Chennai: The much-awaited FICCI’s Digital Disruption and Transformation International Summit & Exhibition 2026, a flagship event by all reckoning, started on a promising note here on Thursday with speakers across the spectrum focusing on the topic AI by Design: India and Tamil Nadu’s Moment to Build, Own and Lead (Atmanirbhar Bharat/Tamil Nadu).
Thiru Dr. Kumar R, Hon’ble Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu, who set the ball rolling, sounded optimism on the ethical use of AI for the creation of a wonderful world.
Thiru.Dr.Kumar said that an ecosystem could be created for the use of AI ethically and it needed the cooperation of universities, research centres and industries for a global connect and people should be made aware of the technological changes happening across the world.
He further stated that policymakers, entrepreneurs, technology experts, and developers recognize the ongoing digital disruption and are creating a knowledge-sharing platform on the use of AI, which is set to become the foundation of the future. The Minister commended the students of the ICT Academy, ITNT, IIT, and other educational institutions for possessing the enormous potential to utilize AI ethically. Furthermore, an AI curriculum is to be implemented across all grades
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Dr Rajaram Venkataraman, Convenor & Head, FICCI TNSC Technology Panel and Member, FICCI National Committee on ICT, said that Tamil Nadu has the advantage of the AI research park and dozens of IT global majors operating in the state have the potential to frame an ethical and responsible AI ecosystem with the use of the available talent pool and the start-ups as more and more industries have started the adoption of AI.
He noted that the industry, academia and governance need to come together as AI belongs to those who create and design and TN skill development corporation can do a lot in shaping the future of those who want to become AI developers.
Dr Atul Anand, Additional Chief Secretary, Information Technology and Digital Services Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, said that industries need AI by ethical design and human intelligence can make use of it for solving problems. He wanted schools to train youngsters on AI so that they can make use of the knowledge gained while entering industries.
He also stressed on the need for a data sharing policy that can benefit people from various spheres.
Dr GSK Velu, Chairman, FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council, who welcomed, said that Tamil Nadu is emerging as a leader in terms of attracting global investments, all because of the human capital and the enabling environment, cooperation, citizen centric services and the infrastructure like road connectivity, etc, thanks to the Chief Minister of the state. He said the AI revolution can transform all spheres, including health care with access to quality treatment, apart from agriculture and education.
Mr Bhupesh Nagarajan, Co-chair, FICCI TNSC, in his concluding remarks, said the summit is timely as lots of things are happening due to digital disruption and the involvement of AI is far more important in the changing world.