Kalika Bali

About

I am a Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research India, working on AI, NLP, Speech, and Technology for Empowerment. My research aims to advance multilingual technology, particularly for low-resource language communities. For more than two decades, I have been focusing on enhancing human-computer interactions through language technologies. My passion lies in creating inclusive tech for a diverse range of languages and communities, especially those that are underrepresented.

Currently, I am a part of the team working on Project VeLLM (opens in new tab) (UniVersal Empowerment with Large Language Models), an interdisciplinary initiative aimed at developing a principled approach to enable inclusive applications of LLMs for all languages and cultures worldwide. My research also explores the intersection of gender and technology, advocating for a holistic approach to mitigating gender bias in technology.

Recently, I have started looking into the societal impact of Foundational GenAI Models. My latest work navigates the intersection of multilingual and multicultural AI, striving to build and deploy more equitable AI solutions.

I am deeply passionate about NLP and Speech technology for Indian Languages. I believe that local language technology, especially with speech interfaces, can open up new opportunities for millions of people who have been previously underserved. GenAI offers unprecedented potential to develop and implement such technologies at scale.

I was honored to be featured on the inaugural TIME100 AI list in 2023 (opens in new tab) for my ongoing efforts to break down language barriers and foster inclusivity in the AI sphere.