AI vs Human Connections

On behalf of the Alumni community, I take great pride in welcoming you to an institution that has stood the test of time, crafted successful careers, businesses and some great friendships. I am from the first batch of MCA and IMT gave me three friends for a lifetime. Together we four started a business and are still running it successfully after 32 years in Australia, US, Singapore and India in the IT space. I have witnessed the many changes in the business scenario over the past 3 decades but what we are about to witness with AI is bigger than imagination.

As you graduate 2 years from now, the next generation of AI would already be there at your work space and you will be a generation that will need to build your skills vigorously to accommodate this. AI is playing a pivotal role in empowering businesses to accelerate their path to profitability and operate with a different structure. As you graduate two years from now, Al will take birth in many forms, in different avatars or even formless in many of applications. However, it will be interesting to see how humans interact and humanize some of them.

Herbert F. Johnson, Sr once quoted “The goodwill of people is the only enduring thing in any business. It is the sole substance. The rest is shadow” Taking this into account, the human interface will have even more prominence in the years to come.

We all know what alumni operations are supposed to do, else take or as a refresher - use ChatGPT. ?On the other hand alumni operations are driven by emotions. We witnessed this during the Covid times – alumni from around the world united. Alumni sitting at Delhi was trying his best to arrange for a bed for another alumni in Rudrapur, possibly the two had never met face to face – an alumni from Dubai was trying to give validated information about oxygen cylinders, hospitals – an alumni from Canada who had just lost one of the closest family relation was stepping up to arrange for beds, oxygen cylinders, many more. This was the time the 130 odd WhatsApp groups created and managed by IMT Alumni Association saw the busiest traffic. IMT Alumni Association also arranged for video calls with Doctors, one of our senior alumni provided support in mental wellness by launching “Listening Hearts”, Covid helpline was set up. We went a step ahead – we called many alumni in the insurance sector and got quotes, evaluated it by a team lead by Mr. Vikram Shah (Vice President Alumni Association) and launched it for the alumni at the best possible market rates. We were the first Alumni Association in the country to launch a Group Health Insurance at that time and around 800 alumni benefitted from it. The pandemic times were a phase of depression but in a way it also gave us evidence of the strength of alumni network when we stand for each other. ????

Now all this can be done by AI. And coming back to the present times - I even fancy that soon a chat box or AI would do a welcome note to the young managers. It would be so cool!! It will make a great insta reel. But would it make you or me know each other. ?Connections happen when you invest time and effort to help someone without expecting a return. IMT will give you the opportunity to make that one friend for life who will always be there for you, even if you call him at 12.00 at night.

A lot of alumni initiatives have happened when many alumni consistently build a process, a trust and goodwill in a community for the last 20 years. Look at it from a different perspective, imagine if the 130 odd WhatsApp groups created by Alumni Association was never there, or if the alumni website was never there – would we have the reach to 15000+ alumni at a time of crisis. That has been the role that IMT Alumni Association has been playing to develop and nurture the alumni community. And I am glad to say we have a great alumni community who stand for each other in every possible way – may it be medical assistance, job hunt, relocation assistance when you move geographies, property advice, children’s education advice… the list becomes endless.

Now you need to make a choice – will you allow AI to reach out to alumni and introduce you OR would you proactively engage in the network to reach out to them through the alumni website / mobile app - leverage their experience. Always remember, the best way to leverage a network is to be a part of building the network. Every alumni has a story to tell that is close to his/ her heart. So go ahead and make some “real connections, real friends for life”

Wishing you success, great self - discovery and transformation as you become an IMTian for Life.

? Tarun Agarwal

#IMTAlumniAssociation?#imtalumni?#IMTGhaziabad?#IMTNagpur?#IMTHyderabad?#IMTDubai?#IMTian4life