Dear Friends,
Over the last two days, I had the opportunity to contribute to the Fusion AI Summit 2025 in two unique capacities:
And as a panel speaker, I joined the discussion on “Building the AI Skilling Ecosystem: Preparing for the Future Workforce.”
My favourite reflection from the stage:
“We don’t need AI that thinks like us—we need AI that understands who we serve.”
Among the many thought-provoking conversations, one unexpected story truly stood out for its depth, humanity, and vision—the way AI is being deployed at Vantara, the 3,000-acre animal rescue and conservation project by Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
Led by Anant Mukesh Ambani, Vantara is one of the world’s largest and most advanced animal care centers—a sanctuary, hospital, and habitat all in one.
What amazed me was how AI is being used to:
• Track animal health metrics in real time using wearables and computer vision
• Monitor behavioral patterns across rescued species
• Predict disease outbreaks using environmental and biometric signals
It’s a perfect example of AI not replacing humans—but augmenting compassion with precision where veterinarians meet data scientists. Where sensors translate into empathy.
At a time when AI is largely discussed in the context of profits, platforms, and productivity, Vantara reminds us that AI can also serve life itself.
One of the most touching stories came from Dr. Madan Dabbeeru (PhD in Cognitive Robotics), who is part of the Vantara effort.
He shared how, through cognitive systems and observational AI, the team discovered how elephants “talk” to each other—from a mother elephant “checking in” with the father about their calf, to entire herds sharing stress signals across long distances.
Even more moving was the story of bears exhibiting suicidal behavior—triggered by digestive pain from being unable to defecate. The solution? Biologists designed a calming behavioural therapy using bananas placed in 8-shaped circles, gradually guiding the bears toward water, restoring both their physical and emotional balance.
These stories reminded me that AI isn’t just about automation—it’s about deeper observation. About translating the language of life.
Maybe it’s time we develop similar AI-powered systems for humans—ones that detect stress, anxiety, or cognitive overload not just through wearables, but through subtle cues in speech, silence, posture, or interaction patterns.
As of 2019, more than 970 million people—1 in 8 globally—were living with a mental health disorder. That number is likely rising as technology accelerates our pace, but not always our peace.
We don’t just need smarter machines—we need more emotionally intelligent systems. Ones that nudge us to pause, breathe, and heal. Because sometimes, the most humane thing AI can do…is remind us to be human.
Ravi Saripalle
No comments:
Post a Comment