BITSoM establishes new AI ‘BRAIN’ lab

BITS School of Management (BITSoM) has inaugurated the new BITSoM Research in AI and Innovation (BRAIN) Lab under the aegis of BITS Pilani. This initiative is designed to create leaders for workplaces influenced by artificial intelligence (AI).

BITSoM’s BRAIN lab operational framework is structured around three pillars, including teaching, research, and outreach.

The lab will conduct industry-focused research aiming to create a repository of use-cases, develop curriculum-relevant courses for students, facilitate AI project and product development contests, and much more.

“The new lab intends to engage directly with various sectors through industry projects, to develop a repository of use-cases that will be made freely available to academic institutions, researchers, and businesses,” the official BITSoM statement said.

The sectors that are identified for research and application are manufacturing, healthcare, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), and the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) industry.

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BITSoM: New AI lab centre

The BITSoM inauguration ceremony started with a welcome address by Saravanan Kesavan the dean of BITSoM, followed by the keynote address from chief guest Viswanath Ramaswamy, the vice president, technology at IBM India and South Asia. The adjunct faculty of BITSoM, Srinivas Pingali, introduced the BRAIN Lab before its official inauguration.

According to the official BITSoM statement, the event also included product demonstrations and a panel discussion titled "AI as a Strategic Differentiator: From Business Schools to Business Impact." Additionally, the discussions were centred on how business schools can prepare students for AI-driven careers and strategies for translating academic AI knowledge to impact industries.

“The BITSoM BRAIN Lab is also slated to host annual conferences, support practitioner-oriented research initiatives, and offer specialised corporate programs and continuing education courses to further its mission,” the official BITSoM statement adds.

While commenting on the launch of new centre, Saravanan Kesavan the dean and professor of operations of BITSoM said: “The launch of this AI Centre - BRAIN Lab reflects our commitment to shape the future of business education and practices in a world where AI is everywhere. Our vision for the BRAIN Lab is to harness AI’s potential through impactful research that matters to the industry, teaching that equips our students for the jobs of tomorrow, and outreach, ensuring AI benefits society at large and not just shareholders. As business educators, we want to prepare leaders who ask hard questions: should you build this AI, who will benefit, and who will be left behind. BRAIN Lab will not shy away from these questions.”