From Shazam to Bestselling Crime Fiction: Ajay Chowdhury on Tech, Creativity & Storytelling - ep 24

In this episode of Talking Tech with Creatives, I sit down with prize winning crime fiction author and tech entrepreneur Ajay Chowdhury. His career journey spans co-founding Shazam, leading innovative tech ventures, and writing the  Kamal Rahman series.

Ajay shares how his early years in India shaped his creative and business mindset, why food, culture, and immigrant experiences run through his fiction, and his frank views on diversity in publishing and the future of AI in writing. We dive into:

• Building Shazam and seeing it become a global tech phenomenon

• Winning a major crime writing prize with The Waiter — and how it changed his life

• Writing authentic immigrant narratives with humour, heart, and high stakes

• Food as a storytelling device and the joy of making readers hungry

• Using AI to enhance creativity without replacing the writer’s voice

• The shifting landscape of tech innovation in publishing and beyond

• Navigating identity, risk-taking, and success across cultures

Whether you’re a writer, tech enthusiast, or just love a gripping story, this conversation blends creativity, innovation, and real-world insights in a way that only Ajay can deliver.

Listen now to discover:

How to balance creativity and technology in your career, why failure is part of the journey, and what the future holds for both crime fiction and AI.

Talking Tech with Creatives podcast

Website: https://talkingtechwithcreatives.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingTechWithCreatives

Instagram: @talkingtechwithcreatives

Host: @stellaonithewriter

 

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Ajay’s Website: https://www.ajaychowdhury.com

Ajay on Instagram: @ajaychowdhurywriter

Get Ajay’s free interactive thriller here: https://theinvitation.ajaychowdhury.com