Before building AI,
build clarity.
I help organisations move from AI ambition to evidence-based AI and data decisions, by identifying the right problems, opportunities and pathways for creating meaningful value.
What ARSHEE stands for
Everyone is talking about AI.
But where does it actually create value?
Sometimes AI is the answer. Sometimes better data, processes, systems or decision-making are the answer. I help organisations understand the difference.
From AI ambition to applied intelligence
AI & Data Opportunity Assessment
AI System & Value Diagnostic
AI & Data Strategy
Applied AI & Intelligence Solutions
AI Value, Impact & Governance
Training & Capacity Building
AI & Data Opportunity Assessment
AI System & Value Diagnostic
AI & Data Strategy
Applied AI & Intelligence Solutions
AI Value, Impact & Governance
Training & Capacity Building
Problem first. AI second.
I do not begin by asking what AI tool to use. I begin by understanding what needs to change, and whether AI can meaningfully contribute. Scroll through the approach.
Understand the problem
Examine the evidence
Assess the data
Evaluate AI suitability
Identify the value
Develop the strategy
Design the solution
Measure what works
Understand the problem
Examine the evidence
Assess the data
Evaluate AI suitability
Identify the value
Develop the strategy
Design the solution
Measure what works
Who I work with
Not sure where to start with AI?
Before investing in AI, start by understanding your challenge, your data, and where intelligence can actually create value.
AI & Data Opportunity Assessment
A short, structured way to find out where you stand, before you commit resources.
Take the assessmentLet's start with the problem.
Whether you're exploring AI, struggling to generate value from an existing system, or trying to turn data into better decisions, let's start with understanding what matters.
About ARSHEE
ARSHEE stands for Applied Intelligence, Research, Strategy, Hybrid Intelligence, Evidence based Evaluation and Execution. It is a founder-led boutique advisory built on one conviction: good AI decisions start with a clear understanding of the problem, not the technology.
Founder
Arshee Rizvi
AI/ML Leader | AI & Data Strategy Consultant | Applied Intelligence Advisor
Who I am
I work at the intersection of AI, data science, governance and evaluation. My path started at IIT Bombay and IPDET at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and continued through years spent inside public systems, building technology that has to survive contact with real institutions, not just a demo.
What I bring
I lead the AI and machine learning vertical at the Development Intelligence Unit, where I built DidiSakhi, an offline AI assistant for elected women representatives recognised by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and led AI innovation proposals under India's national AI Mission with the IndiaAI Approval Committee. That combination, technical depth, strategic judgement and an evaluator's instinct for evidence, is what most independent AI consultants don't bring together.
Why this matters
What ties it together is a framework I call Hybrid Intelligence, the deliberate space where human judgement and AI work together rather than one replacing the other. It is the idea behind my published research at LAK'25 Dublin, Ireland, and a UNFPA blog on the same theme, and it is the same idea behind every engagement I take on: technology in service of a problem, never technology for its own sake. I have presented this and related research at 10+ international conferences.
Selected credentials
- • M.Tech, IIT Bombay; IPDET, University of Bern, Switzerland
- • Lead, AI & ML, Development Intelligence Unit
- • DidiSakhi, recognised by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India
- • AI innovation proposals under India's national AI Mission, IndiaAI Approval Committee
- • Director, Asia Pacific Evaluation Association (APEA), Philippines
- • Director, International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation (IOCE), Canada
- • Trained the UN Evaluation Group's Data and AI Working Group, 25+ UN agencies
- • Published research on Hybrid Intelligence, LAK'25 Dublin, Ireland, and a UNFPA blog on the same theme
- • Presented research at 10+ international conferences
How I work
AI implementation is not the starting point. Understanding the problem is. An engagement can begin at any point on this wheel, depending on where your organisation already stands.
to Value
Understand
Examine
Assess data
Evaluate AI fit
Identify value
Strategise
Design
Measure
Where AI actually fits
Value sits where a real problem, usable data and a genuine fit for AI all overlap, not wherever AI alone happens to be applied.
Services
Strategic and evidence-based support across the AI and data lifecycle. Explore any service for the full picture.
Decide
Build
AI & Data Opportunity Assessment
Before any investment, I help you find out whether AI is genuinely the right answer to your problem, or whether something simpler would serve you better.
Listen
Assess
Recommend
What this covers
- Priority problems worth solving
- Genuine AI opportunities, not assumed ones
- Data availability and quality
- Organisational readiness
- Potential value and realistic risks
- Clear, recommended next steps
AI & Data Strategy
I help you turn a validated opportunity into a prioritised, resourced roadmap, so AI investment follows evidence rather than trends.
Vision
Roadmap
Governance
What this covers
- Strategic vision aligned to real priorities
- Opportunity prioritisation
- AI roadmap and data strategy
- Investment priorities
- Governance and implementation pathways
AI System & Value Diagnostic
If an existing AI system is not delivering, I help you find out exactly why, and what is actually worth fixing.
Review
Diagnose
Fix or Rebuild
What this covers
- Problem definition check
- Data quality review
- System performance and user adoption
- Cost and ROI
- Success metrics and governance
Applied AI & Intelligence Design
Once a problem is validated, I help architect and design the right solution, matching the technology to the actual constraints on the ground.
Architect
Prototype
Roadmap
What this covers
- Problem architecture
- AI solution design
- Data architecture and technology selection
- Prototype planning
- Implementation roadmap
AI Evaluation, Value & Governance
Drawing on my evaluation background, I help you measure whether an AI system is genuinely working, and govern it responsibly.
Measure
Evaluate
Govern
What this covers
- Performance, impact and ROI
- Adoption and responsible AI
- Governance and risk
- Ongoing monitoring
Data & Decision Intelligence
I help turn existing data into something that actually informs decisions, not just another dashboard nobody opens.
Assess
Structure
Enable
What this covers
- Data assessment and strategy
- Analytics and intelligence systems
- Decision support and knowledge systems
Training & Capacity Building
I have trained evaluators across 25 plus UN agencies in practical, no-code AI methods. I bring the same approach to your team.
Assess level
Train
Embed
What this covers
- AI literacy and AI strategy for leaders
- Responsible AI
- Data literacy and AI evaluation
- AI for public systems and development
Selected experience
A curated selection of work across AI, data and public systems, not a complete record.
DidiSakhi
Offline, multilingual AI assistant for Elected Women Representatives, built on multilingual NLP and document-grounded response generation. Recognised by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India.
Village Digital Inclusion Index
Senior data scientist on a PMO-directed national ranking of 6.4 lakh villages for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, leading the data extraction phase.
TRAC platform
Led the transformation of a rural analytics platform to 1,000+ indicators, enabling cross-sectoral, interactive evidence generation for policymakers and evaluators.
CSR Intelligence Platform
Conceptualised and built an AI-powered platform integrating CSR, ESG, SDG and socio-economic data, mapping more than Rs. 32,000 crore in corporate giving.
Green Economy Transition Mission
Strategy researcher for the Department of Good Governance, Government of Chhattisgarh, mapping green-economy hotspots and job-creation potential across 16 value chains.
CEEW farmer survey dashboard
Built a real-time decision-making dashboard from a 14,000-farmer survey on fertiliser use, informing balanced nutrient policy.
Skills programme evaluation
Led an impact evaluation for Pratham, supported by Terre des Hommes Germany, with recommendations contributing to a 60% increase in student placements.
UN Evaluation Group training
Delivered training on low-code and no-code AI in evaluation to M&E experts representing 25+ UN agencies.
Selected publications and speaking
- LAK'25 Workshop on Hybrid Intelligence, Dublin, Ireland (2025) — Operationalizing Hybrid Intelligence in Learning Analytics
- UNFPA Blog (2025) — Hybrid Intelligence: the intentional space between human and artificial intelligence
- 5th APEA Conference, Tokyo (2025) — Empowering Youth in Monitoring and Evaluation: Bridging AI, Ethics and Law
- UNFPA Summit for the Future of Evaluation, Colombo (2025) — Invited speaker on ethical AI and data innovation
- IIAS-DARPG Conference, Government of India (2025) — Future-Ready Public Administration in India
- BRICS NSO side events on AI Readiness, Lucknow (2026) — Nominated by Transform Rural India
Does your organisation actually need AI?
Not every problem requires AI. But the right problem, supported by the right data and strategy, can create meaningful value. Start with an initial assessment. Click each step to see what happens.
Share your challenge
Complete a short assessment form describing your problem, data and current AI use.
Initial review
I review your problem, current AI situation and data landscape.
Fit review
I assess whether your organisation is a suitable fit based on your submission.
Discovery conversation
If it's a fit, I may invite you to a complimentary 30-minute discovery conversation.
Submit your challenge for an initial assessment. If your organisation appears to be a suitable fit, I may invite you to a complimentary 30-minute discovery conversation.
Insights
Notes on AI strategy, data strategy, value, evaluation and responsible AI. New articles coming soon.
Let's start with the problem.
If your organisation is exploring AI, struggling to create value from an existing AI investment, or looking to turn data into better decisions, I would be happy to start a conversation.