Arvinda Kumar
Selected Writing
A selection of essays on AI governance, mediation, leadership, and technology, informed by experience in public service.
Featured essays
When the Answer Turns Out to Be More Interesting Than the Question
Every so often, science gets excited about an idea, tests it rigorously, and finds it doesn't hold up — only to discover something more interesting on the way down. That is roughly what has happened with one of the more romantic notions in modern biology: the idea that living cells might secretly borrow tricks from the quantum world. The romance didn't survive scrutiny. But the questions it left behind have turned out to be worth asking anyway.
When Black Holes Forget: A Meditation on Memory, Entropy, and Time
A physicist's fascination with black holes, and a simple question about memory: why do these extreme cosmic objects forget almost everything about their violent pasts? Drawing on a recent essay by Cambridge researcher Richard Dyer, this piece explores the surprising link between black holes, entropy, and the quiet, irreversible way that both the universe and our own lives move forward by letting go of what came before.
The Freedom of Being Misunderstood
A short reflection on a habit many of us carry without noticing — the quiet, endless work of trying to correct how others see us. Written from years spent in rooms where perception carried real weight, this piece is about the difference between genuine accountability and simply managing an image, and why letting go of the latter is where real peace begins.
National-Security AI: Humans Must Remain in Command
Artificial intelligence can strengthen national security, but human oversight must be more than a formal approval. Drawing on the perspective of a former Intelligence Bureau chief, this article examines why people must retain the authority to question AI, set its limits and remain accountable for decisions.
Further reading
Apple’s Latest Launch: Advanced Technology for Everyday Life
What does Apple’s latest technology mean for everyday users? Its September 9 launch brings new phones, watches and earphones, with improvements aimed at making daily life easier. This article looks at the offerings in simple terms and reflects on the practical value behind the impressive technology.
Read articleMediation as an Institutional Capability
Mediation can help institutions do more than resolve disputes. It can strengthen their ability to hear concerns early, handle differences fairly, and build trust. This article explores how mediation can become part of an institution’s everyday practice—and a lasting source of strength.
Read articleAI’s Silent Thoughts
Artificial intelligence is moving beyond answering questions. The newest systems can plan, reason, use digital tools and even hold internal representations of ideas before expressing them in words. Recent research into Claude’s so-called “J-space”, alongside the intense competition between OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra and Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5.1, offers a fascinating glimpse into this changing frontier. Does it bring machines closer to consciousness—or simply reveal a more sophisticated form of computation? This article examines the possibilities, the limits and what these advances may mean for our future.
Read articleAI in Policing: Technology with Responsibility
Haryana Police’s decision to establish an AI Task Force, particularly for tackling cybercrime and analysing complex financial trails, is a timely and forward-looking initiative. As technology becomes increasingly integral to policing, the larger challenge will be to ensure that AI strengthens—not substitutes—professional judgment. Its success will ultimately depend on combining technological capability with human oversight, accountability, privacy safeguards and inter-state collaboration.
Read articleBefore Public Institutions Deploy AI: Five Tests of Readiness
Artificial intelligence can help public institutions improve services, analyse information and make better use of limited resources. But decisions affecting citizens cannot be guided by efficiency alone. Before deploying AI, institutions must examine its purpose, data, accountability, transparency and safeguards. Drawing on lessons from public service and national security, this article proposes five practical tests for responsible and trustworthy adoption.
Read articleAI Cannot Repair a Corrupted Information Environment
Why trustworthy information depends on human judgment, institutional accountability, and public trust—not technology alone.
Read articleFrom Statute to Settlement: What India Must Do Next to Make Institutional Mediation Work
Moving from a statutory framework to credible mediation institutions through professional standards, fair processes, and practical implementation.
Read articleThe Inner Compass: Becoming the Leader of Your Own Life
On self-governance, awareness, and directing our lives according to values rather than immediate impulses.
Read articleIndia’s Fast Breeder Breakthrough: Understanding PFBR, PHWR, and the Road to Thorium
Understanding PFBR, PHWR, and the road towards India’s long-term thorium ambitions.
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