During a session dedicated to technologies and artificial intelligence in scaling change, participants discussed methods for applying this technology and emphasized its potential for adaptation to specific local conditions.
Aniket Doegar, co-founder and CEO of Haqdarshak, spoke about how his organization uses technology to help citizens access 20,000 government programs, including cash transfers, from which many are excluded due to 'information asymmetry.' The application of AI in this area was more noticeable on the 'supply' side, as governments use it to simplify and standardize program data across states.
Sentilkumaran from Reliance Foundation demonstrated how his team uses AI to convert PDF files from the Indian Meteorological Department into consultations in local languages and various content formats, including YouTube videos.
Gautam Khanna, CEO of Maker Bhavan Foundation, noted that AI is integrated into the curriculum provided by the Foundation to young innovators and engineers in second and third-tier cities. Innovation labs allow students to conduct experiments, create prototypes, and also patent and commercialize their developments.
Despite AI often being presented as a driver of growth, Richa Gautam, Director of CSR and Sustainability at Schneider Electric India, insisted on maintaining the relevance of practical technical work. Yojit Sharma, CEO of Nasscom Foundation, stated that AI should act as an assistant—for example, helping teachers reach more students—but without making the teacher redundant.