Aga Khan University recently hosted “AI in Action – From Insights to Impact,” a conference that brought together experts from healthcare, technology, and industry to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming work and human experiences. Organized by AKU’s HR and ICT divisions on November 6, the event focused on understanding AI’s role in reshaping decision-making, healthcare, and ethical practices while highlighting the essential contribution of human judgment. Navroz Surani, Vice President of HR at AKU, opened the conference, emphasizing that professionals worldwide are seeking guidance on adapting their skills to thrive in an AI-enabled future, particularly in workplaces increasingly influenced by automation and data-driven processes.
Keynote speaker Faisal Anwar, Chief Digital Officer at HBL, discussed AI’s growing influence across industries, illustrating how financial services are evolving with technology. He described a vision of the future bank as “a box with a computer in it,” emphasizing the balance between efficiency and high service standards while reducing physical branch interactions. The keynote highlighted the importance of continuous learning, upskilling, and embracing AI tools to enhance productivity without replacing the critical role of human oversight and decision-making. AI provides insights and efficiency, but understanding, interpreting, and acting on those insights remains a uniquely human responsibility.
Shaukat Ali Khan, Advisor to the President for ICT at AKU and Executive CDIO at NHS West Yorkshire, joined journalist Sidra Iqbal for a fireside chat, sharing innovations underway at NHS, including predictive healthcare applications and AI-driven companions like the “Digital Mother” designed to support children when parents are away. Khan stressed that AI is reshaping healthcare, offering predictive models for conditions such as cancer based on DNA profiles. While AI can streamline workflows and reduce administrative burdens, human judgment is indispensable for validating results, making ethical decisions, and ensuring accountability, particularly in sensitive areas like patient care. Virtual hospitals and other AI-integrated systems also offer new avenues to deliver quality services to underserved populations in remote regions.
The conference included a panel moderated by Sidra Iqbal, featuring leaders from technology, education, and public service sectors including Nausheen Ashraf, Dr Imran Batada, Muhammad Fahd, Rabia Saleem Rao, and Tabasum Abid. Panel discussions focused on topics such as data sensitivity, mental health risks associated with AI, gender inclusivity, generational differences in AI adoption, and practical AI applications in organizations. The dialogue highlighted how AI, when used responsibly, can augment human capabilities rather than replace them, emphasizing critical thinking and ethical frameworks alongside technological innovation.
Closing remarks by Shagufta Hassan, Vice President Finance and CFO at AKU, reinforced the conference’s central message: technology offers tools and guidance, but individual agency and action remain paramount. She noted that while AI can recommend actions, humans are responsible for implementing them. AI in Action thus underscored that the future of work, healthcare, and innovation depends on the synergy between human insight and technological capabilities, encouraging professionals to embrace AI thoughtfully, develop new skills, and apply ethical judgment alongside advanced tools to create meaningful impact.
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