The Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI) recently hosted a distinguished guest lecture titled “Innovation in the Era of AI,” presented by Dr. Sudeendra Koushik. He is the President-Elect of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS Global). He serves as the Chief Innovator at Innovation by Design (India). With over 25 years of leadership experience at companies such as Intel, Philips, Volvo, and HCL, Dr. Koushik is an internationally recognised innovator and academic.
As the President-Elect of IEEE TEMS, he is well-regarded for promoting structured innovation systems that integrate research, entrepreneurship, and real-world impact. This event was part of the Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation Guest Lecture Series as well as the Creativity & Innovation Management course. Supported by the IEEE TEMS Malaysia Chapter, the virtual session attracted 33 participants, including UTM FAI postgraduate students, IEEE members, and innovation professionals.
In her opening speech, FAI’s Deputy Dean for Academic & Student Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suriayati Chuprat emphasised the faculty’s commitment to preparing postgraduates for real-world challenges. She welcomed attendees from both academia and industry, encouraging active participation and cross-sector collaboration.
“This guest lecture is part of our effort to bridge academic learning with the real world… With Dr. Sudeendra’s global experience, we hope you will be inspired to shape the future with innovative thinking.”
Innovation at the Intersection of AI and Human Intent
Dr. Sudeendra started by distinguishing innovation from invention and creativity. He described innovation as a structured process that transforms knowledge into value. In contrast, he explained that research turns money into knowledge. He emphasised the importance of integrated ecosystems that support both functions.
He described curiosity as the driving force behind innovation and emphasised that innovation should integrate science, emotion, and art. He pointed out that artificial intelligence is simply a tool, not a substitute for human purpose.
“AI is a very powerful tool… but don’t let it define your curiosity.”
During the session, Dr. Sudeendra skillfully combined conceptual frameworks with practical insights, encouraging active participation from the attendees. He emphasised that innovation is not a matter of luck, but rather the result of intentional design. According to him, research and innovation must go hand in hand. Creativity cannot be outsourced, especially not to algorithms. While AI can act as a catalyst, it is ultimately up to humans to lead with clarity and direction. These ideas resonated strongly during the interactive Q&A segment.
Responding to questions about timelines, culture, ethics, and tools,
Dr. Sudeendra provided insightful takeaways. He recommended that a proof of concept should ideally occur within 8 to 12 weeks and urged participants to begin by identifying real problems.
“Start with the problem. Spend time getting it right. AI won’t lead your journey, but you must.”
On AI and creativity, he cautioned,
“You cannot delegate your creativity to AI. It helps, but it doesn’t decide the question.”
On organisational culture, he remarked,
“If your leaders say innovation matters but don’t support it—there’s no second chance. Back it with action.”
He also reminded the audience that innovation thrives on relationships, not just ideas:
“Build trust. Build alliances.”
Touching on governance, he emphasised that ethical boundaries must be internally defined, not left only to regulators. He concluded with a sharp reminder of tool misuse:
“A fool with a tool is still a fool.”
Participants’ questions, ranging from incremental versus disruptive innovation to innovation culture in legacy systems, reflected a genuine appetite for applied transformation. The dialogue underscored that innovation today must be both human-led and systemically supported.
Distinguished Attendance and Forward-Thinking Dialogue
Also present was Ts. Ir. Dr. Nordin Ramli is the Head of Technology Advisory at MIMOS Berhad, a Past Chair of the IEEE Malaysia Section, and an Adjunct Professor at UTM FAI. Dr. Nordin Ramli raised an important question regarding how innovation management models should adapt in the era of AI, particularly concerning agility, talent, and decision-making. Dr. Sudeendra warned that many organisations tend to overinvest in Zones 1 and 2 while overlooking Zones 3 and 4, where bold thinking is essential.
“If you don’t have Zone 3 on your radar, you can’t lead. What’s relevant today may be obsolete tomorrow. Every sector must define its innovation edge and place a bet on what’s coming next.”
This exchange highlighted a core message of the session:
AI-era innovation requires not just smarter tools, but stronger leadership prepared to navigate uncertainty.
Closing Reflections & Recognition
In her closing remarks, Ts. Dr. Noorlizawati Abd Rahim, the course lecturer for Entrepreneurship & New Venture Creation and Creativity & Innovation Management, emphasised that this session was not merely a lecture but an opportunity for students to pause, reflect, and plan their next steps. As part of their post-event reflection, students were encouraged to identify one significant insight they gained, explore how innovative thinking and artificial intelligence could influence their careers and fields, and commit to one action or mindset they are prepared to adopt. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the speaker, the UTM FAI leadership, her IEEE TEMS colleagues, and the global participants who contributed to the spirit of shared learning.
