AI-led shift in business, research & education to be explored at three-day conference of IIM-I

Indore: Digital transformation, sustainability and global disruptions are among the key themes in focus as the Indian Institute of Management Indore's (IIM-I) flagship International Conference on Excellence in Research and Education (CERE) commenced on Friday, bringing together academicians, researchers and industry experts.CERE 2026 has drawn over 430 research submissions from 10 countries. The three-day conference centres on how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping business, research and education, with discussions focusing on data-driven decision-making, ethics, privacy and the evolving role of human–AI collaboration in organisations.In his inaugural address, IIM-I director Himanshu Rai said, "Research must go beyond processing information and focus on deeper understanding in an AI-driven world. While AI excels at processing information, it does not engage with truth. Scholars should reclaim research as a pursuit of deeper understanding and meaning. AI has everything to do with information, but nothing to do with truth."The conference will feature expert workshops, keynote sessions and panel discussions, addressing contemporary research and practice. Workshops will include sessions on introduction to response surface analysis, addressing economic and health inequity through AI and data analytics, among others.Conference chair Rajhans Mishra said the pace of technological change is forcing a rethink of conventional definitions of excellence. "The evolving landscape of AI raises critical questions around data valuation, ethics, privacy and ownership and how humans collaborate with intelligent systems," he said.Panel discussions will be held where industry and academia will deliberate on "AI as a tool or business model."The inaugural day featured a keynote address by Ben Waber of MIT Media Lab, who spoke on the changing role of data and AI in management, highlighting how data-driven systems are transforming organisational design and decision-making.Experts said the deliberations are particularly relevant as industries grapple with rapid technological disruptions, where AI is not only improving efficiency, but also redefining business models, workforce dynamics and value creation.The conference will feature paper presentations, panel discussions and workshops over the next few days, aimed at bridging the gap between academic research and real-world applications.