Chicago, August 9, 2024 – The MA Center Chicago’s newly launched Amrita Institute of Advanced Research (AIAR) marked its inauguration with a symposium on “Emerging Technologies for Social Good,” setting a collaborative tone for the future of AI and other transformative technologies.

The event commenced with an auspicious lamp lighting ceremony led by Dr. Bhavani Rao R., Dean of the Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, who also serves as Director of AMMACHI Labs and the Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality (CWEGE). Dr. Rao’s presence highlighted the institute’s commitment to ethical and inclusive technology development.

The symposium was officially opened with a welcome address by Dr. Bharat Jayaraman, President of AIAR, who provided an overview of the event’s significance and the vision behind the institute.

The symposium featured a roster of distinguished speakers, including:

• Dr. Venu Govindaraju, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), USA.
• Ramesh Subrahmanyam, CTO & Co-Founder of a Stealth Startup.
• Dr. Smitha Haridasan, Research Fellow at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
• Dr. Veena A. Nair, Scientist III, Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
• Dr. Prema Nedungadi, Associate Dean, School of Computing, Amritapuri, and Director of AmritaCREATE.
• Mr. Gilad Gressel, Deep Learning Research Director at TexNano and Research Associate at the Amrita Center for Cybersecurity Systems and Networks.

Throughout the symposium, speakers engaged in discussions on critical topics such as AI and Emerging Technologies in Social Transformation, Ethical and Inclusive Technology Development, Technological Innovations in Healthcare, and Advancing Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, and Mental Health.

The event concluded with a forward-looking discussion on AIAR Chicago’s strategic roadmap and upcoming initiatives, underscoring the institute’s call for collaborative partnerships and active community engagement.

AIAR Chicago is poised to become a leader in research and innovation aimed at societal benefit. With a mission to harness the power of artificial intelligence, data science, and emerging technologies, the institute is dedicated to addressing global challenges, improving societal well-being, and fostering a digital future that is both inclusive and equitable. The institute’s work will particularly focus on delivering solutions that offer immediate benefits to the disadvantaged and less fortunate.