I continue to be amazed by how, in recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has touched nearly every aspect of our lives. It seems AI has permeated all sectors—yet a deep understanding of it often remains confined to those with backgrounds in engineering or computer science. Why should knowledge of AI be restricted to these domains when its applications span virtually every field?
This question came to the mind of a great visionary Dr. S. B. Mujumdar—my father and the Founder and Chancellor of Symbiosis International University—he asked me this question and honestly, I didn’t have an answer because I too believed that AI is limited to be taught only in disciplines of engineering and computer science. In this spirit, we believe AI should not be taught in isolation. Rather, it must be integrated with other vital and in-demand disciplines.
Though considered a modern innovation, AI has its roots nearly a century ago. From the groundbreaking ideas of British logician Alan Turing in the 1930s to the technological strides of the 21st century, AI has evolved significantly. It now enables digital systems and computer-controlled robots to carry out tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence—such as reasoning, learning, generalization, and discovering meaning. The field has been shaped by pioneers like Turing, John McCarthy (who coined the term Artificial Intelligence), Marvin Minsky (with contributions to neural networks and knowledge representation), and Claude Shannon (the father of Information Theory). Their foundational work has led us to the AI-driven world we see today—one that touches every discipline.
To ensure AI can be effectively applied across fields, it must be accessible to a broader audience. With this vision, we have established the Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute. (SAII- साई). This institute will launch two undergraduate programs. The first is BSc in Artificial Intelligence BSc -AI with specializations in Health Sciences, Sports Sciences, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Agriculture. The second one is Bachelor of Business Management BBA- AI focusing on the integration of AI into Financial Technologies, Marketing Technologies, Global Supply Chain Technologies, HR Technologies, and the Media & Creative Industries.
We believe that broader AI literacy will lead to more ethical and impactful applications. As Dr. S. B. Mujumdar often reminds us, true education empowers individuals to use their knowledge for the greater good. I am confident that our students at Symbiosis, equipped with both technical understanding and human-centered values, will harness the power of AI to benefit society.