Sujan Abraham, a key figure in the AI-powered search revolution, shares insights on the future of search technology and how it is transforming information accessibility.
The Evolution of AI-Powered Search: Sujan Abraham’s Journey
The world of search technology is undergoing a rapid transformation, fuelled by the unparalleled growth in data generation. With Google handling approximately 99,000 searches per second and global data production reaching 2.5 quintillion bytes each day, businesses across all sectors are striving to harness this influx of information effectively. Central to this endeavour is AI-powered search, which has emerged as a crucial tool for companies aiming to unlock the full potential of their data. The AI-powered search market is projected to achieve a substantial growth, reaching $10.7 billion by 2027 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.6%.
Amidst this dynamic shift, Sujan Abraham has established himself as a leading figure in the field. With over a decade of experience in developing advanced AI and search solutions, Sujan’s contributions have significantly influenced the future of enterprise search, enhancing how we interact with information. Yet, as technology accelerates, Sujan poses a pertinent question: Is AI truly the future of search?
A Career Built on Search Innovation
Sujan’s pathway into software engineering deviates from the traditional. Holding a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kerala University, his intrinsic curiosity led him to self-teach programming, driven by a fascination with problem-solving. “Search, in particular, fascinated me because it’s all about making information accessible in a meaningful way,” shares Sujan.
His professional journey began at Citrix India in 2012, where he initially worked on the remote desktop solution, GoToMyPC, before transitioning to the ShareFile platform. Here, his passion for search technology was sparked. Leading efforts to augment search capabilities, he developed intuitive, faster, and more efficient systems to help companies manage and retrieve essential files.
Sujan’s expertise continued to flourish at Better.com, where he led the development of search solutions for the real estate sector. “We were trying to simplify something complex—homeownership,” he says. The challenge was to create a tool that would empower users with accurate and swift results.
Pushing the Limits at Labelbox
Currently a senior software engineer at Labelbox, Sujan’s work has entered a new dimension. He focuses on building AI-powered search engines that utilise natural language processing and similarity search. His team has developed a highly scalable ingestion platform, processing data ten times faster, ensuring a smoother and more efficient search process. “AI isn’t just improving search,” Sujan elaborates, “It’s redefining how we understand and interact with information.”
Sujan emphasises the importance of creating systems that “think” like users, anticipating their needs and delivering seamless results. His recent projects involving vector embeddings and AI-driven natural language search are shifting away from keyword-heavy queries towards more intuitive and conversational searches. “The future is about making search feel human,” he states. “We’re moving away from rigid, machine-like searches to something much more fluid and dynamic.”
The Story of Addoo
Among Sujan’s many innovations is Addoo, a customer onboarding platform he co-founded during his tenure in the Raleigh Innovators Program. Designed to personalise the onboarding process for new users, Addoo improved user engagement and reduced the workload for customer success managers by tailoring the experience to individual needs. Its success within Citrix led to its integration into various SaaS offerings, validating the platform’s impact.
The Future of AI in Search
Sujan holds an optimistic yet realistic view of AI’s role in the future of search. “AI is undoubtedly the future, but we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible,” he asserts. The true breakthrough will be when AI can not only comprehend the query but also the intent behind it, making search truly transformative.
He foresees AI-driven search engines becoming integral across industries such as real estate, healthcare, and entertainment. Sujan’s current work at Labelbox lays the groundwork for future advancements, incorporating machine learning models that evolve in real-time based on user behaviour.
A Mentor and Innovator
In addition to his technical contributions, Sujan is a recognised thought leader and mentor within the AI and search community. He regularly judges research papers and participates in hackathons, including a recent role as an Expert Judge at HackMIT. “Innovation comes from collaboration and community. That’s something I’m deeply passionate about,” he notes.
As Sujan looks ahead, he remains dedicated to advancing the capabilities of AI and search technology. “The beauty of search is that it’s always evolving,” he reflects. “We’re constantly learning how to make it better, faster, and smarter. And AI is a big part of that evolution.”
Source: Noah Wire Services