Oxford recognises Orchestro.AI founder Shekhar Natarajan with Bodleian Medal for ethical AI work

Highlights

• Holds over 207 patents in technology.
• Pioneered Angelic Intelligence concept.
• Worked with Walmart, Disney, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo.

Natarajan's journey to this honour started in India, where his mother sold her wedding ring to pay for his education. He later moved to the United States with just $34 in his pocket.

At times he lived in his car while dealing with rejection and hard times. Today, he holds more than 207 patents and has helped grow businesses from millions to billions at Walmart, Coca-Cola, Disney and PepsiCo.

Angelic intelligence vision

Through Orchestro.AI, Natarajan has created what he calls Angelic Intelligence. This is a patented approach where good values form the basic foundation of the technology, not something added on later.

This represents a new way of thinking about artificial intelligence , one that aims to improve human judgement rather than replace it.

"To stand in Oxford, in a city that has been a beacon of human knowledge for nearly a thousand years and receive the Bodleian Medal is a moment I could not have dared to imagine," Natarajan said during the ceremony.

He spoke about the importance of the Bodleian Library, which has survived plagues, wars and revolutions while keeping humanity's greatest discoveries and knowledge safe.

"At this remarkable moment in history, artificial intelligence is becoming part of that story," he added.

Technology meets humanity

Natarajan said his work deals with basic questions about thinking, knowledge and human responsibility in a world changed by artificial intelligence.

"We are not simply building faster tools. We are teaching machines to reason, to learn, to assist," he explained.

The Oxford award comes at a time when questions about AI ethics, fairness, bias and human control are becoming more important globally.

Natarajan's work offers answers by changing the purpose of innovation rather than slowing it down.

"I accept this medal with deep gratitude to Oxford, to those who championed this work, and to every person who dared to believe that technology and humanity are not in opposition, but in partnership," he said.