The session was led by Ms Kanchan Taksale, an Artificial Intelligence educator who transitioned into full-time teaching after several years of corporate experience. Drawing on her dual exposure to industry and academia, Ms Taksale provided a grounded and practical overview of how artificial intelligence is reshaping contemporary workplaces.

 

In her address, she explained how AI-driven tools are transforming professional environments by saving time, reducing errors, strengthening decision-making, and significantly improving productivity. She underlined that organisations today increasingly expect employees to actively use AI as a productivity enabler rather than treat it as an optional add-on.

 

Ms Taksale highlighted the wide-ranging application of AI across organisational functions. In Human Resources, AI is used for resume screening, interview analysis, and attrition prediction. In Finance, it supports fraud detection, expense forecasting, and automated audits. Marketing teams rely on AI for content creation and targeted advertising, while IT and Engineering functions use it for coding assistance, bug prediction, and intelligent testing. Through relatable examples, she demonstrated how AI is already embedded in everyday professional workflows.

 

Addressing common anxieties, Ms Taksale acknowledged fears that AI may replace jobs. She clarified that AI replaces tasks—not people—while uniquely human capabilities such as creativity, ethical judgement, emotional intelligence, and communication remain irreplaceable. She also cautioned students about ethical challenges, including bias, privacy concerns, plagiarism, and over-dependence on technology. Drawing parallels with the early scepticism surrounding computers, the internet, and smartphones, she noted that adaptation eventually made these technologies indispensable.

 

Adding a strong practical dimension, Ms Taksale introduced a curated set of AI tools widely used in workplaces today, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Canva, Gamma, Napkin, Julius, and Krutrim. Live demonstrations showed how these platforms can enhance efficiency, creativity, and quality of output.

 

“A degree may help you secure an interview, but an AI mindset is what will build and sustain your career in the long run,” she remarked.