The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) recently concluded its presidential address event, titled “Charting the Course for Engineers in India: AI for a Resilient Future.” The event featured a roundtable discussion on new energies with prominent industry experts, the unveiling of the IET India Awards, recognition of the IET Scholarship Award winners, and a presidential address by Dr. Gopichand Katragadda, a technology veteran and the Founder of Myelin Foundry.
Dr. Katragadda’s address underscored the pivotal role that artificial intelligence (AI) can play in India’s future. He emphasized that India should focus on creating AI-related jobs, as AI has the potential to generate a significant number of employment opportunities. According to his assessment, AI can potentially create 100 million jobs in India, with a distribution of 70 percent dedicated to data creation and annotation, 20 percent to application development, and the remaining 10 percent contributing to globally leading algorithms.
In his address to the audience, Dr. Katragadda stated, “The engineering ecosystem in India is undergoing a dramatic transformation leveraging and driving AI-based outcomes. As one of the largest engineering bodies in the world, the IET holds immense responsibility to mobilize the members of the engineering community towards driving AI use for social good. I am looking forward to leading this initiative and contributing towards the IET’s journey towards inspiring and influencing the global engineering community.”
Shekhar Sanyal, the Country Head and Director of IET India, highlighted India’s potential to make a significant impact on the global technology stage. He expressed confidence in India’s skilled talent pool and culture of continuous innovation, stating, “I foresee a future where India manufactures products that cater to worldwide needs and are specifically engineered to address long-standing challenges across various industries.”
Under the leadership of Dr. Katragadda, the IET aims to play a pivotal role in steering meaningful discussions and developing a strategic plan for the responsible, inclusive, and ethical implementation of technology, particularly in the context of AI.
Ed Almond, Chief Executive and Secretary of The IET (Global), stressed the importance of international collaboration and knowledge sharing in the global technology ecosystem. He acknowledged that India’s skilled workforce plays a critical role in the future of engineering, and collaboration between industry and academia is vital to bridging the skills gap. Engineers from around the world must come together to address pressing challenges and innovate solutions, with the IET playing a leading role in facilitating these efforts.
The IET’s presidential address event has highlighted the evolving role of AI in India’s engineering landscape and its potential to shape a resilient and innovative future. With a focus on responsible and ethical technology implementation, the IET aims to inspire and influence the global engineering community while nurturing India’s contribution to the world of technology and innovation.