Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Investing, GE Turnaround, IPL, Excel, and AI Boom

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Peeyush Jain & Mohit Garg
April 24, 2024

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Salutations, Olio aficionados! 👋

Happy Hump Day and welcome to the 75th edition of Weekly Olio - your trusty source for giggles, wisdom, and a dash of intrigue courtesy of our tantalizing thought piece (yes, buckle up for Publisher's Parmesan). 🧀

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The Quote󠀢 💭

“Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.”

― Paul Samuelson

The Tweet 🐦

GE was once one of the largest conglomerates in the world with a presence in every sector imaginable. When Larry Culp became the CEO of GE in 2018, it had a mountain of debt and had just been kicked out of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. In the last 6 years, he has retired debt, invested in profit making units and made the entire GE team much leaner.

The Infographic 💹

IPL follows a revenue-sharing model where the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the individual IPL teams share the profits from broadcasting rights and league-level sponsorships.

The Short Read 📝

Anyone who has ever worked in a corporate set up knows the importance of Microsoft Excel. The idea that a modern Formula 1 team, building some of the most advanced cars on the planet, is using an Excel sheet to build these machines might seem odd but that is exactly what the Williams team did. The Williams car build workbook tracked more than 20,000 individual parts.

This kind of management inevitably leads to chaos and gaps in communication. And not just formula one teams, Spreadsheets errors have led to a litany of errors: from police doxxing to an accidental $10M crypto transfer. If you are running your business on Excel sheets, may God help you.

The Long Read 📜

Generative AI has been once of the biggest technology waves of the last 5 years. Not a day goes by without a tech company or a startup talking about AI. But who really is winning in the AI race?

This article looks at four layers that make up the modern AI stack: the AI models themselves (like GPT -4); the cloud computing platforms that host these models and some of the applications (tech giants like AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure); the semiconductor hardware for running these models/applications (chip makers like Nvidia, AMD and Intel) and the networking gear/servers for running these (likes of Dell, Arista etc.).

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Publisher’s Parmesan 🧀

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Dr. Pramod Varma is the former Chief Architect of Aadhaar, India's digital identity program that has successfully covered nearly 1.4 billion people. He was also the chief architect for various India Stack layers such as eSign, DigiLocker, and Unified Payment Interface (UPI), all of which are now working at population scale in India. He played an integral role in architecting India’s digital health infrastructure, vaccination and immunization infrastructure (Co-WIN & DIVOC).

In this engaging discussion, Pramod discussed how countries are exploring the implementation of population-scale solutions through Digital Public Infrastructure. Pramod also addressed the challenges and relevant solutions shaping the DPI approach.

Tanushka: Hi Pramod, starting with India's digital identity program. How did the concept of Aadhaar come about, how was it built, and where were you at that time when you got pulled into this project?

Pramod: I was in Bangalore at that time. One morning, I read in the newspaper that Dr. Manmohan Singh had invited Nandan Nilekani to take over the Aadhaar project. That moment changed everything.

It was amazing because two of my biggest life-changing decisions came from morning newspaper reading – one was shifting out of my town for my masters, and the other was diving into the Aadhaar project. I had previously read Nandan's book "Imagining India," where he discussed the power of identity for social inclusion. So, it made total sense to me.

Tanushka: How well-defined was this DPI approach right at the start because now it's well-documented and it's well-researched, but right at the beginning when you were just starting out, when probably even the word digital public infrastructure was not coined, how well-defined was it and what did it take to make it more structured?

Pramod: The architecture principles were clear to me, given my experience in building large-scale commercial platforms. However, the project management aspects were not obvious.

In the early days, we didn't even have a proper office in Bangalore or Delhi. It took several months before things started falling into place. Overcoming the challenges of building population-scale infrastructure was certainly not easy, but we remained optimistic throughout.

Tanushka: How did you overcome the challenges of building population-scale infrastructure? Were there some moments of self-doubt or insecurity?

Pramod: No project of this scale is ever smooth sailing. However, I never doubted the vision or the capabilities of our team. Despite facing technological and political challenges, we remained confident in our design principles, which focused on privacy, security, and value generation. While there were difficult moments, we always found ways to navigate through them, often relying on the right team and timing.

Tanushka: How did the design principles of this project evolve over time?

Pramod: The core design principles remained fairly constant, emphasizing minimalism, privacy, security, interoperability, and market innovation. However, the approach shifted towards a more decentralized and network-oriented architecture, particularly with initiatives like UPI and account aggregator. This evolution was influenced by our experiences with different DPI components and the need to adapt to emerging technologies and use cases.

Tanushka: What is the difference between DPI and deep tech?

Pramod: DPI is more about a societal or entrepreneurial approach, focusing on creating impactful projects rather than purely commercial endeavors. However, DPI principles can also be applied to technologies like AI to democratize access and create value for a larger population.

It's not a matter of DPI versus deep tech; rather, it's about leveraging DPI thinking to address societal challenges through technology.

Tanushka: Does DPI actually deepen the digital divide in countries?

Pramod: Contrary to common belief, DPI can actually bridge the digital divide if designed thoughtfully. For instance, initiatives like Aadhaar, Digilocker, and UPI have demonstrated inclusivity by catering to users with smartphones, feature phones, or even no phones at all.

By focusing on accessibility and interoperability, DPI can ensure that digital services reach everyone, regardless of their technological capabilities.

Tanushka: What was the idea behind UPI, India's interoperable payments network, and how exactly was it built?

Pramod: The idea behind UPI stemmed from a need to create a next-generation payment network that was open, interoperable, and accessible to all. We drew inspiration from existing technologies like SMTP and HTTP, aiming to make money transfers as seamless as sending emails or browsing websites. The protocol was designed to be currency-agnostic and device-agnostic, allowing for innovative use cases beyond traditional banking services.

Tanushka: How is UPI different from other financial systems around the world?

Pramod: UPI stands out for its openness and abstraction. Unlike closed-loop systems in countries like China, UPI offers an open-loop network that fosters innovation and interoperability. Its protocol-driven approach enables a wide range of services, from peer-to-peer transfers to merchant payments, without being tied to specific devices or banks. This abstraction has paved the way for diverse applications and continuous innovation within the UPI ecosystem.

Tanushka: How did India become such a success story for DPI?

Pramod: India's success with DPI can be attributed to a combination of visionary leadership, minimalistic design principles, and early successes like Aadhaar. Despite initial challenges, the adoption of Aadhaar paved the way for subsequent initiatives like Digilocker and UPI. Each project built on the success of its predecessors, creating a momentum that inspired confidence among policymakers, innovators, and citizens alike.

Tanushka: How do other countries adopt the DPI approach?

Pramod: Countries looking to adopt the DPI approach should start by identifying their most pressing societal challenges and exploring how DPI principles can address them. Whether it's credentialing, identity, payments, or other domains, DPI offers a flexible framework for innovation.

There's no fixed order to adopt DPI components, but focusing on low-hanging fruits like credentialing can yield immediate benefits and build momentum for broader DPI initiatives. Ultimately, DPI is about creating options for the future and leveraging technology to solve complex problems at scale.

Tanushka: How can DPI help us face the future better?

Pramod: DPI is a way of thinking, creating options for the future. It allows us to rapidly innovate and adapt to an unknown future, tackling emerging challenges like sustainability and climate action.

This approach could serve as a blueprint for other countries looking to implement population-scale solutions through DPI. By focusing on clear design principles, adaptability, and impactful initiatives, countries can harness the power of digital public infrastructure to address the needs of their citizens and navigate the challenges of the future.

Can't get enough of this conversation? Us neither! Check out the full episode below to satisfy your craving for more insights and ideas. 😃 

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