In 2023, I participated in the International Internship Program at the National Institute of Informatics (NII), Japan, where I collaborated with Prof. Shin'ichi Satoh (NII, Japan) and Prof. Camille Guinaudeau (Paris Saclay University, France), a pioneer in multimedia and visual computing. It was a cultural, intellectual, and personal transformation, one that reshaped how I think about research and responsibility in AI.
As a PhD scholar in Human-Machine Interaction at IIIT-Delhi, my work centres on attention, cognition, and inclusive learning systems. At NII, I engaged deeply with questions around how AI perceives visual tasks, how learning contexts can be modelled across modalities, and how systems can remain sensitive to diverse cognitive profiles. Weekly research meetings, infused with critical dialogue and intellectual inquisitiveness, became a space where ideas were not only shared but sharpened.
Prof. Satoh's and Prof. Camille's mentorship encouraged me to think beyond just developing algorithms, toward the intent, inclusivity, and ethics behind the models. Their guidance helped me align technical goals with meaningful impact.
Outside the lab, Japan quietly teaches you how to be present. Whether it was immersing myself in the digital serenity of teamLab's Borderless Museum, witnessing the understated kindness of strangers on Tokyo's Metro, or navigating research deadlines with the calm precision of a tea ceremony, every moment offered perspective. I was especially struck by the harmony between tradition and modernity, Zen gardens next to robotics labs, temples beside train stations. It wasn't a contrast, but a conversation, reminding me that innovation can be both grounded and graceful.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the internship was being part of a vibrant, international cohort. We came from different disciplines, languages, and research traditions, yet we bonded over shared curiosity. We discussed ideas over sushi dinners, refined our models during whiteboard sessions, and wandered through Tokyo as fellow learners, not just interns.
This internship didn't just advance my research; it expanded my worldview. I returned with sharper questions, a global perspective, and a deeper belief in technology that is not only intelligent but also humane.
The NII International Internship Program is more than a professional milestone. It's a place to think expansively, connect deeply, and grow meaningfully. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Jainendra Shukla and Dr. Rajiv Ratn Shah for giving me this opportunity, and to Prof. Shin'ichi Satoh, Prof. Camille Guinaudeau, and the NII team for making this experience truly enriching, and for showing me that research, at its best, is a dialogue across cultures, disciplines, and lives.