‘IIC (Interdependence, Integration & Co-creation) - 2025’: AI - DRIVEN TRANSFORMATION: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS at JAIPURIA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, LUCKNOW

DAY 1 | 7^TH MARCH 2025

On 7^th March 2025, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow, organized a dynamic opening to the two-day 19^th Annual IIC Conference: Interdependence, Integration, & Co – Creation. This year’s theme was AI-driven Transformation: Shaping the future of Business. The conference was well organized under the guidance of Dr. Kavita Pathak (Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow) and was well coordinated by Dr. Ankit Mehrotra (Convenor, IIC 2025).

AI WORKSHOPS: GAMIFIED LEARNING: BUILDING KNOWLEDGE

Day 1 commenced with two insightful and interactive AI Workshops: Gamified Learning: Building Knowledge.

Mr. Kunal Gera (Data Science and AI Leader, EY) led the first session, exploring Generative AI, machine learning, and neural networks. He highlighted AI’s rapid advancements, the shift from manual execution to validation, and demonstrated AI-powered tools like Co-Pilot for data analysis. Key topics included clustering techniques, K-Means clustering, and real-world AI applications. The session concluded with an EY quiz, a vote of thanks, and a Green Certificate presented by Dr. Amit Trivedi (Area Chair, Business Analytics).

Mr. Lokesh Paliwal (CEO & Founder, EClytics Consulting) conducted a session on Generative AI and Data Analytics, covering AI fundamentals, automation tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, and Microsoft’s Power Platform. He explored Generative vs. Discriminative AI, Python in analytics, and Copilot’s integration with Excel. An interactive Q&A addressed AI-driven production analysis and Business Analyst interview expectations. The session concluded with an EY quiz and a Green Certificate presented by Dr. Amit Trivedi (Area Chair, Business Analytics) and Dr. Purnendu Shekhar Pandey (Associate Professor, Business Analytics).

Both sessions provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Generative AI, process automation, and data analytics, equipping participants with practical knowledge and industry-relevant applications.

DAY 2 | 8^TH MARCH 2025

The 19th Annual IIC Conference at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow, continued with its second day, focusing on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the business landscape. The discussions delved into AI's evolving role across industries, exploring its potential to drive innovation, enhance decision-making, and reshape traditional business models. The conference was well organized under the guidance of Dr. Kavita Pathak (Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow) by Dr. Ankit Mehrotra (Convenor, IIC 2025).

The conference was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Mr. Mukesh Jain (EVP & CTO, Capgemini), along with the Guests of Honor, Ms. Gunjan Gupta (AI, Data & Analytics Consultant, and Ex Senior Director, Philips) and Mr. Pramod Singh (Expert Associate Partner, Bain & Company).

They were warmly welcomed, followed by the presentation of green certificates as a token of appreciation for their invaluable presence.

This was succeeded by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the esteemed dignitaries, symbolizing the beginning of an enlightening session.

The inaugural proceedings were further enriched with a soulful rendition of Saraswati Vandana by the students of the Cultural Committee, invoking wisdom and knowledge for the conference ahead.

The conference moved further with an address by Dr. Kavita Pathak, who emphasized the importance of sense-making in a fast-paced world, highlighting its role in survival and growth. Discussing the divide between skeptics and pioneers in AI, she stressed that once unleashed, AI cannot be ignored, and organizations must invest in it for long-term success. Concluding her address, she welcomed young speaker Aarav Chaudhary, appreciating his enthusiasm and reinforcing that learning comes from all directions.

The session proceeded with Dr. Ankit Mehrotra introducing the theme of the conference, setting the stage for an enlightening discourse on AI’s impact on industries.

The conference's first keynote session featured Mr. Mukesh Jain, who shared his 32-year journey in AI innovation. He recounted tackling AI challenges at Microsoft, including reducing junk emails in Outlook, and highlighted AI's role in real-world applications like UPI apps and Uber/Ola. Stressing that fear of failure hinders innovation, he urged students to embrace curiosity and continuous learning. He emphasized AI’s data-centric nature, sharing his experience at Reliance, where he built an AI model in two months for automating social media responses. Reassuring students about AI’s future, he encouraged them to focus on problem-solving and value creation in business.

Further, the second keynote speaker, Ms. Gunjan Gupta, began her keynote with a video of a dancing robot, showcasing AI’s evolution from automation to augmentation. She traced technological revolutions, highlighting how initial fears eventually led to job creation. Discussing AI’s role in fraud detection within the BFSI sector, she emphasized AI-powered chatbots for enhanced customer service and AI algorithms for personalized financial solutions. She also explored AI-driven advancements in healthcare, particularly in drug discovery. Addressing the changing landscape of education, she stressed the need for continuous learning, upskilling, and reskilling, asserting that AI won’t replace jobs—rather, those who leverage AI will replace those who don’t. Citing Bill Gates and Satya Nadella, she reinforced that AI is for everyone willing to harness its potential.

Representing the next generation of AI enthusiasts, an 8-year-old - Mr. Aarav Chaudhary provided a fresh perspective on AI ethics and responsibility. He emphasized the importance of fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI decision-making, encouraging future business leaders to integrate these principles into their strategies.

The conference progressed to its third keynote speaker, Mr. Pramod Singh, drawing from his experience at Bain & Company, explored the evolution of AI-driven business solutions and their transformative impact across industries. He highlighted AI-powered product recommendations in banking, automated claims management in insurance, conversational chatbots in retail, and AI-driven contract analysis in legal compliance. Emphasizing how Generative AI enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and personalizes customer experiences, he also addressed the challenge of integrating AI with traditional expertise. He urged professionals to develop technological fluency to adapt and thrive in an AI-powered business landscape

The keynote session of the 19th Annual IIC Conference moved further with an interactive session where speakers addressed audience queries, deepening their understanding of AI’s business applications and future potential.

The session concluded with the presentation of Memento to the esteemed Chief Guest and Guests of Honor by Dr. Kavita Pathak (Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow) and Dr. Sushma Vishnani (Dean, Academics), for their invaluable presence.

Day 2 continued with an address by Dr. Shiva Kakkar (Vice President - AI Initiatives, Jaipuria Group) on Generative AI and AI-driven transformation. He distinguished Generative AI from traditional AI, likening it to medical specializations. Highlighting three key aspects, he emphasized AI’s creativity in uncovering insights, autonomous trend analysis, and end-to-end automation in decision-making. He also discussed the trust factor in AI predictions, citing biases in systems like COMPAS and challenges such as AI hallucination. Through examples like the "Bookshelf Problem" and IIM Ahmedabad’s "Black Book," he underscored AI’s impact on business intelligence, decision-making, and ethical considerations.

PANEL DISCUSSION: THE ETHICAL IMPERATIVE: RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH RESPONSIBLE AI

The day continued with an insightful panel discussion on the topic, "The Ethical Imperative: Responsibility through Responsible AI." The session brought together esteemed industry experts to explore the critical intersection of AI, ethics, and responsibility in today's digital era.

The distinguished panelists for the discussion included Dr. Utpal Chakraborty (Ambassador, Gartner), Dr. Mohit Sewak (Global Leader in Generative AI, Google), Mr. Rasesh Shah (Chief Product Officer, Fractal Analytics), and Mr. Sambhav Jain (Managing Director & Partner, BCG). Their collective expertise provided a comprehensive perspective on the ethical challenges and responsibilities associated with AI advancements.

Moderating the session was Dr. Shalini Nath Tripathi (Faculty, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow). She set the stage by welcoming the panelists and initiating an engaging conversation on the evolving role of AI in business and society, emphasizing the need for responsible and ethical AI implementation. She highlighted the two pillars of AI—Ethics and Responsibility—and posed the question: How can AI be used ethically and responsibly?

Dr. Utpal Chakraborty emphasized that while regulations can be enforced, ethics must come from within organizations, as highlighted by IBM. He discussed AI hallucinations and the need for responsible usage and diverse development teams. Further, Mr. Rasesh Shah cited real-world biases, such as Amazon’s AI-driven hiring model favoring male candidates and healthcare AI misjudging medical needs due to biased training data. Dr. Mohit Sewak distinguished Ethical AI from Responsible AI, which is built on Safety, Security, and Trustworthiness. He also explained AI hallucinations, differentiating between intrinsic and factual hallucinations, stressing the need for controlled decoding.

The discussion then shifted to whether AI will replace jobs.

Mr. Sambhav Jain stated that AI does not replace jobs directly but reduces the need for employees in various roles. He mentioned that despite concerns, only 1 out of 5 firms have a dedicated Responsible AI policy in place.  Further, Dr. Mohit Sewak added, "AI won’t take jobs, but those who know how to use AI effectively will." He explained the dopamine effect of AI-driven success and how AI adoption influences organizational productivity.

The Panel Discussion moved to the question and answer session with dignitaries where Dr. Kavita Pathak posed an insightful question about AI’s impact on students—should AI be seen as a tool for reducing laziness or as an enabler of productivity?

Answering the question, Mr. Mohit Sewak responded humorously, questioning if AI enables laziness or simply allows people to redirect their productivity elsewhere. Mr. Sambhav Jain stated that laziness is not the issue—what matters is being truthful to ethical practices. Adding to discussion, Mr. Rasesh Shah concluded that AI should be accepted and adopted but must be regulated within institutions to ensure its ethical usage.

Further, in response to a question from Dr. Ajay Jha (Area Chair, Operations), regarding data imperfections, Dr. Mohit Sewak explained that data is not inherently perfect—its interpretation depends on the observer and context.

The panel discussion provided valuable insights into the ethical and responsible use of AI, highlighting the balance between technological advancement and human responsibility. The session ended with an engaging Q&A session, further reinforcing the importance of AI governance, ethical considerations, and institutional adaptation in the era of Generative AI.

The day, along with the 19th Annual IIC Conference, concluded with an award ceremony recognizing students who excelled in the competitions held during IIC Week 2025. 

The best performing students were:

1. AI WARROOM:

Winner - Team Bot Battalion (Mr. Dipankar & Ms. Kavya)

1st Runner up - The Leaders (Mr. Yashdeep & Mr. Sunand)

2nd Runner up - Team KD (Ms. Sriparna & Ms. Manav)

1. AI MARKETING MAESTRO:

Winner: Mr. Yash Bhadoria & Mr. Sunand Aggarwal

1st Runner up – Mr. Mukul Srivastava & Mr. Deepankar Chatterjee

2nd Runner up – Mr. Mohd Shams khan & Mr. Kushal Kumar

1. IIC SPEAKER QUIZ:

Winner: Mr. Yash Bhadoria

1st Runner up – Ms. Anjali Lakhera

2nd Runner up – Mr. Manish Sharma

The 19th Annual IIC Conference successfully provided students and professionals with insights into AI’s evolving role in shaping the business landscape.

With AI continuing to revolutionize industries, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow remains committed to preparing future leaders to embrace technological advancements, develop critical thinking skills, and drive innovation in the ever-evolving business world.

Team Media Relations Committee for the Workshop coverage:
Under the guidance of Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Reeti Agarwal

Writer: Mr. Shubham Kumar Pandey

Photographer: Ms. Anshika Verma, Mr. Syed Amaan Ali, Mr. Mohd. Amir & Mr. Aryan Tiwari

Graphic Designer: Mr. Arish Ahmad & Mr. Shubham Kumar Pandey