The future of the country and its development lie with its young population, who should drive innovation, entrepreneurship and national transformation, said Bharat Biotech International Ltd. executive chairman Krishna Ella on Tuesday.

Addressing young graduates at Osmania University’s 85th convocation, Mr. Ella spoke about India’s deep-rooted respect for education, noting that parents often go to great lengths, including selling property and jewellery, to fund their children’s education.

He said knowledge, skills and imagination were the key ingredients of innovation. Entrepreneurs, he added, should be passionate about their work and focus on solving problems in society.

Artificial Intelligence has transformed the field and could have a wide-ranging impact on society, Mr. Ella said. “The only two kinds of companies that will survive are the ones that make AI and the ones that use AI. I don’t like AI, but I am part of it now. We introduced AI in QA (Quality Assurance) and QC (Quality Control) in my company, and we have found that people’s intelligence has increased. An ordinary man can perform extraordinarily because of AI, an MBBS doctor in a village is equal to a radiologist or orthopaedic surgeon because of AI,” he added.

Mr. Ella advised the youth to spend less time on social media and use AI positively by asking questions and exploring new ideas. He also cautioned against divisions based on labels such as Gen Z and Alpha, saying Indian society already has enough divisions.

Governor and university Chancellor Shiv Pratap Shukla congratulated the Ph.D. scholars and gold medallists, and acknowledged the contributions of their parents, teachers and research supervisors.

He urged graduates to become job providers rather than job seekers and stressed the importance of entrepreneurship, self-reliance and collective effort in strengthening the nation. He also called for a concerted effort to make India free from drug abuse and protect younger generations from its harmful effects.

Vice-Chancellor Kumar Molugaram presented the university’s report, attributing its achievements to faculty, researchers, students and staff, and reiterated the university’s commitment to strengthening its academic ecosystem.

At the 85th convocation, 640 Ph.D. degrees and 71 gold medals were awarded for academic and research excellence. Makla D. of the Department of English received the Governor’s Gold Medal for the best Ph.D. thesis.