AI as a human assistant is driving secure and practical enterprise adoption

RAJESH K THANUA, 
GM - TECHNOLOGY & CISO, 
SMAS AUTO LEASING INDIA PVT. LTD.

Artificial Intelligence is becoming an important enabler for enterprise operations, but its adoption must be approached with appropriate caution and governance. Rather than replacing human expertise, AI should serve as an intelligent assistant that improves efficiency while keeping people at the centre of decision-making. In our organisation, AI is already being used across service operations, including maintenance and insurance services, as well as document processing to automate information extraction from PDFs. We are also applying AI to analyse customers' financial statements to support informed credit- related assessments, while ensuring deployment remains measured, controlled and aligned with business requirements instead of pursuing an all-in approach to AI adoption.

As AI adoption expands, organisations must remain equally focused on managing associated risks. For enterprises handling sensitive financial and customer information, compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) is a key priority. Building a strong privacy framework through recognised standards such as ISO 27701 helps organisations strengthen preparedness for evolving regulatory requirements while reinforcing trust in digital operations.

A strong partner ecosystem is equally important for delivering secure and reliable technology services. Technology and business partners extend an organisation's capabilities, making collaboration essential for addressing emerging challenges and delivering better outcomes. Platforms such as INFOTECH FORUM provide valuable opportunities to exchange experiences with industry peers, understand evolving technology trends and help organisations prepare more effectively for future risks and opportunities across the industry.