Udyog Connect AI Tech Summit Unveiled in Cumming as Senator Shawn Still Lights Ceremonial Lamp

The Udyog Connect AI Tech Summit 2025 was held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Celebrations Banquet Hall in Cumming, Georgia, bringing together industry leaders, technologists, policymakers, and community members for a day of insight, inspiration, and collaboration.

The summit was formally inaugurated by Georgia State Senator Shawn Still, who lit the ceremonial lamp and delivered an inspiring address on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on society, underscoring the shared responsibility to balance innovation with ethical vigilance.

This was followed by the official launch of Udyog Connect by the founder, Mr. Gouri Sankar Dash, who took the stage to warmly welcome and introduce the co-founders—Mr. Chidananda Panda, Mr. Vikram Das, Mr. Tarun Pattnaik, Mr. Jayant Sahoo, and Mr. Praveen Puram. The moment was marked by a collective pledge to serve the community through knowledge sharing, mentorship, and the creation of meaningful opportunities.

The speakers lineup reflected the breadth of AI’s influence across industries

• Vikram Das explored Generative AI and highlighted how human skills—creativity, judgment, adaptability—remain the differentiating edge in an automated world.
• A. K. Dash discussed agentic AI and its rapidly growing applications in the construction sector.
• Rishi Sharma outlined the prerequisites for enterprises aspiring to adopt AI, stressing data readiness and process maturity.

• Aylin Orial provided insights into AI’s transformative role in fintech.
• Rekha Pata shared real-world examples of AI-driven procurement innovation.
• Gouri Sankar Dash examined AI’s momentum in healthcare and its emerging capabilities.
• Rajendra Gangavaruppu offered a panoramic view of AI reshaping every major industry.

• Stephen Klein challenged the audience with a contrarian stance—arguing that Gen AI (Artificial Intelligence) has fallen short of its promise and urging professionals to reclaim the uniquely human qualities machines cannot replicate.

A spirited panel discussion led by Praveen Puram brought together Gouri Shankar Dash, Rajendra Gangavarappu, Rekha Pata, Vikram Das, and Rishi Sharma, engaging the audience with diverse viewpoints on AI adoption, risk, readiness, and human capability.

The Udyog Connect AI Tech Summit 2025 concluded with a lunch and networking session, creating new relationships and reinforcing Udyog Connect’s mission of community upliftment and professional growth.