As India stands at the crossroads of technology and nation-building, Prof Rajeev Sangal stresses why AI must go beyond innovation for innovation’s sake. It must serve a larger national purpose. We need to build an India-led AI ecosystem rooted in inclusion, language accessibility, education, healthcare, meaningful employment, and the solving of real-world problems. Despite all the hype around AI today, India still lacks a clear AI vision. We need a radical strategy that seeds AI work across thousands of local problems. By identifying relevant AI applications, investing seriously in data collection, and combining this with innovative approaches to machine learning, we can not only solve our own challenges but also create world-class AI manpower. This, in turn, can lead to the emergence of hundreds — perhaps even thousands — of AI startups. A part of this strategy has already been tested through Mission Bhashini, India’s first AI mission, which successfully developed Indian language speech-to-speech translation technology.

Combining drones, machine learning, and vernacular architecture, EERC is redefining how India approaches structural resilience. The focus is on preparedness, prevention, and preserving heritage structures. Long before algorithms, simulations, and seismic codes existed, traditional Indian architecture had already mastered resilience. Today, at the EERC at IIIT Hyderabad, researchers are revisiting that wisdom through AI, drones, computer vision, and machine learning to understand how structures survive disasters. From studying heritage buildings and earthquake-resistant vernacular homes to developing AI-based crack detection systems and open-source structural assessment tools, the centre is building a bridge between ancient engineering intuition and modern computational science. In conversation with assistant professor Dr Jofin George, CE explores how technology and traditional knowledge are redefining structural safety and earthquake resilience in India.

IIIT-H and Athenian Tech Private Limited, a leading digital risk management company specialising in AI and ML-powered cybersecurity solutions have joined hands to advance research in the realm of cybersecurity, education, and industry collaboration, with joint areas of cooperation spanning domains such as AI/ML, and digital identity protection thereby fostering innovation, strengthening cyber resilience, and creating opportunities for skill development, research, and real-world industry engagement. The two organisations have formalised their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding, bringing world-class academic expertise and cutting-edge industry capabilities under one shared framework. The MoU was signed recently by Prof. U Deva Priyakumar, Dean Research & Development, IIIT Hyderabad and Dr Kanishk Gaur, Chief Executive Officer, Athenian Tech Private Limited.