AI can act, humans must decide

At the 2025 Convocation Ceremony of Rishihood University, national leaders and innovators called on India’s next generation to balance technological capability with ethical responsibility. The event highlighted a defining moment for Indian higher education, blending timeless values with the demands of the AI era.

The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Chancellor of Rishihood University and former Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation; Prof. Shobhit Mathur, Vice-Chancellor; and Mr. Manish Maheshwari, General Partner at BAT VC and former Head of Twitter India, who delivered the keynote address as Chief Guest.

Sixty-two graduates across diverse programs including BBA, MBA, B.Des, M.Des, BA (Education), BA (Psychology), and B.Sc (Public Health) received degrees, reflecting Rishihood’s multidisciplinary and impact-oriented approach.

Opening the event, Prof. Mathur emphasized the university’s mission to cultivate leaders driven by curiosity, purpose, and compassion. “Our guiding values Jigyasa (Curiosity), Chikirsha (Action), and Ananda (Joy) -prepare students not just to earn, but to create; not just to succeed, but to serve,” he said, highlighting Rishihood’s focus on Entrepreneurship, Data Science, AI, and Design Thinking.

Chancellor Suresh Prabhu addressed graduates on transitioning from institutional safety to real-world challenges. “The world outside will test you but that is also where your character will shine. Rishihood has prepared you to not just adapt, but to shape the future with optimism and resilience,” he said.

Keynote speaker Manish Maheshwari spoke about authentic leadership in an AI-driven world. “Machines can think, create, and even speak like us but only humans can decide what should be done. Authenticity and empathy will be the true markers of intelligence,” he said, urging graduates to follow the “4 M’s Meaning, Mastery, Mindfulness, and Magnanimity.”

Rishihood University, India’s first “Impact University,” integrates ancient wisdom with modern innovation to produce graduates who are socially conscious and technically skilled. The convocation concluded with the conferment of degrees, a cultural performance, and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.