Artificial intelligence is establishing itself as one of the major drivers of transformation in engineering and the global business landscape, but also as a significant ethical, social, and regulatory challenge. This was one of the main messages of the seminar "India-Spain: AI and Engineering Driving Responsible Innovation," held in Barcelona as part of the India-Spain Dual Year 2026.
The meeting, organized by Casa Asia HCL Tech, in collaboration with the Consulate of India in Barcelona, Acció, Tech Barcelona, CaixaBank and the Spain-India Council Foundation, brought together institutional representatives, experts and companies to reflect on how to advance innovation and competitiveness without losing sight of responsibility, transparency and the social impact of AI, in a global context marked by technological competition and the need for international cooperation.
During the institutional opening, Joan Rosas, Director of International Relations at CaixaBank, José Pintor Aguilar, CEO Casa AsiaAnd Inbasekar Sundaramurthi, Consul General of India in Spain, emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in strategic areas such as technology. They also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in geopolitics and in key sectors such as finance, as well as the opportunity offered by the Dual Year to deepen economic and business relations between the two countries.
One of the central themes of the day was the role of AI as a tool for the common good, especially in the field of global health. Dr. Karthik AdapaThe Digital Health Advisor at the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Southeast Asia pointed out that, despite being one of the least digitized sectors, healthcare offers enormous opportunities for the application of artificial intelligence. From early diagnosis to telemedicine, AI is already contributing to improved access to and quality of services, especially in low-resource countries. However, he warned of persistent challenges such as a lack of infrastructure, data bias, a shortage of qualified professionals, and the need for robust ethical and regulatory frameworks based on principles of equity, transparency, and security.
From a business perspective, Rohit sharmaHCLTech's Global AI Transformation Leader argued that artificial intelligence represents an "unstoppable" transformation for engineering and organizations. In his presentation, he emphasized that companies that strategically adopt AI will be better positioned to modernize, scale their capabilities, and remain competitive in increasingly demanding international markets.
The debate on the ethics, regulation, and governance of artificial intelligence also featured prominently during the day. The researcher Nayana Prakash He warned of the difficulties in establishing global AI governance in a scenario marked by geopolitical competition. In this regard, he compared India's more flexible approach with the European Union's more structured regulatory framework, highlighting the tension between fostering innovation and ensuring control, and underscoring the need to strengthen international cooperation and partnerships among countries, businesses, and civil society.
The day concluded with a round table discussion moderated by Shreyashee NagSenior Director of Business Development at HCLTech, focused on the practical applications of AI in various sectors. Representatives from companies such as Zoho Corporation and DHL, along with institutions like ACCIÓ and CaixaBank, shared specific cases where artificial intelligence is already optimizing processes, improving advanced data management, and transforming customer relationships, from logistics to the financial sector.
The event was closed by the Spain-India Council Foundation, which highlighted the dialogue fostered and the importance of continuing to promote bilateral collaboration. Overall, the seminar made it clear that artificial intelligence is not only a driver of technological innovation, but also a strategic tool whose sustainable development requires progress guided by ethics, regulation, and international cooperation, with the aim of generating a positive impact on both the economy and society.
