Many people think if we don't pass one exam we fail to achieve something or what will be the next option for us. Like millions of students each year, Niki Parmar dedicated herself to rigorous preparation for the IIT-JEE, aiming for a spot at one of the country’s top engineering institutes. However, she was unable to clear the exam. "I thought, 'That's it. I missed my chance,'" Niki later said during an interview with NDTV.

A Different Path After Setback

For Niki, life quietly unfolded in an unexpected direction. Years later, she became one of the researchers behind “Attention Is All You Need,” the landmark paper that introduced the Transformer architecture. Today, this technology powers modern AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, along with many everyday digital tools.

Early Life and Curiosity

Niki grew up in a lower-middle-class family in Pune. "There wasn't anyone to guide me into engineering or AI," she says. "So, I had to figure it out by myself." She was never content with simply using a computer, she was always curious about how things worked behind the screen.

Starting Over in College

She eventually enrolled at the Pune Institute of Computer Technology. It wasn’t her dream college, but it became the place where she chose to begin again. Although, that decision proved life-changing.

Discovering AI on Her Own

In 2010, Niki signed up for an online course titled ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.’ At a time when AI wasn’t widely discussed, the subject felt like a personal discovery.

Instead of waiting for formal guidance, she took charge of her learning. "I didn't have anyone walking me through it," she told NDTV. "I just learned by doing. I took online courses and worked on side projects."

Family Support Through Challenges

"My mom always pushed me to chase what I wanted," said Niki. "She couldn't follow her own dream, but she ensured I had the freedom to pursue mine."

After completing her degree, she secured admission for a Master’s program in the United States. However, soon after arriving, she faced a major setback.

"I arrived, and my dad called to tell me the bank wasn't releasing the funds," she told NDTV. "I had no money, no place to stay, and no idea how I'd pay for my tuition."

Back home, her family stepped in, borrowing money from relatives and friends to support her. "It was a huge sacrifice," said Niki. "My dad wouldn't have done that for himself, but he ensured I could keep going."

Eventually, things improved, her professor funded her second year, and an internship helped her repay the family’s loans even before graduation.

Breaking Into Google

At just 24, Niki joined Google, becoming the youngest member of her AI research team.

The Transformer Breakthrough

One such idea was the Transformer model. It wasn’t part of her official responsibilities, but she pursued it out of interest.

"No one told me to work on it," she told NDTV. "I just wanted to see how far it could go."

That curiosity resulted in her becoming one of the eight co-authors of “Attention Is All You Need,” the 2017 research paper that revolutionized artificial intelligence. Today, nearly every major language model, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, is built on this foundation.

"There's always more to learn," she told NDTV. "I don't want to be remembered just for the Transformer model. I'm always looking for the next challenge."

Today, Niki is the co-founder of Essential AI, a startup supported by Google, Nvidia, and AMD, where she continues building AI tools for businesses.

[With TOI inputs]