From Buzz Words To Big Questions

Written by : Iniya J 

Edited by : Dhriti Jha

Graphic Design by: Sonika Krishnan

The Indo-Korea International Conference 2025 – “Navigating Towards a Sustainable Future : Artificial Intelligence and Society” –- explored themes such as ethical considerations in AI development, regulatory frameworks, responsible deployment of AI , balancing innovation with social responsibility and emphasis on cross-cultural collaboration, among many others. I’ll admit, that’s a lot to pack into two days and even more to unpack. AI, society, and sustainability? At first it  felt like someone had taken every trending buzzword from the internet and turned it into an event. I was curious but unsure of what to expect. Would it just be a reiteration of popular discussions from social media,  peppered with technical jargon?

As a student from a humanities background in combination with computer science, I often find myself caught between fascination and skepticism over Artificial Intelligence. It doesn't help that the media is saturated with headlines either portraying AI as an infallible and revolutionary tool or as the cause of our impending doom.

But the conference offered a  different narrative. It moved beyond the binaries of utopia and dystopia that often dominate popular discourse on AI. Over the two days (July 21-22) the conference offered a space for nuance , collaboration and grounded optimism for discussions on AI , ethics and everything in between. “Governments must now act not only as regulators but also as facilitators and enablers of ethical AI ecosystems – ensuring inclusion, equity, and readiness for the changing job landscape”, this remark from Mr. Chang-Nyun Kim, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea set the tone for what was to come and framed much of the sessions that followed. 

What stood out was the recurring emphasis on interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration for AI innovation and policy making.The concern over bias in algorithms wasn’t brushed aside—it was acknowledged as a central challenge. It was refreshing to hear experts discuss frameworks and responsible deployment of AI not just as afterthoughts but as necessary starting points.

Even the more technical deliberations on Large Language Models (LLMs), autonomous systems , and immersive learning were grounded in real world concerns.These sessions emphasized accessibility and equity, highlighting just how much groundwork is needed to ensure AI doesn’t only benefit the privileged few. 

The plenary speakers brought both insight and human sensitivity to the table , they weren’t selling techno-solutionism or fear-mongering, instead they spoke on balance between innovation and regulation, speed and efficiency, and ambition and responsibility. 

One message that resonated throughout the sessions of the conference was that AI is here to stay and it is going to impact our society in profound ways regardless of our choice to acknowledge it or not . But by engaging with it ethically and collaboratively we can influence how these technologies evolve. Uncritically denouncing the role of AI at this stage will do us more harm than good. You don't need to write code to be part of the AI conversation; what’s essential is the ability to think critically  and ask the bigger questions.

I walked away from the conference not only better informed but also more hopeful. With all the noise surrounding AI, I now know where to look, and more importantly, how to think.