At a moment when Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the world, India finds itself at the intersection of technological potential and social responsibility.
In this exclusive conversation, Dr. W. Selvamurthy, President of the Amity Science, Technology and Innovation Foundation, shares insights on Amity’s pioneering AI ecosystem, the ethical challenges of AI in education, and how India can harness its demographic strength for a more inclusive, intelligent future.
Q1. How is Amity’s research ecosystem fostering innovation in AI for societal good?
Dr. Selvamurthy:
Amity’s AI research ecosystem is strategically designed to drive real-world societal impact by combining cutting-edge infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strong ethical governance.
At the heart of this is the Amity Centre for Artificial Intelligence (ACAI) and its AI Centre of Excellence (CoE), equipped with NVIDIA DGX2 A100 supercomputing clusters—powering deep learning, generative AI, and large language models with a 10-petaflop capacity.
The CoE, launched in partnership with NVIDIA, is focused on socially meaningful innovation. From EyeDeepNet for retinal diseases to AI-based cervical screening, and from mental stress detection via wearables to Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia screening, our projects serve healthcare, environment, and accessibility.
We also engage in large-scale applications—such as AI-driven chronic pain diagnosis in partnership with ICMR and SGPGIMS, AI for drug-resistance prediction in tuberculosis, and GIS-based urban planning platforms.
A hallmark of our approach is the dual-axis model: deep core AI research, combined with interdisciplinary application across engineering, biotech, humanities, and social sciences. Students play an active role, with 100+ live projects and opportunities to publish, file patents, and make real impact.
Q2. As a scientist with deep ethical grounding, what concerns do you have about AI in education—bias, surveillance, or loss of human judgment?
Dr. Selvamurthy:
AI presents serious ethical concerns. One of the biggest risks is the erosion of human judgment. AI can aid decision-making, but it cannot replace a teacher’s empathy, moral guidance, and context-based reasoning.
Over-reliance on AI tools can also hinder students’ curiosity, perseverance, and critical thinking—turning learning into passive consumption. If AI becomes a crutch, we risk creating a generation that’s tech-savvy but not intellectually resilient.
Then comes the issue of bias. Flawed datasets can lead AI systems to favor certain social groups, inadvertently widening inequality.
Finally, surveillance is a major concern. Without explicit consent and safeguards, AI may create intrusive classroom environments that harm student well-being.
So we must apply AI thoughtfully—always as a support, never a substitute for human connection in education.
Q3. How do we ensure that rural and economically weaker students are not left behind in the AI-driven education boom?
Dr. Selvamurthy:
This is one of the most important challenges. Inclusion must begin with investment in digital infrastructure—affordable devices, reliable connectivity, and access to digital platforms.
AI-powered tools should be low-bandwidth, multilingual, and adaptable to rural learning environments. We must also train teachers and build community engagement, so AI isn’t just a tool—but a bridge to opportunity.
National missions like Digital India, combined with educational reforms and local capacity-building, will be crucial. Equity in AI-led education is not just a goal—it is a national imperative.
Q4. Should India develop an indigenous policy framework for AI in education, distinct from Western models?
Dr. Selvamurthy:
Absolutely. While we can learn from global best practices, India’s cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity demands context-specific solutions.
An indigenous AI education policy should ensure tools are affordable, compatible with basic devices, and available in Indian languages. It should support inclusivity, especially for marginalized communities.
This policy must align with:
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Digital India (for infrastructure and access)
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Samagra Shiksha (for inclusivity and school reforms)
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Skill India & NEP 2020 (for AI in vocational and future-ready education)
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Viksit Bharat 2047 (for technological empowerment)
Through collaboration between universities, startups, and EdTech firms, India can build ethical, scalable AI systems that reflect its own identity and needs.
Q5. What core values and skills must today’s graduates cultivate to remain relevant in the AI age?
Dr. Selvamurthy:
In the AI age, graduates need more than domain knowledge—they need values and human-centric skills.
Core Values:
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Ethical Responsibility: Understanding the moral impact of data and algorithms.
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Empathy: Emotional intelligence will be crucial where machines fall short.
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Adaptability: The world is changing fast—continuous learning is a must.
Essential Skills:
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Critical Thinking: AI offers answers, but humans must ask the right questions.
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Interdisciplinary Thinking: Comfort with AI and its applications in your field—be it law, medicine, or social sciences.
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Digital & Data Literacy: Understanding how AI works and its limitations is essential for all professionals.
Q6. Do you foresee India’s demographic dividend turning into a tech dividend through AI-integrated education?
Dr. Selvamurthy:
Yes—if we act wisely and inclusively. AI can unlock the potential of millions of young Indians. But this will require virtual labs, multilingual tools, and public-private partnerships.
Education must shift from rote learning to capability-building. With the right mindset, policies, and infrastructure, India’s youth can become a global force in the AI economy.
Final Reflections
What excites me most is that—for the first time in history—human curiosity, computational power, and the transformative promise of education are converging.
We now have the ability to build learning ecosystems that directly solve real-world problems: climate change, healthcare disparities, ethical dilemmas.
The power of AI is not just in what it can compute, but in what it can help us become—as a society.
About Dr. W. Selvamurthy
Dr. W. Selvamurthy is a distinguished scientist, strategic thinker, and President of the Amity Science, Technology and Innovation Foundation.
A former Chief Controller R&D (Life Sciences) at DRDO, he has led pivotal research in defence physiology, biomedicine, and now artificial intelligence. With a legacy of national service and innovation, Dr. Selvamurthy continues to champion responsible, inclusive technology that uplifts society and empowers the youth.
He is a recipient of multiple national honours including the Padma Shri, and a guiding force behind India’s tech-driven academic renaissance.
