Ashutosh Synghal: The New York Engineer Leading a Privacy-First AI Revolution

At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is hungry for data and privacy concerns are at an all-time high, one U.S.-based engineer is offering a groundbreaking solution. Ashutosh Synghal, Vice President of Engineering at New York’s Midcentury Labs, is spearheading a new approach to AI development that preserves personal privacy while unleashing the power of big data. He has made it his mission to solve the industry’s “privacy paradox” – the dilemma of advancing AI technology without sacrificing individual data rights. In doing so, Synghal is proving that innovation need not come at the expense of privacy.

With global data creation projected to surpass 180 zettabytes by 2025, companies have more information than ever at their fingertips. Yet studies show over 90% of AI models still rely on data hoarded in centralized repositories controlled by big tech, leaving users with little say over how their personal information is used. Synghal aims to change that model. His team at Midcentury Labs has built a decentralized data marketplace that lets everyday people safely contribute their data to AI projects on their own terms. In this system, individuals can grant permission for their data to train algorithms – and even earn rewards for it – without handing over raw data to a corporate silo.

Synghal’s innovation is built on cutting-edge privacy technology. Under his leadership, Midcentury’s platform uses blockchain and advanced cryptography to ensure that any data shared for AI training is shielded from prying eyes. In practice, AI models can be trained on encrypted or anonymized data without ever seeing the raw personal details. Techniques like zero-knowledge proofs and secure enclaves (special hardware-based secure zones) allow algorithms to analyze information while it remains “locked,” much like examining a sealed vault without opening it. This privacy-by-design approach means developers get the rich datasets they need to build smarter algorithms, while users’ private information stays confidential.

By flipping the script on data collection, Synghal’s model puts individuals in control. Instead of tech giants harvesting user information unchecked, Midcentury’s system lets people choose what data to share and for what purpose. Through a forthcoming app, for example, a user might volunteer anonymous health metrics or shopping patterns for an AI research “quest” and get paid or receive useful insights in return. All such exchanges are governed by transparent smart contracts on a blockchain ledger, ensuring that data use is consensual, traceable, and fairly rewarded. In short, Synghal’s approach “allows data to be used for machine learning without pooling it in one vulnerable location,” fundamentally redefining how AI training and security can co-exist.

A Visionary Journey from India to the U.S.

Synghal’s passion for ethical technology is rooted in his personal journey from India to America. Raised by a single mother in Lucknow, India, he witnessed firsthand how access to education and technology can transform lives. At 18, he moved to the United States to study computer science and AI at Stanford University, driven by a vision of using technology to uplift people without compromising their rights. After graduating, he cut his teeth as a software engineer at Amazon’s New York offices, where he helped optimize the retail giant’s e-commerce systems and saw firsthand the vast troves of user data that big tech companies accumulate. These early experiences cemented Synghal’s resolve to build technology that empowers individuals rather than exploits them.

Industry Backing and Ethical Impact

Synghal’s privacy-first vision is quickly gaining traction in the tech industry. Midcentury Labs has already secured a multi-million-dollar seed funding round led by top venture firms like Andreessen Horowitz, signaling strong confidence in this approach. The platform is slated to launch later this year, and the team projects it could onboard one million users by 2026 as privacy-conscious individuals and businesses flock to the solution. If achieved, that user base could unlock billions of dollars’ worth of currently siloed data for ethical AI use – powering better AI-driven services in fields from healthcare to finance, built on data shared consensually by individuals rather than data scraped without permission.

Beyond the business metrics, Synghal’s work is sparking a broader conversation about how the tech industry handles data. By demonstrating a successful model where people are rewarded for their contributions and remain in control of their information, he is challenging the status quo of data monetization. Areas like medical research, financial forecasting, and personalized recommendations – all of which demand innovation and strict privacy – stand to benefit from this paradigm shift. Observers note that Synghal’s platform could make AI development more inclusive and secure, bridging the gap between technological advancement and public trust.

Thought Leadership and Future Vision

In addition to building novel technology, Synghal is influencing the wider dialogue on AI ethics and data ownership. He has emerged as a thought leader in the tech community on questions of privacy-preserving AI and data equity. Recently, he served as a judge at an MIT Media Lab hackathon focused on privacy-first AI solutions, evaluating projects that, like his own, aim to secure personal data while pushing the boundaries of AI innovation. He’s also contributed to research on racial and gender biases in venture capital funding, work that highlights the need for greater inclusivity in the tech industry and access to opportunities for underrepresented groups. Despite a cutting-edge career, Synghal hasn’t forgotten grassroots impact: he co-founded Dwaar, a non-profit organization in India dedicated to empowering underserved communities through technology and education initiatives. Whether he’s designing a blockchain architecture or setting up a community tech hub, a common thread in Synghal’s efforts is using technology to bridge opportunity gaps and ensure innovation benefits everyone.

Shaping the Future of AI with Integrity

Synghal’s journey – from a teenager in Lucknow with big dreams to a tech leader in New York – is a testament to the transformative power of education and ethical innovation. By proving that AI can advance hand-in-hand with robust privacy protections, he is helping shift industry attitudes, showing that protecting users and advancing AI can be two sides of the same coin. As global regulators and everyday users alike press for stronger data privacy, the tech world may have to embrace the kind of decentralized model he’s championing. Synghal envisions a future where individuals have complete sovereignty over their own data, deciding when and how it’s used to power new AI discoveries. In other words, a future in which AI thrives because it respects privacy – not in spite of it. Given how far he’s come and the change he’s already making, that future might not be as far off as it once seemed.