A VIT Chennai marketing conclave urged Indian brands to keep customer needs and trust ahead of AI-driven technology.
As AI reshapes marketing, the conclave's message is that technology alone won't build lasting brands in India. Human understanding and earned trust remain the differentiators.
What the conclave covered
Industry leaders, marketing professionals and entrepreneurs explored how artificial intelligence is changing consumer insights, brand development and creative work at a Marketing Conclave held Friday by the VIT Business School, VIT Chennai.
Under the theme 'Imagining the Future', the event included two fireside chats and three panels designed to link practical marketing strategies with industry insights.
The keynote address was delivered by Lakshminarayanan Duraiswamy, Managing Director, Sundaram Home Finance Ltd. LV Navneeth, Chief Executive Officer of THG Publishing Private Ltd (The Hindu), also delivered a keynote.
AI is not about creating a new technology, and it is not about creating a new design. It is about what it does for the customer.
Duraiswamy said organisations need to win customers' trust and work to maintain it each day. In an increasingly AI-driven business environment, customer trust matters.
Technology and innovation, he also said, should always be guided by customer needs.
Navneeth urged young people to develop their ability to reflect, imagine and put ideas into action. People who are always occupied may have little opportunity to think deeply, a process that supports innovation and creative thinking, he said.
Panels on the human edge and loyalty
At the first panel, 'The Human Edge: Understanding Consumers in the Age of AI', participants examined the continuing role of consumer insight and human understanding in technology-driven marketing.
Ways brands can form meaningful ties with consumers and earn their lasting loyalty were the focus of the second panel.
Another panel considered how branding is changing, including the difficulties and new possibilities created by the expanding direct-to-consumer business model.
At the Marketing Conclave, students and industry professionals shared views about where marketing is headed.
What we know
- The conclave was held on Friday at VIT Business School, VIT Chennai.
- The event featured three panels and two fireside chats.
- Lakshminarayanan Duraiswamy and LV Navneeth delivered keynote addresses.
Still unclear
- Whether the conclave produced any concrete commitments or follow-up actions.
- Attendance figures and participating brands.
The VIT Chennai Marketing Conclave report was updated on October 31, 2026. No further dated next step is given.
