Latest news with #Sangam2025
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
AI can handle the 'how', OpenAI VP tells engineers to focus on 'what' & 'why': Here's what every developer should know
Synopsis At Sangam 2025, OpenAI and Microsoft leaders emphasized the evolving role of software engineers, urging them to prioritize problem definition and AI integration. They highlighted AI's transformative impact on product design, healthcare, and research, while also addressing the associated risks and the need for broader accessibility.
Mint
07-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Who is Srinivas Narayanan? The tech leader who says AI will turn coders into CEOs
Artificial Intelligence is progressing at a pace that has left many industries struggling to keep up, and the world of software engineering is no exception. At the heart of this transformation is Srinivas Narayanan, Vice President of Engineering at OpenAI, who believes AI will soon reshape the role of software developers, urging them to adopt the mindset of business leaders rather than traditional coders, reported Moneycontrol. Narayanan, who has been instrumental in building some of OpenAI's most advanced tools, including Codex, a cloud-based agent capable of autonomously executing complex programming tasks, said at the Sangam 2025, the innovation summit hosted by the IIT Madras Alumini Association, that the future of engineering is about more than just lines of code. 'It's about thinking like a boss,' he notes, pointing to a future where the responsibility of engineers shifts from detailed execution to strategic vision. 'AI systems are moving far beyond simply answering questions,' Narayanan explained. As machines begin to take over the technical minutiae, human engineers will be expected to define the direction, focusing on the 'what' and the 'why' of projects, leaving the 'how' increasingly in the hands of intelligent systems. He emphasised that this transition is not just about automation, but empowerment. 'Just the ability to think bigger is going to be incredibly empowering for people,' he said, adding that those who succeed in the evolving landscape will be those who embrace a broader perspective, the kind once reserved for founders and CEOs. Narayanan's vision underscores how AI is poised to amplify the impact of smaller teams. 'An organisation should be able to do a lot more with the people that we have,' he said, suggesting that AI can elevate both individuals and businesses by multiplying their effectiveness. Beyond engineering, Narayanan highlighted how AI is driving breakthroughs in research, from solving complex scientific questions to assisting in critical medical diagnoses. He cited the use of AI in identifying rare genetic disorders as a powerful example of how technology can deliver life-changing results with speed and accuracy.
India Today
07-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Chennai startup wins Rs 3 lakh for safety tech in old buildings at IIT Madras event
A startup developing fibre-optic sensors to monitor ageing infrastructure has bagged the top prize of 3 lakh at Sangam 2025, the annual global innovation and alumni summit hosted by IIT Madras and its alumni Sensing emerged as the winner at the startup pitchfest, held on July 4 in Bengaluru, where 20 deep tech and AI startups pitched their ideas to a gathering of over 250 investors and venture firm's product uses fibre-optic sensing systems for real-time monitoring of critical infrastructure, offering a scalable solution to detect structural gaps in bridges, buildings, and industrial facilities. The technology is poised to transform infrastructure safety, particularly in ageing urban environments.Q-AXIS MOTORS AND ZENTOR MEDTECH WINNERS TOO The second prize went to Q-axis Motors, a startup that has developed India's first sub-100rad precision gimbals, designed for use in defence, drone, and surveillance systems. Their high-precision motion control devices offer vital improvements in stability and targeting for unmanned systems and aerial third place was Zentor Medtech, which has created the world's first patented solid-state laser technology for eye surgery. The innovation promises to enhance the precision and safety of ophthalmic procedures, offering an alternative to conventional laser equipment with solid-state AI, INNOVATION, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIPHeld on July 4 and 5 in Bengaluru, Sangam 2025 brought together over 500 participants, including entrepreneurs, faculty, alumni, and investors. The theme revolved around Artificial Intelligence, innovation, and entrepreneurship, reinforcing IIT Madras's position as a national leader in deep tech research and commercialisation. (L_R) Prof Ashwin Mahalingam, Prof V Kamakoti, Shri Piyush Goyal, Shyamala Rajaram at Sangam 2025 Event in Bangalore on 5th July 2025 Speaking at the event, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said: 'I have seen the passion, the enthusiasm, the bright ideas and the willingness to explore the unknown, the spirit of inquiry that all of you have demonstrated, it truly makes all of us proud of your work so much that now, having committed the entire first tranche of 'Fund of Funds' of Rs. 10,000 Crore in the last budget, now another Rs. 10,000 Crore has now been provided as Tranche 2.'He further shared that the Cabinet has approved a $12 billion (Rs 1 lakh crore) interest-free loan to the Department of Science and Technology, aimed at supporting new technologies through flexible funding models that can be reinvested as innovations MADRAS PUSHES FOR 'VIKSIT BHARAT 2047'advertisementSpeaking earlier, Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, 'IIT Madras is committed to playing a pivotal role in shaping 'Viksit Bharat 2047'. At the forefront of its agenda are innovation and entrepreneurship, which are key drivers for National progress. The upcoming 'Sangam 2025' event embodies this vision, with a series of thoughtfully curated events designed to empower India to emerge as a nation of entrepreneurs and a global leader in product innovation.'The event was also addressed by other eminent personalities, including Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman of Axilor Ventures & Co-founder of Infosys, Dr S Somanath, Vikram Sarabhai Professor and Former Chairman of ISRO -- both distinguished alumni of IIT Madras -- and Shri Tejasvi Surya, Hon'ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Bengaluru event also featured high-profile sessions with Aparna Chennapragada (Microsoft), Srinivas Narayanan (OpenAI), Tarun Mehta (Ather Energy), Kris Gopalakrishnan (Infosys), and Dr S Somanath (former ISRO Chairman) -- all IIT Madras STARTUPS TO GLOBAL IMPACTThe Pitchfest showcased innovations across AI, health, biotech, quantum computing, logistics, and climate tech. All selected startups will now receive support from the IIT Madras Innovation Ecosystem, which has already nurtured over 500 startups in the last Shyamala Rajaram, President of the IIT Madras Alumni Association, said: 'Sangam 2025 is the powerful confluence of IIT Madras and its global alumni -- sparking bold conversations on innovation and entrepreneurship.'With initiatives like these, IIT Madras continues to strengthen its role as a global hub for technology-driven transformation and economic progress.- Ends
India Today
06-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
From Coders to CEOs: OpenAI's Srinivas Narayanan on how AI is redefining engineering
Artificial intelligence has climbed up the ladder so fast that it is difficult to grasp where we truly are right now. While the 'pros and cons of AI' debate has not landed anywhere, OpenAI's Vice President highlights how AI is redefining engineering. Srinivas Narayanan, Vice President of Engineering at OpenAI, noted that the future of software engineering is no longer just about writing codes, it's about thinking like a the crowd at Sangam 2025, the flagship innovation summit hosted by the IIT Madras Alumni Association, he laid out his vision for the evolving role of engineers in an AI-driven world. 'For every software engineer, the job is going to shift from being an engineer to being a CEO. You now have the tools to do so much more, so I think that means you should aspire bigger,' he need to think like CEOGone are the days when engineers needed to worry about every technical detail. With the rise of advanced AI tools, engineers are being freed from the weeds of execution. Narayanan described these systems as more than assistants, they're now taking on significant chunks of the building process, allowing humans to focus on leadership, strategy and purpose. He explained, 'AI systems are moving far beyond simply answering questions.' As machines increasingly handle the 'how,' engineers will need to define the 'what' and the 'why', the kind of big-picture thinking that's long been the realm of company founders and C-suite leaders.'Of course, software is interesting and exciting,' he added, 'but just the ability to think bigger is going to be incredibly empowering for people, and the people who succeed (in the future) are the ones who are going to be able to think bigger.'Narayanan, who has led the development of some of OpenAI's most advanced systems, including Codex, a cloud-based engineering agent capable of completing complex programming tasks autonomously, argued that AI enables smaller teams to achieve outsized impact.'An organisation should be able to do things a lot more with the people that we have. I hope that this just elevates the potential for all of us as individuals and organisations to accomplish more than what we have,' he revolution in researchHis message wasn't limited to the world of software. Narayanan also highlighted how AI is revolutionising research, sharing examples of models that can reason through difficult scientific problems and even assist in medical discoveries. One compelling example involved AI helping to diagnose rare genetic disorders, an area where speed and accuracy can be the transformative power of these tools, Narayanan acknowledged the need for careful development. He spoke about OpenAI's approach to safety, noting the importance of guardrails in preventing misuse and reducing misinformation. 'We don't get everything perfect on the first try, but we learn and iterate rapidly,' he added.- Ends
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India commits second tranche of Rs 10,000 crore to support deep tech: Piyush Goyal
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has announced a second tranche of Rs 10,000 crore to promote innovation and strengthen the deep tech ecosystem 'We are formulating guidelines to ensure that this money is directed towards promoting innovation, facilitating the absorption of newer technologies, and supporting the development of contemporary technologies,' Goyal said at the sixth edition of IIT Madras and IITM Alumni Association's Sangam 2025 event in current fund, part of the flagship Fund of Funds (FoF) , was first announced by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the Union Budget for 2025-26. The scheme was originally launched in 2016 with an initial corpus of Rs 10,000 crore.'The aspirations and dreams of a young country with one of the youngest populations globally are driving R&D, technology, and our startup ecosystem,' he is the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, after the US and China, according to the Economic Survey 2021-22. Goyal also noted that India has moved from being the world's 11th largest economy in 2014 to the fifth-largest today and is expected to become the third-largest by 2027.'New technologies will define India's growth story in the coming years. I am confident that the 60,000-strong IIT Madras alumni network will play a key role in supporting the country's technological advancement,' he added.
