Venkat is an AI product and policy specialist working at the intersection of technology and public trust. As Deputy Program Manager at DataLEADS, he serves as the team lead and product owner for VerifyAI, an end-to-end, AI-powered threat detection platform. Venkat recently coordinated The Shakti Collective, a coalition of over 100 newsrooms ensuring information accuracy during India’s 2024 general election. He also co-authored the “Contours of Cybercrime (2025)” report on AI-enabled fraud and deepfakes in South Asia. He holds an MPP (Institute Medal) from IIT Bombay and a B.Tech in Computer Science from Government Engineering College, Thrissur, blending strong technical expertise with a dedication to the social impact of technology.