Digital
Karnataka Bank’s 100-Year journey unraveled through the phygital experience center powered by DaveAI
Mumbai: In celebration of Karnataka Bank’s remarkable century-long journey, a visionary Phygital Experience Center emerges as a beacon of innovation, inviting audiences to embark on an immersive exploration of the bank’s past, present, and future. Developed in collaboration with DaveAI, the leading AI-powered experience creators platform sets a new standard in customer engagement and showcases Karnataka Bank’s unwavering commitment to pioneering technologies.
The Phygital Experience Center, inaugurated by the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka – D. K. Shivakumar, promises a transformative encounter that seamlessly merges the physical and digital realms. By transcending conventional celebratory formats, Karnataka Bank aims to offer patrons a dynamic space where they can delve into the institution’s rich heritage while envisioning its trajectory in the digital age.
At the core of this innovative venture lies DaveAI’s proprietary visual synthesis pipeline, meticulously integrated into captivating narratives, gesture-controlled experiences, and immersive simulations. Visitors were greeted by virtual avatars, could take part in virtual reality tours, and engage with augmented reality experiences, all curated to provide an unparalleled glimpse into Karnataka Bank’s evolution over the past century and its vision for the future of banking.
“When Karnataka Bank celebrated their centenary year, one of their most important questions was, what do they need to do so that their legacy continues for another 100 years. They turned to us to ideate on what is possible in the future of banking. Together we came up with a very futuristic experience center with great ideas to showcase what they are already doing as well as what they would plan to do.
Concepts such as, Metaverse, Virtual Branches, Autonomous banking with the help of AI etc. were experienced by 100s of people from their staff and family as well as other dignitaries. Everyone was wowed by Karnataka Bank’s vision as well as their management’s commitment towards making it reality in the near future,” said Dr. Ananth, CTO & Co-Founder at DaveAI.
The highlights of this Digital Bank of the Future included:
1. Gesture-Controlled Experiences: A journey through the bank’s 100-year legacy, featuring a virtual avatar narrating key milestones and achievements, setting the stage for an enlightening exploration.
2. Virtual Reality Tour: Visitors could step into a VR pod for a 360-degree tour of the futuristic digital banking unit, experiencing firsthand the fusion of tradition and technology that defines Karnataka Bank’s future.
3. Innovation Showcase: A dynamic zone showcasing the bank’s innovative initiatives, featuring interactive kiosks and augmented reality-powered card discovery, designed to engage and educate visitors on Karnataka Bank’s diverse range of products and services.
Commenting on the launch, Karnataka Bank CDMO Pankaj Gupta expressed excitement saying, “It is a proud moment for Karnataka Bank as we seamlessly blend tradition with the boundless possibilities of the future. Our Digital Experience Center stands as a testament to this fusion, exuding beauty and innovation in every corner. Now, our mission extends beyond mere admiration within our experience center; it’s about bringing these immersive experiences to the doorsteps of all our customers, enriching their lives both within the confines of their homes and beyond.”
Digital
Ethical AI must benefit society, not dominate it, says WFEB chief Sanjay Pradhan at IAA event
At Mumbai event, ethics expert urges businesses and governments to shape AI responsibly
MUMBAI: Artificial intelligence may be racing ahead at lightning speed, but its direction must still be guided by human conscience. That was the central message delivered by Sanjay Pradhan, president of the World Forum for Ethics in Business (WFEB), during the latest edition of IAA Conversations held in Mumbai.
The session was organised by the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Artificial Intelligence Association of India (AIAI) in association with The Free Press Journal at the Free Press House on 7 March. Addressing a packed audience, Pradhan called for stronger ethical leadership to ensure AI remains a tool that benefits humanity rather than one that governs it.
“Artificial intelligence has rapidly become one of the most powerful technologies humanity has created,” Pradhan said. “It is unlocking breakthroughs in medicine, science and creativity at a pace unimaginable just a few years ago.”
But he warned that the same technology carries serious risks. AI, he noted, can amplify disinformation faster than facts can travel, compromise privacy, deepen discrimination and disrupt millions of livelihoods. Referencing concerns raised by AI pioneers such as Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, Pradhan stressed that the real challenge is not whether AI will shape the world, but whether humans will shape it with ethics and wisdom.
Structuring his talk around four guiding questions, why, what, how and who, Pradhan introduced the audience to WFEB’s emerging AI Ethics Partnership, a global platform aimed at advancing responsible artificial intelligence. He outlined four priority concerns that demand urgent attention: disinformation, bias and discrimination, data privacy and job security.
To make the idea of ethical AI easier to grasp, Pradhan offered a simple metaphor. Ethical AI, he said, is like a three layered cake. The outer layer represents the visible value ethical AI creates for businesses and society. The middle layer is organisational culture that moves ethics from written codes to everyday practice. The innermost layer, however, is the most crucial, the conscience of individual leaders.
Drawing from Indian philosophical thought through WFEB co-founder Ravi Shankar, Pradhan noted that while artificial intelligence can reproduce stored knowledge, true intelligence is boundless and rooted in conscience, creativity and compassion. Practices such as breathwork and meditation, he suggested, can help leaders develop the calm clarity needed for ethical decision making.
The event also featured a discussion with Maninder Adityaraj Singh, chief of staff and head of innovation at Rediffusion Brand Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Yash Johri, lawyer, Supreme Court of India.
Opening the session, IAA India chapter president Abhishek Karnani, highlighted the need for industries to understand and engage with AI responsibly.
“AI has to be befriended and understood,” added Rediffusion managing director and AIAI national convenor Sandeep Goyal. “Its ethical use will determine whether it becomes a friend or a foe.”
As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, Pradhan ended with a simple but powerful call to action. Businesses, governments and individuals must work together to ensure that the algorithms shaping the future reflect human values rather than just cold logic.
