Welcome to GoSearch’s AI Innovator Series, a bi-weekly interview series spotlighting influential leaders shaping the future and impact of AI across technology and business. Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest AI Innovators episodes directly in your inbox!

In this edition, we feature Ritendra Datta, a seasoned AI leader and the VP of AI at Eightfold AI. With experience at industry powerhouses like Google, Facebook, and Databricks, Ritendra brings a unique combination of deep technical expertise and strategic vision to the world of HR technology.

In our conversation, Ritendra shares his journey into AI, his views on the next frontiers of intelligent systems, and how we’re entering a new era—one in which intelligent machines are not just functional but experiential.

A Conversation with Ritendra Datta, VP of AI at Eightfold AI

Foundations & Career Journey

Tell us about your role, background, and what brought you to Eightfold.

Ritendra Datta: I currently serve as VP of AI at Eightfold AI, where our mission is to use advanced AI to reimagine how companies attract, retain, and grow talent. My career in AI has taken me across multiple domains—from search and recommendations at Google, to social intelligence at Facebook, to large-scale data processing at Databricks. Each stop deepened my understanding of how machine learning can shape human interaction with technology.

What drew me to Eightfold was the opportunity to apply these principles to one of the most human domains: careers. HR is full of complexity—decisions are not only data-driven but emotionally charged and identity-shaping. AI can’t just be accurate; it has to be responsible. At Eightfold, we’re building systems that don’t just predict but understand, using large language models and deep learning to model potential, not just performance. That vision, to help everyone find the right career path, really resonated with me.

The Evolution of AI: From Models to Experience

How has your perspective on AI evolved with the emergence of large language models (LLMs)?

Ritendra Datta: The emergence of LLMs has completely transformed how we think about intelligence. AI systems were specialized for years—great at classification, prediction, or specific tasks, but limited in generalization. LLMs represent a leap toward cognitive capability. They can digest complex, unstructured inputs and generate surprisingly intuitive outputs, whether summarizing a report or answering a nuanced question.

More importantly, these models shift the focus from static output to dynamic reasoning. They don’t just process—they understand context, adapt to user intent, and even refine their responses based on feedback. We’re watching the boundary blur between human communication and machine processing. That shift opens the door to new, interactive applications—from copilots to tutors to decision advisors. It’s a new kind of intelligence.

What’s an AI advancement you’re most excited about?

Ritendra Datta: While LLMs have brought reasoning and conversation to AI, I’m particularly excited about the next frontier: Large Action Models. These are systems that don’t just think—they act. We’re talking about AI interacting with the physical world: robotics, autonomous tools, and real-world agents executing tasks based on sensory input and environmental cues.

“In the future, physical devices like robots will be able to take a series of actions that lead to meaningful contributions, making humans more capable and productive.”

— Ritendra Datta, VP of AI @ Eightfold AI

This evolution mirrors the leap from understanding language to taking meaningful action. Think warehouse bots, surgical assistants, or autonomous vehicles. But with that power comes risk. Actions in the real world have consequences—there’s less room for error. As we pursue these breakthroughs, we must move responsibly. We’re no longer just optimizing software—we’re shaping the behavior of machines that coexist with humans.

We keep hearing about “the era of experience in AI.” What does that mean to you?

Ritendra Datta: This new era is about more than intelligence—it’s about experience. Traditional AI focused on outcomes: better search results, improved recommendations, optimized operations. Today, the expectation has shifted. Users want AI that feels intuitive, understands context, adapts to needs, and enhances workflows—not just outputs.

“Large action models harness the principles of large language models, predicting actions rather than words, paving the way for intelligent physical devices that significantly enhance human capabilities.”

— Ritendra Datta, VP of AI @ Eightfold AI

This means design and empathy matter. How the AI feels, communicates, and learns from the user all contribute to trust and adoption. Going forward, the best AI products will be measured not only by accuracy but by how seamless and empowering the interaction is. Experience is the new competitive edge in AI.

AI Agents & Collaboration

What are your thoughts on AI agents?

Ritendra Datta: AI agents are the embodiment of intelligent systems. They take in information, process it in context, make decisions, and act—often autonomously. This isn’t just automation; it’s collaboration. Agents are becoming adaptive, persistent digital colleagues that support everything from customer service to software development.

But with greater capability comes greater responsibility. These agents must be built with principles—ethical grounding, transparency, and alignment with human values. It’s not just about what the agent does, but whether users trust how and why it acts. From day one, we must embed fine-tuned governance and ethical reasoning into these systems.

“AI agents represent an exciting frontier, bridging theoretical reasoning and real-world action, yet they demand careful governance to align with societal values.”

— Ritendra Datta, VP of AI @ Eightfold AI

How do you see Agent-to-Agent collaboration evolving?

Ritendra Datta: This is where it gets genuinely fascinating. When agents begin collaborating—sharing information, coordinating efforts, and learning from one another—we build dynamic ecosystems. Imagine HR workflows where recruiting agents sync with onboarding agents. Or research systems where one agent gathers sources while another summarizes findings in real time.

These aren’t isolated tools—they’re cooperative networks. That’s the future: interoperable, multi-agent systems that mirror human work’s distributed, collaborative nature. This shift will redefine enterprise productivity and efficiency. We’ll no longer measure AI by individual outputs but by the emergent intelligence of entire agent ecosystems.

Enterprise AI & Ethical Considerations

What’s your view on the role of tools like GoSearch in enterprise AI?

Ritendra Datta: Tools like GoSearch solve a critical, often overlooked challenge: knowledge fragmentation. In most organizations, vital information lives in silos—emails, documents, Slack threads. Traditional search engines can’t always surface the most relevant insight immediately.

AI-powered enterprise search goes beyond keywords. It understands context, user roles, and intent. With tools like GoSearch, teams can surface contextualized, current, and conversational answers. That’s a game-changer for productivity, onboarding, and decision-making. In many ways, it’s not just a search engine—it’s an enabler of institutional memory.

“Products like GoSearch are game changers; they transform inaccessible corporate data into a democratized digital goldmine, vital for maintaining institutional knowledge.”

— Ritendra Datta, VP of AI @ Eightfold AI

How do you think about ethical AI, especially in HR tech?

Ritendra Datta: Ethics in AI is non-negotiable—especially in HR, where systems directly impact people’s opportunities, careers, and identities. At Eightfold, we embed ethics into every layer of development. From data sourcing to model training, we constantly assess for bias, fairness, and explainability.

But this isn’t a one-company job. Ethical AI requires a broader framework—collaboration across governments, academia, and industry. It’s about defining shared guardrails and holding ourselves accountable. AI doesn’t just reflect our world—it shapes it. We owe it to users and society to get it right.

Team Building & Scaling AI

What do you look for in talent when hiring for your AI team?

Ritendra Datta: Beyond technical excellence, I look for curiosity and adaptability. AI is evolving so rapidly that skills can become outdated in a year. What endures is a growth mindset—people who ask great questions, embrace ambiguity, and keep learning.

Communication is also key. Building a powerful model is not enough—you need to explain it to stakeholders, align with business outcomes, and iterate based on feedback. The best AI professionals are both engineers and storytellers. They understand the system and its impact.

What are your thoughts on implementing AI architecture at scale?

Ritendra Datta: Scalable AI architecture isn’t just about the tech stack but strategic alignment. The infrastructure must be flexible, modular, and designed for evolution. However, success depends on alignment between data science, product, and compliance teams. Everyone needs to understand the why behind the architecture.

Architecture is destiny. Early decisions—frameworks, pipelines, feedback loops—determine your agility down the line. As models become more powerful, embedding governance becomes critical. Build like your systems will grow, adapt, and be scrutinized—because they will.

Creative Crossovers & Personal Perspective

Outside of work, what inspires you?

Ritendra Datta: Filmmaking is a personal passion. It’s a different problem-solving process—emotional, nonlinear, and deeply human. Where AI is about logic and optimization, film is about feeling and ambiguity. That contrast keeps me balanced.

There’s a lot of crossover, too. Building a film is like designing a product—crafting an experience, guiding a user (or viewer) through a journey. Increasingly, I see AI playing a role in that world, helping creators brainstorm, edit, and expand what’s possible in storytelling.

If not AI, what would you be doing?

Ritendra Datta: I’d likely be a full-time filmmaker. Not necessarily aiming for Hollywood success, but creating stories that matter—stories that move people. AI would still be part of my toolkit even in that alternate universe. Whether automating tedious editing tasks or generating visual effects, AI can empower creative work.

That’s the beauty of this moment—we’re not just building tools for industry. We’re building tools for expression, connection, and imagination.

Final Thoughts

Ritendra Datta’s vision for AI is both deeply technical and profoundly human. From the frontier of action models to ethical frameworks for HR tech, from enterprise knowledge systems to agent collaboration, his insights remind us that AI is not just a tool—it’s a transformation.

As we enter the era of experiential, interconnected intelligence, leaders like Ritendra are helping ensure we do so thoughtfully and ethically –  elevating the human experience, not replacing it.

Ready to see how AI can transform the way your organization accesses and uses knowledge? Book a GoSearch demo and experience how intelligent enterprise search unifies information, enhances decision-making, and empowers your teams with contextual, conversational insights.