Introduction
I'm Ritesh Modi, Principal AI Engineer at Microsoft. With over 20 years in technology, I focus on Artificial Intelligence, GenAI, MLOps, and cloud technologies. I hold a Master’s in AI/ML from Liverpool John Moores University and have been recognized as a Microsoft Regional Director (2018-2020). I lead six open source projects in AI and cloud infrastructure, have authored 10 technology books, and regularly contribute to multiple publications. I've spoken at over 20 conferences like Microsoft BUILD and TechEd. I believe in a holistic approach to AI and Generative AI engineering, combining cutting-edge techniques with robust operational frameworks. My expertise lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence innovation and enterprise-grade deployment, with a special focus on building solutions that are scalable, reliable, and responsible AI systems.
How Did You Start Writing?
It wasn't planned. Back in 2015, I kept solving the same problems for different clients. Got tired of explaining things over and over. So I wrote up a solution for an Azure deployment issue - just for my team at first. A colleague suggested sending it to MSDN Magazine. They published it! That was a surprise, validating the broader value of my technical explanations. This initial success sparked my interest in technical writing as more than just internal documentation.
After that first article, I realized writing helped me think better. When you have to explain something clearly, you find the gaps in your own understanding. I started documenting more solutions. One thing led to another, and soon I was writing books. As I continued writing, the feedback from readers and editors pushed me to refine my approach. My first book on Azure for Architects and Solidity Programming taught me more than I expected. The questions from editors forced me to dig deeper into topics I thought I understood.
How Has Technology Impacted The Way You Write?
Technology has transformed my writing process significantly. I use digital tools to capture ideas whenever inspiration strikes, whether during client meetings or while working through complex problems. Testing concepts in real environments ensures my content is practical and applicable.
My workflow now incorporates specialized editing tools and AI assistants that help refine technical explanations. The digital publishing landscape enables immediate feedback, creating a valuable cycle of improvement. The rapid response from readers often highlights perspectives I hadn't considered, enriching subsequent content. I use Microsoft Copilot to help with strategizing ideas and outlining high-level requirements for new articles. This initial AI assistance helps me structure my thoughts before diving into the details. Once I have a draft, I turn to Quillbot to fix grammar issues and suggest more appropriate word choices. These tools streamline the technical aspects of writing, allowing me to focus more on content quality.
Share About Your Journey Highlights?
Publishing "Azure for Architects" and “Solidity Programming” books stands as my most significant achievement. The book's translation into multiple languages and positive reception validated the time invested in creating comprehensive technical content. My articles in MSDN Magazine and contributions to publications like OpenSourceForU have reached diverse audiences with different needs.
There have been challenges, too. In 2020, client obligations temporarily halted my writing progress. Reader feedback occasionally revealed where I'd overcomplicated explanations, prompting me to reconsider my approach. These experiences taught me to balance technical depth with clarity. Now, I have multiple GitHub repositories, and all my code provides insights to write about them.
Publishing on so many different platforms since 2016 and in print since 2015 has developed my ability to adapt content for different platforms while maintaining technical accuracy.
What’s Your Creative Process?
My content ideas emerge from practical problem-solving and client interactions. When I encounter recurring questions or challenging technical issues, I recognize potential topics that would benefit others in the field.
I dedicate focused morning time for writing, when analytical thinking is sharpest. My approach begins with outlining key concepts, followed by developing working examples to verify technical accuracy. Early drafts focus on capturing ideas comprehensively, while subsequent revisions refine clarity and accessibility.
Before publishing, I seek feedback from both technical and non-technical reviewers. This dual perspective helps ensure content remains technically sound while accessible to the intended audience.
Your Favorite Memory/Article(s) to This Day?
My HackerNoon article on Embeddings Fine-tuning remains particularly meaningful. It addressed critical challenges related to embeddings and using foundational models on your data removing hallucinations. This piece addressed a critical challenge in the AI field at a time when many practitioners were struggling with vector embedding issues. The feedback demonstrated its practical value to readers implementing these solutions.
"Azure for Architects," my first comprehensive book, represents my most significant accomplishment. The project required structuring complex technical content into an accessible learning journey. The satisfaction of creating a resource that continues to guide professionals through cloud adoption has been immensely rewarding.
How Did You Hear About HackerNoon? Share With Us About Your Experience With HackerNoon.
I discovered HackerNoon through a recommendation from a fellow technologist who emphasized its focus on substantive technical content. The platform's commitment to quality over quantity immediately resonated with my approach to knowledge sharing.
My experience with HackerNoon has been particularly valuable for the editorial feedback, which extends beyond basic corrections to include thoughtful questions that enhance content quality. The specialized audience allows exploration of advanced topics without extensive foundational explanation.
The community engagement creates meaningful dialogue around technical concepts, with practitioners sharing implementation experiences that enrich the collective knowledge base.
The whole team is very receptive, quick, and supportive. They resolve all support requests in no time and always provide constructive advise and feedback.
What Have You Learnt From Your Journey?
My writing journey has reinforced that a clear explanation requires deep understanding. The process of articulating complex concepts reveals one's own knowledge gaps and strengthens technical mastery.
Consistency has proven more valuable than waiting for inspiration. Some of my most impactful content emerged from disciplined writing sessions rather than moments of sudden insight.
I've learned to embrace feedback as an essential improvement tool. Initial defensiveness about critiques evolved into actively seeking diverse perspectives that highlight blind spots in my explanations.
Perhaps most significantly, teaching through writing has enhanced my professional capabilities. Reader questions frequently illuminate unexplored aspects of technologies, driving continuous learning and expertise development.
Final Thoughts
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
Writing has transformed from a supplementary activity into an integral element of my professional approach. The discipline of distilling complex technological concepts benefits every aspect of my work, from architecture discussions to implementation guidance.
The technology community thrives on shared experience and practical insights. For professionals considering content creation, your unique perspective on real-world problem-solving has significant value to others facing similar challenges.
Each article continues to be both a teaching and learning opportunity, advancing collective knowledge while deepening personal expertise. This continuous growth cycle remains the most rewarding aspect of technical writing.
Check out Ritesh Modi’s HackerNoon profile here, and read more of his amazing stories!
HackerNoon Writers Spotlight is a special, exclusive interview series where HackerNoon’s Top Writers share about their writing journey on the net in this ever-evolving digital world.
