AI & Society – The Beginning of a New Human Era | Rajul Shah

// An expert talk organised by the Faculty of Information, Communication & Technology, Gujarat Vidyapith //

On the birth anniversary of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the visionary father of India’s space program, a thought-provoking session titled “AI & Society – The Beginning of a New Human Era” was held at Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad. The talk, delivered by Rajul Shah — CEO of a Papua New Guinea–based technology company and Google Women Techmakers Ambassador — brought together students and faculty to explore the rapidly changing relationship between humans and artificial intelligence.

Rajul began with a powerful hook: imagination has always been humanity’s superpower. From Jules Verne’s submarines to Star Trek’s video calls and today’s futuristic shows like Upload, what we imagine, we eventually create. But now, for the first time in history, there is another “being” that can also learn, create, and innovate — Artificial Intelligence.

The presentation moved into a comparison of human and AI capabilities. Both can learn, adapt, solve problems, and create. However, AI can do certain tasks faster, at scale, and without fatigue, while humans bring emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, and lived experience to the table. This overlap, Rajul argued, makes understanding our similarities and differences critical in shaping a future where humans and AI can work in “Sahjivan” — peaceful co-existence — just as humanity has adapted alongside other species for millennia.

One of the most relatable sections addressed the “Anxiety Around AI.” Rajul explained that our unease is not just about the change itself, but about the unprecedented speed at which it’s happening. In previous industrial revolutions, societies had decades to adapt; today, multiple disruptive changes — new technologies, skill demands, societal shifts — are arriving all at once. The message was clear: we must evolve faster than ever before, drop the dilemma of “adopt or not,” and embrace change as the only option history has ever given us.

The heart of the talk explored how AI is reshaping life across key sectors:

Healthcare: AI-powered diagnostics, genomics-driven precision medicine, and mental health support tools are making care more personalized and accessible.

Agriculture: Drones, AI pest detection, and climate-smart farming are transforming how we grow food while reducing waste and environmental impact.

Media & Communication: From AI-generated content to immersive AR/VR storytelling, the industry is shifting from manual production to AI-assisted creativity.

Education: The AI-era student will focus on concepts, adaptability, and global collaboration rather than rote memorization.

Rajul also presented practical skill-mapping for these sectors, highlighting “What Will Fade” and “What Will Be in Demand” over the next decade. For example, in IT, repetitive coding and manual QA will decline, while AI integration and governance roles will grow. In agriculture, manual field scouting will reduce, while drone operation and rural AI advisory services will expand.

A recurring theme was opportunity. While AI will certainly automate many repetitive tasks, it will also open new career paths that never existed before — for those willing to upskill, adapt, and collaborate with AI rather than compete against it.

The session closed on a hopeful note, returning to the title: “AI & Society – The Beginning of a New Human Era.” Rajul urged the audience to see AI not as a threat, but as a partner in solving humanity’s most pressing problems — from healthcare access to climate change. In the spirit of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai’s vision, technology must be harnessed not just for progress, but for the betterment of society.

The event left students and faculty inspired, not fearful — with a clear message that in this new era, relevance will come from continuous learning, ethical leadership, and the courage to innovate alongside machines.

(Content-Courtesy: Rajul Shah, CEO of a Papua New Guinea–based technology company and Google Women Techmakers Ambassador)

(Programme-Courtesy: Prof. Ajay Parikh, Dean, Faculty of Information, Communication & Technology, Gujarat Vidyapith)

August 12, 2025, 4:15 PM to 5:30 PM

Diamond Jubilee Hall, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad: 380009