T’puram: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacted with technology professionals at Technopark on Saturday during a discussion on the theme ‘Technology, Innovation and Opportunity’.Around 200 invited IT professionals, including software engineers, start-up founders and company CEOs, attended the interaction, which focused on the role of technology in shaping employment, innovation and economic growth.During the discussion, Rahul said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence might not eliminate jobs but were likely to transform the nature of work. He stressed the importance of developing new skills and capabilities to adapt to changing technological and economic conditions.Speaking about the growth of India’s IT sector, Rahul recalled that when former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi proposed promoting software development in the country, the idea was once dismissed by the CEO of General Electric as impractical. However, he said the vision eventually contributed to the rise of India’s IT industry on the global stage.He also emphasised the importance of curiosity and perseverance in innovation and said individuals should remain open to diverse ideas and approaches. Learning new things, he said, helps improve adaptability and performance in a rapidly changing environment.Referring to global economic trends, he noted that several critical components used in technologies such as drones are currently manufactured in China. Recalling his visit to Germany, he said India should move towards becoming a more production- and manufacturing-oriented economy rather than primarily a consumer-driven one.He also highlighted the need to democratise production systems so that technological advancements benefit not only large corporations but also small enterprises and start-ups.Rahul underscored the importance of data privacy, particularly in the context of sharing sensitive information such as medical and genetic data. As technology advances, he said society must remain vigilant about protecting individual privacy.He also suggested that reforms in the Goods and Services Tax system were necessary to provide greater support to small businesses and MSMEs. According to him, the govt should provide clear policy direction regarding the country’s economic future to help citizens and industries prepare accordingly.
