The biggest challenge for AI based automotive technologies is going to be the ability to enhance and process images beyond the capabilities of traditional cameras, which will play a crucial role in smartphone cameras, autonomous vehicles, and robotics.
Girish Rongali, our next pathbreaker, AI Researcher at Honda R&D (Tokyo, Japan), works on AI-driven solutions, particularly in computer vision and autonomous driving technologies.
Girish talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about his research in the Computational Photography lab at IIT Madras, which focused on stereo low-light enhancement and 3D reconstruction, which has applications in autonomous vehicles and robotics.
For students, don’t blindly follow the crowd. Since work takes up a significant portion of life, choose a career that excites you so that you love what you do and do what you love.
Hi, my name is Girish. I’m from Andhra Pradesh, India. Currently, I work at Honda R&D as an AI Researcher in Tokyo, Japan. I enjoy watching movies and exploring new places.
What did you do for graduation/post-graduation?
Both of my parents are government school teachers. Since childhood, they encouraged me to pursue engineering at prestigious IITs and NITs. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into an IIT or a top NIT, so I enrolled in JNTU, a tier-3 engineering college, where I pursued a BTech in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE).
During my third year, most students at my college were preparing for the GATE exam as a way to secure better opportunities beyond 3 LPA jobs. I also began preparing and, in my first attempt, obtained a decent score that could get me into a good master’s program. However, I wanted to aim higher rather than settle for smaller colleges. So, I took a gap year after my bachelor’s to improve my score. (A significant turning point occurred during this period!) Eventually, I secured admission to IIT Madras for an MS (Master of Science by Research) program, focusing on Computer Vision and Deep Learning.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Computer Vision?
In my final year of bachelor’s, I worked on a project involving intruder and motion detection using computer vision. I spent days and nights working on it without feeling stressed, and that’s when I realized I enjoyed coding for research purposes—not the typical, repetitive coding jobs.
During my gap year (which happened to be during COVID), I had time for introspection. Instead of blindly following what everyone else was doing, I explored different options for my master’s degree. I reached out to seniors and relatives working in core ECE roles and realized I needed a job I would enjoy doing every day. That’s when I decided against core ECE courses and started exploring the growing field of ML and AI.
Since my GATE score was in ECE, I initially opted for an MTech in Communication and Signal Processing at BITS Pilani, thinking it would align with my interests. However, after four months, I realized the coursework was heavily theory-based, focused on memorization, and lacked opportunities for research or ML/AI-related subjects. This was not the path I wanted. After a tough decision-making process and convincing my parents, I left BITS Pilani and joined IIT Madras.
How did you transition into this career?
Leaving BITS Pilani meant I was unemployed for a month, during which I sought internships. A senior introduced me to the MS program at IIT Madras, which had a winter admission cycle. I applied, revised my Image Processing fundamentals (which I had enjoyed during my bachelor’s), and got shortlisted for a written test and interview. My passion for research, along with my project experience in deep learning and computer vision, helped me secure admission.
Ever since I decided to pursue higher education, I was determined to work in the research domain rather than just completing coursework for the sake of grades and job prospects. I wanted my work to have a real-world impact. During my MS, I focused on research in stereo low-light enhancement and 3D reconstruction, which has applications in autonomous vehicles and robotics. Fortunately, I was able to publish a few research papers in this field.
From that point on, I never looked back. I had numerous opportunities to prove myself.
How did you get your first big break?
My first major breakthrough was getting into IIT Madras, which transformed my life. It shaped my thought process, introduced me to research, provided industry exposure, and taught me how to navigate professional relationships.
My industry breakthrough came through an internship at Sony Research during my master’s, which further solidified my career path. Later, during placements at IIT Madras, I landed my current role as an AI Researcher at Honda R&D—a job I truly enjoy.
During the second year of my master’s, I came across a hiring post for an internship at Sony Research India on LinkedIn and decided to apply. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting a callback, but they were specifically looking for students with research experience and expertise in deep learning. Fortunately, I received an interview call, cleared the process, and secured the internship.
At Sony Research, I worked on video compression using deep learning, which was an exciting and valuable experience.
After the internship ended, I participated in campus placements. Initially, I wasn’t even aware that Honda R&D worked in the computer vision domain—I had assumed it was primarily focused on mechanical engineering. So, my focus was more on companies like Qualcomm, Samsung R&D, and other Indian research centers. However, life had its own plans.
At first, I wasn’t expecting to take up a job at Honda, as I was hesitant about moving to Japan. But in hindsight, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. Honda R&D has major AI research divisions, and I genuinely enjoy my work here.
To secure the role, I cleared the written test and approached the interview with a calm mindset. I explained how my research experience at IIT Madras could contribute to Honda’s products, including cars and robotics. Thankfully, I was selected, and that marked the beginning of my journey in Japan.
What were some of the challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
Health issues in 11th and 12th grade: This affected my studies, but I later realized the importance of prioritizing health and mental well-being.
Quitting BITS Pilani: Convincing myself and my parents that I wanted to pursue research at IIT Madras was a difficult decision.
Moving to Japan: Leaving my family and friends for a new country was challenging. Learning Japanese, adapting to a new culture, and managing everything on my own was a big adjustment.
Where do you work now, and what do you do?
I work at Honda R&D as an AI Researcher.
What problems do you solve?
I work on AI-driven solutions, particularly in computer vision and autonomous driving technologies.
My lab at IIT Madras was called the Computational Photography Lab, led by my advisor, Prof. Kaushik Mitra, an expert in the field.
In simple terms, Computational Photography leverages AI and algorithms to enhance and process images beyond the capabilities of traditional cameras. For instance, it can brighten a low-light image to make it appear as if it were taken in daylight or generate a 3D depth map from two images. This technology plays a crucial role in smartphone cameras, autonomous vehicles, and robotics
What skills are needed for your job, and how did you acquire them?
Key skills include:
- Research experience
- Out-of-the-box thinking
- Problem-solving in critical situations
My time at IIT Madras played a crucial role in helping me develop these skills, and they continue to be valuable in my work at Honda.
What’s a typical day like?
- Start the day with a workout at the gym
- Walk 1 km to the train station
- Work from 9 AM to 6-7 PM, including meetings, discussions, and brainstorming sessions
- Return home and unwind
On work-from-home days, I have more flexibility over my schedule.
What do you love about this job?
- Good work-life balance
- Seeing research being deployed in real-world applications
- Knowing that my work contributes to technologies used by many people daily
How does your work benefit society?
My work contributes to safer and more efficient autonomous driving technology, which can reduce accidents, improve transportation efficiency, and enhance mobility for people worldwide.
Advice to students based on your experience?
Don’t blindly follow the crowd. Take the time to understand what you genuinely enjoy and what kind of job you can see yourself doing every day. Since work takes up a significant portion of life, choose a career that excites you so that you love what you do and do what you love.
For now, my goal is to establish myself in the autonomous driving industry and make meaningful contributions to my company.
Amazing!! Very Motivating journey and great insights