The School of the Future (SOF), Techno India University, hosted an inspiring and knowledge-rich session titled “From Imagination to Intelligence: How AI Was Born”, offering students a compelling look into the origins, evolution, and future of Artificial Intelligence.
The session was led by Dr. Sanmitra Sarkar, Senior Director & Global Head – Generative & Agentic AI at Capgemini, a globally acclaimed Master Inventor, educator, and public speaker. Known for his ability to bridge complex technological ideas with real-world relevance, Dr. Sarkar drew upon decades of industry experience to demonstrate how AI has evolved from a theoretical concept into a transformative force across sectors such as healthcare, finance, education, and digital platforms.
Moving beyond historical context, the session focused on how AI systems learn, reason, and make decisions in real-world environments. Through engaging discussions, practical industry examples, and thought-provoking questions, students were encouraged to critically examine innovation, ethical responsibility, and the broader societal impact of intelligent technologies.
Participants found the session deeply engaging and insightful, gaining firsthand exposure to industry perspectives while strengthening their conceptual understanding of Artificial Intelligence. The discussion also shed light on emerging career pathways, evolving skill requirements, and the importance of adaptable thinking in an increasingly AI-driven world.
The origins of AI trace back to when the term “Artificial Intelligence” was first introduced in 1956 by John McCarthy at the historic Dartmouth Conference. Initially envisioned as machines capable of replicating human intelligence, this ambitious idea gradually became a reality through advances in logic, mathematics, data science, and computing power, eventually leading to modern machine learning, neural networks, and today’s Generative and Agentic AI systems.
This impactful learning experience strongly reflected SOF’s vision of experiential and interdisciplinary education, where academic learning is enriched through industry interaction and future-ready insights. Initiatives like these continue to empower SOF students to become informed thinkers, responsible innovators, and confident leaders ready to shape the future of intelligent technologies.