Rujul Gandhi's fascination with language began at age 6 when she discovered a book titled "What's Behind the Word?" at a garage sale. This early introduction to etymology and language genealogies sparked what would become a lifelong passion, leading her to explore how AI language translation technology and human communication intersect.
Growing up between the United States and India, Gandhi was immersed in diverse linguistic environments. When she relocated to India at age 8, she experienced firsthand how mastering the Marathi language enabled deeper connections with her peers. This early lesson in linguistic empathy would later influence her approach to developing artificial intelligence language solutions.
Initially drawn to creative writing and theater, Gandhi discovered linguistics as a distinct field through an online course in ninth grade. Now pursuing a dual major in linguistics and computer science at MIT, she examines language structure from syllable to sentence level, while exploring how technology can enhance cross-cultural communication AI solutions.
"When you learn to appreciate language, you can then appreciate culture," Gandhi observes, highlighting the importance of empathetic artificial intelligence design in language technology.
Technology-Enhanced Communication Across Barriers
Through MIT's Global Teaching Labs program, Gandhi taught linguistics and biology to high school students in Kazakhstan in January 2020. Despite initial language challenges, she discovered that integrating technology with culturally relevant examples allowed her to create meaningful educational experiences for her students.
Translation technology proved invaluable in connecting Gandhi with her Russian-speaking host father. Using AI-powered language accessibility tools, they discovered shared interests, including 1950s and '60s Bollywood music, demonstrating how technology can bridge communication gaps.
This experience solidified Gandhi's decision to pursue a double major in linguistics and computer science. "The problems I understand through linguistics, I can try to find solutions to through computer science," she explains, highlighting the potential of linguistics and artificial intelligence integration.
Technology with Social Impact
Gandhi is committed to developing technology with social impact. Through leadership roles in MIT's Educational Studies Program (ESP), she discovered her passion for organizing large-scale projects that directly benefit people. With ESP, she helps coordinate events bringing thousands of students to campus for educational activities.
When the pandemic forced the cancellation of her second directing program, Gandhi adapted by planning and co-directing a virtual program, Splash: 2020, which hosted approximately 1,100 students. "Interacting with the ESP community convinced me that an organization can function efficiently with a strong commitment to its values," she reflects.
The pandemic also deepened Gandhi's appreciation for MIT's supportive community. "MIT is home—a place where I not only feel cared for, but also relish the opportunity to care for others," she says.
Now, Gandhi is bridging cultural barriers through performing arts. When she couldn't find a group for Indian classical dance, she founded Nritya, a student organization at MIT. "Dance is like its own language," she observes, drawing parallels between artistic expression and linguistic communication.
Empathy-Driven Technology Development
In her academic research, Gandhi combines theoretical linguistics with practical application. During IAP 2019, she conducted a geographical dialect survey of her native Marathi language with Deccan College. Through MIT's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), she currently researches how language contact influences phonetic patterns.
Gandhi also worked with Tarjimly, a nonprofit connecting refugees with interpreters via smartphone technology. She recognizes that while translation systems have advanced significantly, there remains enormous potential to improve AI language translation technology to serve more people effectively.
"How are people going to advocate for themselves if they can't interface with public infrastructure?" she asks, highlighting the importance of accessible language technology.
Looking forward, Gandhi aims to design systems that better integrate linguistic theory with practical technology, making language tools widely accessible. She finds particular meaning in projects centered on empathy for others' experiences.
"The technology born out of empathy is the technology that I want to be working on," Gandhi explains. "Language is fundamentally a people thing; you can't ignore the people when you're designing technology that relates to language."
