The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, graced the 2nd convocation of the Indian Institute of Information Technology-IIIT Lucknow today, highlighting the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) and the institution’s commitment to excellence.
In her address, President Murmu outlined the “5 Ds” that define India’s current landscape – Demand, Demography, Democracy, Desire, and Dream. She expressed confidence that these factors would play a crucial role in India’s development journey. Over the past decade, India’s economy has climbed from the 11th to the 5th largest globally, with aspirations to secure the 3rd position by 2030. President Murmu shared the dream of India becoming a developed nation by 2047 and called upon IIIT Lucknow students to actively contribute to this vision.
Acknowledging the onset of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the President praised AI as a key tool enhancing human life and productivity across diverse sectors. She commended India for not only being a part of this revolution but also emerging as a global hub for technologies such as AI, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain.
President Murmu emphasized the transformative possibilities offered by AI but cautioned against ethical dilemmas. She urged creative solutions to address challenges like automation-induced unemployment, economic inequality, and biases in AI algorithms. Stressing the importance of ‘Emotional Intelligence’ alongside ‘Artificial Intelligence,’ she reiterated that AI should be a means to enhance human life’s quality, not an end.
Expressing delight over IIIT Lucknow‘s recognition as an Institute of National Importance, President Murmu stated that this status reflects the institution’s capability and efficiency. She challenged the institute to maintain the highest standards in education and establish dimensions of excellence that set benchmarks for others.
President Murmu praised the initiative to offer knowledge in regional languages, considering it a positive step to overcome linguistic limitations in knowledge enhancement. She commended the establishment of the Incubation Center C.R.E.A.T.E., highlighting its role in making research and development accessible to society.
