The Missing Bridge in Technology
Each important technological breakthrough reaches a fundamental crossroads where its theoretical promise meets the reality of social implementation. This intersection is a critical blind spot for most of the entrepreneurs who engineer these breakthroughs because the visionary thinking gets bogged down in the legacy regulations, and the policy framework is simply unequipped for what’s coming.
Nikhil Jathar and Varun Borawake have perhaps done this more directly than most. As the co-founders of AvanSaber, a company focused on secure enterprise AI, they have spent years trying to do not only the development of a new technology but also the management of the intricate externalities ascertaining the success of these technologies. There is a fundamental lesson which we should learn from this experience: for innovation to truly take root, its creators must also help design the policy trellises that support its growth.
The New Reality of Enterprise AI
The corporate dialogue around artificial intelligence has evolved. The question is no longer “if” AI should be adopted, but “how”. We sat down with the AvanSaber co-founders to understand this new chapter.
“The conversation has matured,” Borawake explains. “Companies are no longer considering ‘if’ they will adopt AI technology; they are asking ‘how’ to do it within their data controls and regulatory frameworks. That is a far more intricate problem that needs new technology and an understanding of policy.”
This new reality is fueling a move toward private, on-premise AI solutions, especially in heavily regulated industries. Platforms like AvanSaber’s EntAgent and CraftAgent.AI were engineered to address this exact need. However, even the most secure technical solutions can only go so far when the regulatory landscape itself remains a moving target.
The Workforce Challenge Hiding in Plain Sight
While headlines often focus on AI replacing jobs, there is an immediate crisis that the co-founders point to: a profound skills deficit in AI implementation and governance.
As Jathar argues “We need to think about AI literacy as a core competency for the next generation. It is not enough to train data scientists. There needs to be people in all walks of life that understand AI’s capabilities and limitations to be able to make informed decisions about deploying these technologies. If we do not have strategic federal support for STEM education and workforce development, the US will have the technology but not the human capital to leverage it effectively.”
When Innovators Engage with Washington
There is a gap between hi-tech professionals and lawmakers, but it is not too big to bridge. Jathar is among a growing cohort of industry figureheads who believe in the need for every leader to engage with policy. Such a belief drove him to Washington D.C. in April 2025, as part of IEEE-USA Congressional Visits Day, a program designed to bring policy world to the technocrat’s doorstep.
“During our D.C. meetings, what struck me was how enthusiastic the legislative staff were about grasping the real-life consequences of the technology we are developing,” says Jathar. “They are making the first moves toward deciding how we want to shape the world of AI in regulation and under what terms we want to fund the research that is going to be the main pillar for the next few decades. They are going to need the help of the experts to guide them in the right direction.”
The participants of the meetings focused on securing several major proposals. The group members supported the full implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, the appropriation of funds to the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the immigration policy the Keep STEM Talent Act to gain and retain the best talent from around the world.
“These are not theoretical policy discussions,” Jathar says, clearly. “The strategic research funding, STEM workforce development, and other small business innovation programs by the federal government are necessary federal investment for the growth of the nation. This isn’t about the government picking winners; it’s about creating the conditions where innovation can flourish.”
The Education Revolution We Need
The duo sees a similar challenge in education, where AI offers both immense promise and considerable risk.
“The decisions we make now about AI in education will shape an entire generation’s relationship with technology,” Borawake notes. “If we get this right, we’ll have a workforce that’s not intimidated by AI but empowered by it. If we get it wrong, we risk creating a new digital divide.”
The Bottom Line: A Call for Collaborative Leadership
Their message is clear: The future of AI is not a technical issue, but rather a collective, societal undertaking.
“More frequently than is acceptable, members of the technology sector engage in what could be characterized as a ‘silo’ approach to problem solving. The technology in question, they assume, will, in due course, find a user,” says Borawake. “But complex societies don’t work that way. Engaging with policy isn’t a distraction from building great technology – it’s an essential part of ensuring that technology can achieve its potential impact.”
As America arrives at this technological crossroads, the choice isn’t simply between innovation and regulation. It’s about forging an ecosystem where groundbreaking technology is guided by frameworks designed for the public good – a challenge that, as the work of AvanSaber’s founders illustrates, requires both builders and policymakers to be at the same table.