- The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.
The result was speedy keep. Procedurally. We're not wasting community time here. Any established editor is welcome to open a new AfD if they see merit. Star Mississippi 00:54, 26 August 2025 (UTC)
[Hide this box] New to Articles for deletion (AfD)? Read these primers!
- Thiru Vikram (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – (View log | edits since nomination)
- (Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL)
Improperly listd. See rationale by Technobuf below. CNMall41 (talk) 20:38, 25 August 2025 (UTC) The subject does not meet Wikipedia's notability criteria for people (WP:BIO). Most references are routine announcements, local business blurbs, or university PR, which do not establish lasting encyclopedic significance. Mentions in Wired, Vice, and similar outlets are about autonomous boats in general, not in-depth profiles of this person WP:BLP. Recommend deletion. Technobuf (talk) 02:48, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- Keep – Thiru Vikram clearly meets WP:GNG and WP:BIO. Multiple independent, reliable sources provide significant coverage of him as an inventor and entrepreneur:
- – Bratek, Kim (43North) – “Founder Friday: Thiru Vikram, Buffalo Automation” (2018) – a profile centered on Vikram himself.
- – WBFO (Chris Caya, 2017) – “Are self-navigating boats on the horizon?” – interview/profile quoting Vikram on autonomous navigation.
- – Wired – “Forget Robo-Cars and Hit the Water on an Autonomous Boat” (2018) – national coverage featuring Vikram’s work.
- – Vice (Tracey Lindeman, 2018) – “Autonomous Boats Will Be On the Market Sooner Than Self-Driving Cars” – industry feature referencing Vikram.
- – UpstartNY (Joel Lehman, 2018) – “The journey to funding: Buffalo Automation’s story” – focuses on Vikram’s leadership and startup journey.
- – Buffalo Business Journal (Dan Miner, 2016) – “Self-navigating ship startup wins prestigious Panasci prize” – documents his entrepreneurship award.
- – The Buffalo News (2016) – “Robotics startup wins Panasci competition” – further coverage of his Panasci win.
- – University at Buffalo Engineering – Distinguished Alumnus recognition (2021).
- – “Global Student Entrepreneur Awards!” (2018) – reports Vikram’s first place in the EO competition.
Vikram is also named inventor on multiple U.S. patents in maritime AI and sensing systems (US10683067B2, US10782691B2, US10936907B2, US10895802B1). These are tangible contributions to his field. Together these sources establish significant, independent coverage of Vikram personally, not merely routine company mentions. This satisfies WP:GNG and WP:BIO. Any issues with unsourced or undue background details can be resolved through trimming or improved citations per WP:BLP and WP:ONUS, not by deletion.
The AfD nomination was made by a single-purpose account created only to target this and the related Buffalo Automation article (see WP:SPA, WP:POINT). With strong sourcing and clear evidence of independent coverage, the article satisfies WP:V, WP:GNG, and WP:BIO and should be kept. ChiranjiviVyasa (talk) 04:03, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- The sources listed do not establish notability under WP:GNG or WP:BIO. Wired, Vice, and AI Business are industry-wide articles on autonomous boats in which Vikram is only briefly mentioned, not profiled in depth. Local business press (Buffalo Business Journal, Buffalo News) and university PR (UB recognition) are routine announcements and institutional coverage, not significant independent analysis. Awards and patents demonstrate activity but do not confer encyclopedic notability without independent coverage. Per WP:NOTNEWS, WP:ROUTINE, and WP:BIO1E, the subject lacks the substantial, in-depth, independent sourcing required for a standalone biography. The nominator’s status is irrelevant; AfDs are decided on the merits of sourcing. Recommend deletion. Technobuf (talk) 03:28, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- Following up here with source audit:
- The sources cited in support of keep are either (1) industry features in which Vikram/Buffalo Automation are passing mentions (Wired, Vice, PlymouthLive, AI Business), (2) routine local coverage of awards and competitions (Buffalo Business Journal, Buffalo News), or (3) institutional PR (University at Buffalo). None of these provide significant, in-depth, independent coverage as required by WP:GNG and WP:BIO.
- Passing mentions in industry stories and routine event coverage do not establish lasting encyclopedic significance. Therefore, the article does not meet notability standards.
- Technobuf (talk) 03:57, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- Speedy keep per the sources provided above, showing clear GNG, and the fact that this was made by a SPA targeting these article. The above are not just brief mentions... DaniloDaysOfOurLives (talk) 04:28, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- AfDs are decided on article content, not on the nominator (WP:AFD#NOTABOUT). The SPA argument is not relevant here. As for sourcing, Wired, Vice, and AI Business are industry features in which Vikram/Buffalo Automation are mentioned as examples, not the subject of in-depth coverage. Local press and university PR are routine event coverage (WP:ROUTINE, WP:NOTNEWS). Passing mentions and award blurbs do not meet WP:GNG or WP:BIO. The articles lack multiple, independent, reliable secondary sources providing significant analysis of the subject. Recommend deletion. Technobuf (talk) 04:43, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- Keep – The article meets WP:GNG and WP:BIO based on significant, independent coverage in reliable secondary sources. Multiple respected publications have profiled Vikram’s work and contributions in depth:
– Wired (2018) – “Forget Robo-Cars and Hit the Water on an Autonomous Boat” → Wired – Vice (2018) – “Autonomous Boats Will Be On the Market Sooner Than Self-Driving Cars” → Vice – WBFO (2017) – “Are self-navigating boats on the horizon?” → WBFO – UpstartNY (2018) – “The Journey to Funding: Buffalo Automation’s Story” → UpstartNY – Buffalo Business Journal (2016) – “Self-navigating ship startup wins Panasci prize” → Buffalo Business Journal
Additionally, Vikram is listed as an inventor on multiple U.S. patents in maritime AI and sensing systems: - **US10683067B2** - **US10782691B2** - **US10936907B2** - **US10895802B1**
The volume of reliable, independent coverage clearly establishes **encyclopedic notability** under WP:GNG and WP:BIO. Any issues with unsourced or excessive details should be resolved through normal content trimming per WP:BLP and WP:ONUS rather than deletion. Mohit ak (talk) 08:22, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- Note: This discussion has been included in the deletion sorting lists for the following topics: People, Businesspeople, India, and New York. CNMall41 (talk) 20:42, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- Automated comment: This AfD was not correctly transcluded to the log (step 3). I have transcluded it to Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Log/2025 August 25. —cyberbot ITalk to my owner:Online 20:49, 25 August 2025 (UTC)
- The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.