The Department of Artificial Intelligence at St. Vincent Pallotti College of Engineering & Technology, Nagpur, hosted the “Converse Meeting” of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), Maharashtra Chapter, on March 6th, 2025. The event aimed to foster collaboration between academia and industry in the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The meeting began with a welcome address by Dr. Vikas Bhowate, Secretary of AAAI, followed by inaugural speeches from Director, SVPCET and Patron, the AAAI Converse Meeting, Fr. Dr. Paul Chandrakunnel; Dr. Vijay Wadhai, Principal. The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Dnyaneshwar Kamble, Chair of AAAI Maharashtra, who outlined the chapter’s vision of positioning India as a global AI hub through initiatives like Micro AI Training, the R2iW AI Innovation Gallery, and enhanced industry-academia collaboration.

The event featured insightful panel discussions with leading experts from both industry and academia. Speakers emphasized the importance of real-world AI applications, collaborative research, and skill-building initiatives. They also presented internship opportunities and mentorship support for students. Key action points included developing joint research proposals, organizing AI-focused training programs, and establishing an interactive platform for continuous knowledge exchange.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Vikas Bhowate and the National Anthem. The meeting marked a significant step toward strengthening AI education, innovation, and industry readiness in Maharashtra.