With a background spanning AI, cognitive science, contemporary dance, and personal development, Pranath Fernando’s approach to work is anything but traditional. Pranath thrives on continuous transformation. In this conversation, he shares insights on AI disruption, the importance of community, the evolving role of mentorship, and why staying adaptable is the key to thriving in 2025 and beyond.

Can you share a bit about your background?

I have a BA, BSc, & MSc and have been an AI Consultant & AI Researcher.

My background is multi-disciplinary in the arts in contemporary dance, in personal development with training in shadow work & attachment theory, as well as in science in Computer Science, AI, Cognitive Science, Data Science and AI Consultancy.

I currently run my own AI Automation Agency.

Did you come up through a “traditional” techie route or has your career taken twists and turns along the way?

Twists and turns. Tech -> Performing arts -> Tech + Career as a Reflexologist & Life Model.

Reflecting on your career, is there a specific moment that stands out as pivotal or defining?

Not just one, thats the point for me. I seem to be able to do radical re-invention on a regular basis. I’d rather not be limited to one moment, but create the opportunity for many more.

What piece of advice would you give your younger self as you embarked on your professional journey?

None really for my professional journey per se, but i’d have advised me to have put more money into my pension from work day 1 aged 18 ! Most people don’t seem to believe pensions are very sexy, but I beg to differ, especially if you have a larger than a smaller one to enjoy later life, compared to life of old age in poverty 🙂

Looking ahead, what’s your big prediction for the tech landscape in 2025?

AI disrupts even more business models and the economy: and that most businesses, society & governments fail to understand let alone adapt to the profound rapid social and economic changes of AI, and suffer the increasingly dire consequences. I predict even more AI disruption that will make 2024 look like a walk in the park! Perhaps more counselling and mental health support services will be helpful for dealing with this rapid change?

Considering your involvement in Silicon Brighton and community-building, what does the concept of ‘community’ mean to you personally? How important is it in the tech industry?

Important! It’s not enough to be technically skilled but with poor social skills any more (and never was). Businesses need both and more, and ultimately adaptability. Community is essential for this, not a nice to have. We each know only a little, the intelligence & learning of groups of humans together is our greatest advantage as a species – lets use it!

How do you balance staying updated with the latest industry trends while ensuring continuous personal and professional growth? Any specific resources or practices you find particularly valuable?

I use Focus and breath – focus on a small number of things at a time, one of those should be broadly reviewing new developments and re-prioritising small number of things on a regular basis. The Job/career/skills for life is dead in the age of AI disruption. One of the best human-friendly, authoritative & balanced AI newsletters ever: The Batch https://www.deeplearning.ai/the-batch/

As someone who has contributed significantly to the community, how do you see mentorship playing a role in the development of the next generation of tech professionals?

Human mentorship will be less and less helpful and valuable. The skills and experience of the past are becoming irrelevant at an exponential rate – it’s unprecedented. You will be better off getting mentorship from ChatGPT (or better Perplexity AI) than most humans for most things increasingly. Then sharing that AI wisdom with the community of humans!

Anything else you would like to promote to our community?

More discussion and debate in the community on these rapid AI changes could be good! People will increasingly need forums to process and deal with these changes. Community is the way through this change.

Is there any additional wisdom, experience, or anecdotes you’d like to share with our audience?

To survive and thrive in the AI age of work and business – keep up to date with developments, constantly update and adapt skills to integrate AI where added value. Question everything you were taught, be prepared to radically change your skills and even disciplines to stay relevant and useful. Raging against rapid change is understandable and human, but won’t ultimately help you.