Quantum technology, not AI, to be most disruptive tech: SAC director

Desai stated that “only 25 per cent of ISRO’s activities are related to Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan or Gaganyaan, 70 per cent or 75 per cent of our work is in the areas of satellite communication, navigation, earth observation, planetary and space science to fulfill the vision given by Dr Vikram Sarabhai”.

Speaking about another major disruptive technology, he said, “Second technology is already being tested in the US which is the smart phones. With no connectivity in certain areas, smartphones will automatically get converted into satellite phones. Whenever there is no connectivity through the terrestrial network, it will be a seamless transfer to a satellite phone.”

Apart from various activities related to payload development and sensor of satellites, the SAC works on various futuristic and disruptive technologies, including space-based quantum communication, quantum radars, space based solar power and terahertz, he said.

Namrata Somani, regional head (Gujarat), Tata Consultancy Services Limited, said that depending upon the quality of prompt, AI will dish out something. “AI can provide you with tools, data and efficiency. It is not your competitor, use it to make it efficient. You all are responsible to ensure that you leverage it to innovate, to create, and not make you dumb. As a tech industry professional, there’s only one thing that happens. You have to be a lifelong learner. And it’s not learn and learn, relearn. It is learn, learn and learn. We talk about what AI can do, there is one thing AI cannot do, very clearly, is empathy, ethical judgment, inspiration, so build those skills. That is what will be needed for the future leaders,” Somani said.

On the occasion, 302 students were awarded degrees – 291 B.Tech, 9 M.Tech, and 2 B.Sc. On the eve of the convocation, the Institute formally launched its Kulgeet (university song), penned by Chirag Jain.