Before AI had a name
“Calculators took away some of our mathematical thinking. Let’s hope AI doesn’t take away our reasoning and critical thought.”
Shivam Dhawan is a BI analyst and founder from India, now based in Portugal, working on secure digital communications, AI systems, and human learning.
Long before “generative AI” became mainstream, Shivam was already building ethically trained, community-driven AI models.
“We had products like Video.Wiki before the term GenAI even existed"
Adapt, don’t abandon
"Suddenly, many of our models were replaced by a single API call. The rules we were playing by were ignored"
The launch of AI as an API changed everything. What followed was a year of doubt. And a decision point. Rather than quitting, Shivam and his team adapted. They began working with emerging technologies while building new tools like ETL0.com, ShortsBot.app, and Decast.live. His mission is to design systems where AI strengthens, not replaces, human intelligence.
“We’re not against progress. We’re choosing to build responsibly within it.”
The EIT connection
Shivam’s journey started with EIT Digital Alumni, giving him access to peers and mentors across Europe. More recently, Decast.live was selected by EIT Culture & Creativity, opening doors to cross-sector collaboration.
“EIT has been a bridge, across time, communities, and opportunities.”
Why this story matters
Shivam's story is one of resilience, proof that innovation isn’t just about being first, but about staying true when everything changes.
EIT Alumni Unfiltered is a series by B. Olivari sharing honest stories from EIT alumni, exploring their journeys, impact, and how EIT helped shape their paths.
EIT Digital Alumni and EIT Digital are supported by the EIT, a body of the European Union