AI must serve people, not replace human intelligence: IAS officer Sonal Goel at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Dhanbad, October 9: IAS officer Sonal Goel told students at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on Friday that artificial intelligence…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Dhanbad, October 9: IAS officer Sonal Goel told students at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on Friday that artificial intelligence must solve human problems and improve lives rather than replace human intelligence, urging them to combine technological innovation with empathy, resilience and a strong sense of purpose.
Goel, a 2008-batch Tripura cadre IAS officer, was addressing students on the opening day of Concetto’26, the institute’s annual techno-management festival, at Penman Auditorium. Her guest lecture, titled “Ideas that Inspire, Insights that Empower”, focused on leadership, responsible technology use, personal growth and the role of innovation in addressing societal challenges.
“Use AI, but use it to your benefit and use it for your innovation. Use AI to humanise solutions,” she said, encouraging students to ensure that technological advancement translates into meaningful benefits for society.
Five Cs for Personal and Professional Growth
Drawing on her administrative experience, Goel explained how collaboration and persuasion could help overcome resource constraints and improve access to public facilities in remote tribal areas.
She urged students to adopt the five Cs—courage, conviction, consistency, compassion and collaboration—as guiding principles in their personal and professional lives.
Emphasising the importance of working collectively toward shared goals, she highlighted how effective leadership and innovative thinking can help address complex challenges, particularly in areas with limited resources and infrastructure.
Mountaineering Lessons on Resilience and Pushing Boundaries
Goel drew parallels between professional challenges and mountaineering, referring to her ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro and trek to Everest Base Camp.
She encouraged students to step beyond their comfort zones, test their limits and develop the resilience needed to navigate uncertainty and setbacks.
Her address also covered gender equality, responsible social media use and mental well-being. An interactive question-and-answer session followed, allowing students to engage with the speaker on issues related to leadership, careers and personal development.
Concetto’26 Opens with More Than 100 Events
Meanwhile, Concetto’26 began with a diverse programme of technical competitions, sustainability challenges and creative activities. More than 300 registrations had been recorded for the festival, which has over 100 events planned under the theme “Centauri Synapse: Forged Over a Century”.
Aeroglide was among the attractions on the opening day, challenging teams to build unpowered gliders and test their aerodynamic performance.
Other competitions, including Code the Cosmos, VibeHack WebD, DevDash’26, Mathalon 4.0 and AlgoSort, tested participants’ abilities in coding, cybersecurity, mathematics and logical reasoning.
Sustainability and Engineering Take Centre Stage
AETHERA 2026, organised by the Society of Environmental Science and Engineering in collaboration with WWF, focused on developing practical strategies to address environmental challenges associated with industry.
Archway Arena’26 tested participants’ structural engineering skills through bridge-building tasks, while Crack the Crude focused on petroleum-related knowledge and reservoir modelling.
The range of competitions reflected the festival’s emphasis on applying technical knowledge to practical problems while encouraging innovation, teamwork and creative thinking.
Music, Comedy and Creative Activities Add to Festivities
Beyond technical competitions, the festival featured clay modelling, blockchain puzzles and gaming contests, offering participants opportunities to explore creative and recreational activities.
A music and comedy night at Gymkhana Ground brought the opening day’s programme to a close.
The centenary edition of Concetto’26 seeks to bring together technical learning, innovation, problem-solving and creative expression, providing students with a platform to showcase their abilities and engage with emerging technological and societal challenges.
