AI, Ethics, and Industry Relevance Take Center Stage at CIM 2026 as Dr. T.V. Rao Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Rao emphasized the importance of human judgment in AI-driven research, stating, "AI can do almost everything we can do and often faster. But it cannot deal with the unforeseen. We should use AI, but we should not become dependent on it."

His message resonated through panel discussions and session summaries that examined how rapidly evolving technology is reshaping research practices in management education.

Dr. Nitin Garg, Funder, Director, ISME highlighted the encouraging quality of submissions. “The credibility of any conference lies in both the number and quality of papers. It is heartening that many student papers presented here are of publishable standard,” he said, outlining three pillars of strong research: a compelling problem statement, robust methodology and a rigorous literature review.

Key Takeaways from CIM 2026:

AI is an enabler, not a replacement- Speakers acknowledged that AI tools have simplified literature reviews, data organisation and even classroom preparation. However, concerns were raised about unverified outputs, fabricated references and rising plagiarism risks. With some institutions now requiring disclosure of AI usage in research submissions, the consensus was clear: use AI for assistance, but validate, contextualise and articulate independently. As one panelist remarked, “AI provides information. Knowledge still requires critical thinking.”

Ethics will shape the future of research- Beyond technical capability, ethical application emerged as a central theme. Discussions focused on maintaining originality in academic writing and ensuring transparency in AI-assisted research. Faculty members emphasised that supervisors must guide students in balancing technological efficiency with academic integrity.

Student research is becoming more sophisticated- Session chairs observed a notable shift in methodology. While earlier conferences saw heavy reliance on tools such as ANOVA and regression, this year’s papers incorporated structural equation modelling (SEM), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and machine learning models including Random Forest and XGBoost.

Bridging academia and industry expectations- A recurring observation was the need to align research more closely with industry applications. While multivariate techniques remain academically valuable, industry professionals increasingly rely on applied analytical tools such as conjoint analysis, MaxDiff and turf analysis to inform product and strategy decisions.

Panelists argued that equipping students with such real-world analytical frameworks would narrow the academia–industry gap and improve employability outcomes.

Conference themes reflect market evolution.

Dr. Pallavi Garg, Director, Admissions and External Relations, ISME noted that while the overarching theme of “contemporary issues” remains constant, the focus areas evolve annually. “We have moved from logistics and supply chain discussions to fintech, digital finance and AI. The title remains the same, but the themes keep renewing themselves,” she said, adding that educators must prepare students for roles that may not yet exist.

As CIM 2026 concluded, the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. T.V. Rao symbolised the enduring values of scholarship rigor, integrity and human-centred thinking even as the tools of research evolve.

The overarching message from the conference was clear: artificial intelligence may accelerate research, but its credibility and impact will depend on ethical use, methodological depth and meaningful industry alignment.