadership as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), BloomReach grew from a single product with one client to a global enterprise serving over 50 major companies. The platform’s intelligent systems boosted organic search traffic by up to 80%, demonstrating Garg’s ability to bridge data science with real-world business outcomes.
BloomReach’s success positioned Garg as a serial innovator, and the company eventually achieved unicorn status—a feat that would not be his last.
Ashutosh Garg: The Birth of Eightfold AI: A Mission Beyond Business
In 2016, driven by a deeper purpose, Ashutosh Garg co-founded Eightfold AI alongside his longtime collaborator Varun Kacholia. Their vision was not just to build another AI company, but to revolutionize how people find meaningful work.
Eightfold AI was built on a simple yet profound idea: look at people’s potential, not just their past. The platform leverages deep-learning AI to analyze millions of data points from careers, skills, and industries, helping companies identify the right talent while enabling individuals to find roles aligned with their abilities and aspirations.
Today, Eightfold AI serves clients in over 100 countries, including prestigious institutions such as the U.S. Department of Defense and the State of New York. The platform’s cutting-edge algorithms support:
-
Unbiased Hiring: Through “Equal Opportunity Algorithms,” Eightfold ensures that hiring recommendations are free from biases related to gender, race, or age.
-
Internal Mobility: Helping enterprises tap into their internal talent by identifying hidden skills and creating internal marketplaces for growth.
-
Agentic AI and Digital Twins: Pioneering the next wave of enterprise productivity by building AI agents that understand, predict, and enhance human performance.
This unique combination of purpose and precision has made Eightfold AI a global leader in talent intelligence, fundamentally changing how organizations view and manage their human capital.
A Global Thought Leader on the Future of Work
Beyond his role as an entrepreneur, Ashutosh Garg is widely respected as a thought leader on the future of work, artificial intelligence, and ethical technology. He frequently speaks about concepts like “pitch-market fit”, the evolving relationship between humans and AI, and how organizations must embrace technology as a strategic enabler—not a threat.
Garg envisions a world where AI amplifies human potential rather than replacing it. His approach to technology is profoundly humanistic, rooted in empathy and empowerment. “We’re not just building AI to automate,” he often says, “we’re building AI to elevate people—to help them discover their true potential.”