AI is a powerful tool but human thinking continues to be supreme: Dr Subhash Chandra

100 Years of Essel Group: Multi-faceted Indian business conglomerate Essel Group is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Thursday, May 21. The group was introduced in 1926 in a small town named Adampur and has grown into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise operating in more than 190 countries. Over the decades, the Group expanded across sectors including media and entertainment, infrastructure, packaging, education, technology, real estate and financial services.

On the occasion, Essel Group Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra addressed a special town hall and shared his views on artificial intelligence (AI). He described it as a transformative tool that can improve efficiency across sectors, but asserted that human thinking will continue to be supreme.

"AI is basically a tool," Dr Chandra said, adding that the technology has the potential to make education and other sectors more efficient, accessible and cost-effective. But "people should use AI as a slave rather than becoming its slave," he remarked.

Also Read: Next 100 Years of Essel Group: Conglomerate betting big on digital future, plans to keep attention economy in spotlight

Highlighting his personal experience with the technology, Dr Chandra said he also started using AI in his work and has found it improves productivity.

He said, "Sometimes I give a problem to AI and go to sleep and I find some solutions early morning. "AI is a tool which you should use, but that's not going to replace human beings. Human thinking will continue to be supreme," he added.

Referring to the growing global focus on artificial intelligence, Dr Chandra cited comments made by Sam Altman on AI's future potential. He said, Altman believes AI could eventually help solve major human challenges related to health, wealth and ageing.

Dr Chandra also pointed to the massive investments being made in the sector, saying the United States is allocating hundreds of billions of dollars towards AI development in 2026 alone, reflecting the technology's increasing importance worldwide.

At the same time, he stressed that AI should be viewed as an enabling tool rather than the ultimate end goal. Referring to what he described as a broader perspective on technology, Dr Chandra said AI must remain under human direction and control.

Also Read: Who is Essel Group Chairman Dr Chandra's role model?

100 Years of Essel Group: A to Z - Adampur to Zee

Started by Late Ram Gopal Ji, and expanded by his son Shri Jagannath Ji Goenka, supported by Shri Nand Kishore Ji and later, successfully spearheaded by the visionary Dr. Subhash Chandra and his brothers – Laxmi Narain, Jawahar and Ashok Goel, Essel Group is amongst the few Indian business conglomerates which is successfully passing on its rich legacy to the sixth generation, while the fourth and fifth generations are still active.

Since 1967, Essel Group has reinvented itself by achieving the paradigm shift from a traditional business to a global conglomerate with a Start-Up culture. The traditional commodity trading business of the Group was pivoted to Army supplies & cross border trade.

Subsequently, most of the Group's businesses have been of a pioneering nature, with many industry firsts to its credit. Nurturing its start-up mindset and keeping a sharp focus on profitability, the Group has never shied away from closing certain businesses, which did not rise to the desired value-delivery levels.