#173 - Why Becoming More Human Matters in an Age of AI: Dinakara Nagalla

Dinakara Nagalla, technologist, Human-Centered AI Architect, and author of Becoming Human: Embracing Imperfection and Finding Purpose, joins Mark Perkins on The Necessary Entrepreneur for a thoughtful conversation about technology, humanity, and what gets lost when progress moves faster than understanding.

Dinakara breaks down what human-centered AI really means, and why intelligence without context, empathy, and responsibility often creates more problems than it solves. Drawing on ideas from Becoming Human, he and Mark explore how modern systems push people toward optimization and perfection, while ignoring imperfection as a source of meaning, growth, and purpose.

The conversation moves beyond AI hype to focus on systems thinking, human judgment, and the importance of keeping people meaningfully involved in decision-making. Dinakara shares why embracing imperfection is essential, not just in technology design, but in leadership, creativity, and personal development.

This episode offers a grounded perspective for entrepreneurs, technologists, and leaders who want to understand how AI shapes behavior, trust, and identity, and how staying human in the process matters more than chasing efficiency.

Topics include:

• What human-centered AI actually looks like in practice

• Insights from Becoming Human: Embracing Imperfection and Finding Purpose

• Why imperfection plays a critical role in growth and meaning

• Systems thinking and responsible technology design

• Keeping human judgment in the loop as AI advances

🎧 A reflective, clarity-driven conversation for anyone thinking deeply about technology, purpose, and what it means to build systems that serve humans, not replace them. 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167 📌 Find Out More About Dinakara Nagalla: https://dinakaranagalla.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinakaranagalla/ https://www.instagram.com/dlnagalla/ https://www.facebook.com/dlnagalla/