The International Conference on Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence (INCAI 2024), hosted by the Modern Science Institute, Bangalore, concluded with resounding success at the Sterling Mac Hotel, Old Madras Road. Held under the theme “Pioneering Tomorrow with AI-Driven Innovation,” the conference brought together global leaders in artificial intelligence, including researchers, policy experts, innovators, and educators from around the world.
The event featured a distinguished editorial and jury panel composed of internationally recognized experts from academia, industry, and the sustainability sector. Among the key panelists were Dr. Sandra Avila, Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil; Prof. Mei-Ling Zhou, Director of the Institute of AI & Urban Systems at Tsinghua University, China; and Dr. Ricardo Cerri, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Also serving on the jury were Lakshmi Kalyani Chinthala, a researcher in AI, Business Analytics, and Sustainability at Golden Gate University, USA; and Sandra Paul, Media and Marcoms Expert and Chair of the CISI FinTech Forum.
The editorial board for the INCAI 2024 Proceedings brought together esteemed voices in AI research from across the globe. Members included Dr. Anthony Wensley, Professor Emeritus in Accounting & Management Information Systems at the University of Toronto, Canada; Dr. Syed Akhter Hossain, Head of Computer Science and Engineering at Daffodil International University, Bangladesh; Dr. Jeba Rezwana, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Towson University, USA; Prof. Michael Witbrock, Chair in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University, South Africa.
This highly respected jury and editorial team oversaw a rigorous multi-stage peer-review and evaluation process, ensuring that all accepted papers reflected a high standard of academic excellence, practical innovation, and ethical foresight.
Virtual Voices from the Jury
In an exclusive conversation virtually during the event, Lakshmi Kalyani Chinthala, a jury member and researcher in responsible AI, remarked: “It was a privilege to judge some of the most insightful and future-forward research efforts virtually as the participants were more in number and I was part of virtual jury member to evaluate online mode of presentation. What made it special was the responsibility to uphold quality while appreciating the local and global contexts these works came from. I’m especially glad to have been part of a forum that gives voice to interdisciplinary, responsible AI.”
On future involvement, she added: “I’m honored to have been invited to play a larger role in INCAI 2025. The upcoming conference in November 2025 at Hyderabad promises to bring even more powerful and ethical innovations to the forefront.”
A Platform for Global Collaboration
The conference featured keynote sessions, multi-track technical paper presentations, and a curated showcase of AI startups working across urban systems, healthcare, education, and sustainable mobility. INCAI 2024 reaffirmed the critical role of international collaboration and interdisciplinary research in shaping the future of AI.
As momentum builds for INCAI 2025 in Hyderabad, the conference continues to serve as a catalyst for empowering researchers, guiding policy, and advancing responsible, human-centric AI across emerging economies. This year’s INCAI Awards recognized outstanding contributions across academic research, innovation, and leadership. The Best Research Paper was awarded to Shweta K. Desai and Arvind Rao for their work on graph-aware AI models for smart waste management in Indian cities.
The Best Student Paper went to Charitha R, who presented a transformer-based approach to multilingual learning in rural education systems. The Women in AI Leadership Award was conferred on Roshni Venkatesh in recognition of her impactful work in AI development. The AI Innovation Award (Startup Track) was jointly awarded to Pranav Iyer and Ananya Krishnamurthy for their contributions to scalable AI startup ecosystems.
The Young Researcher Award was received by Rithvik S. Gowda, while Harini S. Iyer earned the Jury Recognition Award for her significant contributions to AI Ethics and Governance. INCAI 2024 served as a platform for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international engagement.
With dynamic keynote sessions, paper presentations, and startup showcases across urban systems, healthcare, education, and sustainability, the conference reinforced the growing importance of AI in shaping equitable and responsible futures. As anticipation builds for INCAI 2025, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, the conference continues to advance global dialogue around AI research and innovation in emerging economies. Further their information can be cited on their website for their future call for papers.
(First Published: 30 August 2024)
