The Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur (IIMU), proudly hosted the second edition of D’Future: India Digital Conclave 2025 on January 17, 2025, at the prestigious Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. This groundbreaking event convened policymakers, researchers, practitioners, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to explore the theme: "Beyond AI: The Next Frontier in Digital Transformation." The conclave exemplified IIM Udaipur’s commitment to advancing innovation and technology.
The event began with an inspiring inaugural address by Prof. Ashok Banerjee, Director, IIM Udaipur. Prof. Banerjee emphasized the institute’s leadership in fostering sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation. Highlighting IIMU’s progress toward carbon neutrality by 2030, he revealed that 20% of the institute’s energy is sourced from renewables, projected to reach 45% by year-end. He also discussed the pioneering Digital Enterprise Management (DEM) program, which bridges academic rigour with industry insights, preparing students for emerging trends. Prof. Banerjee reaffirmed IIM Udaipur’s dedication to driving India’s digital and sustainable transformation through impactful education and strategic partnerships.
P. Vasudevan, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), delivered the keynote address, delving into AI’s integration into daily life. He stressed the need for transparency in AI decision-making to promote financial inclusion and highlighted initiatives like AIRAWAT and the DPDP Act as key drivers of India’s global AI leadership. Mr. Vasudevan also addressed challenges like deepfakes, emphasizing a collaborative approach through public-private partnerships for sustainable growth.
Prof. Mohan Kankanhalli, an international researcher, delivered a session titled "Harnessing AI for Societal Good." He explored AI's role in addressing global challenges and presented innovations like machine unlearning and anti-sample creation to ensure ethical AI development.
In his session, Prof. Soumen Chakrabarti delved into "Frontiers Between Language and Reasoning," explaining how AI could mirror human reasoning through graph-based and logical approaches. He showcased advancements in large language models (LLMs) that improve AI’s ability to form meaningful connections between data representations.
The panel discussion on “Artificial Intelligence and Human Instincts” was moderated by Shiv Shivakumar, Chairman at MTPL, an Advent Company. Esteemed panellists included Apurva Mankad (Founder, WebXpress), Jayanta Banerjee (CIO, Tata Steel Limited), Khushboo Aggarwal (Founder, Zyla Health), and Neetan Chopra (Chief Digital & Information Officer, Indigo Airlines). Discussions centered on AI's integration in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and aviation, and its impact on productivity and workforce dynamics.
The Corporate Success Stories segment featured Amitav Sinha, Director General, Central Board of Direct Taxes, and Kanchan Bhonde, AVP, Tech Mahindra. Mr. Sinha highlighted transformative projects in India’s tax administration, while Ms. Bhonde showcased innovative AI-driven tools addressing malnutrition and agricultural challenges.
The Startup Show featured Bikram Mahajan, Partner at Unicorn India Ventures, and other industry leaders who explored AI's role in reshaping industries.
In the entertainment domain, Mr. Prateek Garg, Managing Director, Marigold Park Capital, discussed AI's potential in hyper-personalized content delivery. Mr. Ramakrishnan Subramanian (Ramky S), Founder, Sportsmechanics, highlighted AI’s transformative role in sports, from virtual coaching to fan engagement.
The conclave concluded with a renewed vision for collaborative innovation, reinforcing IIM Udaipur's pivotal role in shaping the future of digital transformation.
