PeopleofSuperintelligence

Builder

Romesh Wadhwani

Also known as Romesh Tekchand Wadhwani, Romesh T. Wadhwani

Romesh Wadhwani has built an enterprise AI software company and a nonprofit AI institute in Mumbai. He was born in Karachi in 1947 and later earned degrees from IIT Bombay and Carnegie Mellon. He led Aspect Development from its 1991 startup until i2 Technologies bought it in 1999 for $9.3 billion in stock. In 2017 he combined nine AI-focused companies into SymphonyAI, and in 2018 he and his brother Sunil founded Wadhwani AI. TIME included the brothers on its 2023 AI list, and as of October 2026 he is chairman of SymphonyAI.

Now at
SymphonyAI
Photo of Romesh Wadhwani

Timeline

  1. 1947

    Born in Karachi

    He is born in Karachi in 1947, ten days after the partition of India. He later earns a bachelor's degree at IIT Bombay and electrical engineering graduate degrees at Carnegie Mellon.

  2. 1991–1999

    Founding Aspect Development

    He leads Aspect Development as founder, chairman and CEO from its 1991 startup until i2 Technologies buys it in 1999 for $9.3 billion in stock.

  3. 2017

    Forming SymphonyAI

    He combines nine of his AI-focused companies into SymphonyAI in 2017.

  4. 2018

    Wadhwani AI in Mumbai

    He and his brother Sunil found Wadhwani AI in Mumbai in 2018 as a nonprofit that develops AI solutions for social good.

  5. 2020

    A Padma Shri award

    He receives the Padma Shri for trade and industry in 2020, one of India's highest civilian honors.

  6. January 2022

    Sanjay Dhawan joins as CEO

    SymphonyAI, an enterprise AI software company, announces that Sanjay Dhawan joins as CEO, while Wadhwani is quoted as its founder and chairman.

  7. 2023

    Named to TIME's AI list

    TIME's 2023 AI list includes Romesh and Sunil Wadhwani, co-founders of Wadhwani AI. In a June 2023 Business Today interview, he argues that AI is more difficult to regulate than a nuclear power plant.

  8. As of October 2026

    Chairing SymphonyAI

    He is founder and chairman of SymphonyAI.

Sources and credits

Photo: symphonyai.com; AI Leadership - Artificial Intelligence Industry Leaders; creator not stated. License: Not stated by source. Source: symphonyai.com. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.

  1. Romesh Wadhwani - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Romesh Wadhwani - Indiaspora indiaspora.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. News | Dr. Romesh Wadhwani Receives Padma Shri 2020 Honor symphonyai.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. SymphonyAI Appoints Sanjay Dhawan as CEO | SymphonyAI News symphonyai.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Indiaspora Members Amongst Ten Indians in Time’s AI 2023 List - Indiaspora indiaspora.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. ‘AI threats can result in a situation worse than Chernobyl,' says veteran tech expert Romesh Wadhwani - BusinessToday businesstoday.in. Checked 14 October 2026.
  8. Consul General Dr. K. Srikar Reddy was pleased to meet with Shri. Romesh Wadhwani, Founder & Chairman, Wadhwani Foundation, Symphony AI and Concert AI, & Shri. Ajay Kela, CEO, on March 18, 2025. - Events/Photo Gallery | Consulate General of India, San Francisco, USA cgisf.gov.in. Checked 14 October 2026.