Hyderabad: How can artificial intelligence (AI) help improve life in rural India? This pressing question found answers at the Piwot Satellite Conference held at IIT Hyderabad, where experts discussed the tangible impact of AI and Industry 5.0 on everyday challenges.
Moving beyond the realm of futuristic buzzwords, the event demonstrated how technology is already being deployed to solve problems in healthcare, education and sustainability.
With the theme “A Smarter World: AI as the Tool, Industry 5.0 as the Path,” the conference featured a diverse group of participants, including start-up founders, industry leaders, investors and academic experts.
The event opened with a welcome address by Prof. B.S. Murty, director of IIT Hyderabad, who set the stage by emphasising the importance of collaboration in driving meaningful technological advancements.
“Collaboration is key to our success,” he remarked, underlining the need for partnerships between academia and industry to scale innovative solutions.
A major highlight of the conference was the introduction of the PanIIT WHEELS initiative by Dr Ramnath S. Mani. Launched in response to a call from former President Dr Abdul Kalam, WHEELS focuses on addressing critical issues in rural areas through technology.
By targeting key areas such as water, health, energy, education, livelihood and sustainability, the initiative aims to improve the lives of 20 per cent of India’s rural population. PanIIT is a global network of IIT alumni dedicated to leveraging technology for societal progress.
Keynote speaker Sanjeev Deshpande spoke on the evolution of Industry 5.0, which shifts focus from automation to a more human-centric approach. He spoke about the need for resilient supply chains and personalised production, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Industry 5.0 is about creating a balance between technology and human needs,” Deshpande explained.
Prof. B.J. Rao, Vice Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, shed light on some of IIT Hyderabad’s key projects. From ‘School in a Walk,’ which provides offline educational content, to ‘Spoken Tutorials,’ which teach IT skills to rural youth, these initiatives exemplify how technology can bridge the urban-rural divide, he said.
Jogulamba Gadwal district collector Valluri Kranthi praised IIT Hyderabad’s role in fostering inclusive technology solutions that cater to underserved communities. She spoke about the potential for AI in public services, from waste management to urban planning, and the importance of developing technologies that are accessible to all, particularly women and the disabled.