Lucknow – To deliberate on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in fostering sustainable business practices and building resilient, future-ready organizations, Amity Business School, Amity University Lucknow Campus, inaugurated a two-day International Conference titled “Business Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence: Building a Smarter, Greener Future”.
The conference was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Anuj Varshney, Managing Director, Sthapati Associates Pvt. Ltd., along with the Guest of Honour, Shailesh Srivastava, Senior Scientist, NIC. Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, Amity University Lucknow Campus, Wg. Cdr. (Dr.) Anil Tiwari, and Officiating Director, Amity Business School, Prof. (Dr.) Alpna Srivastava. The inauguration ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp.
The inaugural session was also graced by Pro-Vice Chancellor, Amity University Lucknow Campus, Prof. (Dr.) Anil Vashisht.
Distinguished international speakers, Prof. Mohan Kalle from the University of Agder, Norway, and Prof. H. Niles Perera from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, joined the conference virtually.
Welcoming the guests, Wg. Cdr. (Dr.) Anil Tiwari highlighted the growing significance of Artificial Intelligence, stating that AI has brought transformative changes to modern life. He emphasized that while AI has evolved into a self-learning technology, it also has limitations, and its outputs may not always be accurate. Therefore, maintaining a “human-in-the-loop” approach is essential to validate AI-driven decisions.
Addressing the conference, Prof. Mohan Kalle emphasized the importance of sustainable energy sources for a greener environment. He noted that integrating Artificial Intelligence with sustainable business practices is crucial for achieving long-term societal development, and stressed the need to expand and efficiently utilize green energy resources.
Guest of Honour, Shailesh Srivastava, remarked that we are currently witnessing a transformative era driven by AI, the full extent of which is yet to be realized. Drawing a reference from Indian mythology, he spoke about the of Pushpak Vimana as an early advanced, autonomous AI systems. He further highlighted the rapid technological advancements that now enable global connectivity, He emphasized that AI development requires vast data processing and significant computational capacity, and informed that the Government is actively working towards establishing large-scale data centres. He also mentioned several government initiatives such as Kisan e-Mitra, AI Bhashini Tool, and AI Saransh, which are leveraging AI for public benefit.
Prof. H. Niles Perera, in his address on “Why AI Alone Cannot Deliver a Sustainable Supply Chain,” stated that while AI can design highly efficient business models, human factors often introduce imperfections. He cautioned that both over-reliance and under-reliance on AI can be problematic, and stressed the need for a balanced and calibrated trust between humans and AI systems.
Chief Guest Anuj Varshney emphasized that sustainability and Artificial Intelligence are integral to modern business practices. He stated that while AI is a necessity in today’s world, it cannot replace human intelligence. Instead, it should be integrated thoughtfully to achieve sustainable and responsible business outcomes.
On this occasion, the dignitaries also released the conference souvenir. Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor Wg. Cdr. (Dr.) Anil Tiwari presented mementoes to the guests as a mark of appreciation.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Archna Sharma, Senior Faculty, Amity Business School.
