Apeejay School of Management Explores AI and ML Applications in BFSI with TCS Expert

Apeejay School of Management (ASM) continues to strengthen its focus on industry-relevant education by exposing students to emerging technologies and developments shaping diverse sectors. In line with this approach, students of the PGDM programme participated in an insightful guest lecture on ‘AI and ML Applications across Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)’.

The session was conducted by Mr. Sameer Lakhra, Senior Delivery Director – Public Services and Banking at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Drawing on his extensive 23 years of enterprise IT delivery experience, Mr. Lakhra offered students a practical understanding of how artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming the financial ecosystem.

Decoding the AI Landscape

The interactive 60-minute session incorporated real-time audience polls and case discussions, creating an engaging learning environment. Mr. Lakhra began by simplifying some of the key concepts shaping the current AI landscape. He explained the distinctions between Machine Learning, Conversational AI, Generative AI and emerging Agentic AI frameworks, enabling students to understand how these technologies differ in their capabilities and applications.

The discussion also highlighted the evolution of AI from systems focused on pattern recognition to technologies capable of content generation and autonomous multi-step execution. This progression helped students appreciate how rapidly the role of AI is expanding across enterprise environments.

AI Applications Across BFSI

A key focus of the session was the interconnected nature of the BFSI sector. Mr. Lakhra explained that banking, NBFCs and insurance organisations share a common data foundation, particularly in areas such as customer profiles, risk metrics and transactional intelligence.

Through real-world enterprise case studies, students gained insights into the practical use of predictive and generative AI models. The applications discussed included fraud detection, credit underwriting and workflow automation—areas where technology is increasingly being used to improve efficiency, accuracy and decision-making.

The examples helped students connect classroom concepts with challenges faced by organisations operating in the financial sector, giving them a clearer understanding of how emerging technologies can translate into business value.

Emphasising Human + AI Collaboration

An important takeaway from the session was the strategic idea of “Human + AI” collaboration. Rather than positioning artificial intelligence as a replacement for human expertise, the discussion focused on its potential to augment capabilities and accelerate managerial decision-making.

For future managers, this perspective underlined the importance of understanding technology while retaining human judgement, strategic thinking and leadership capabilities.

The guest lecture concluded with actionable industry perspectives that equipped students to better understand enterprise digital transformation and technology-augmented leadership roles. By bringing an experienced industry professional into the classroom, the session strengthened the connection between academic learning and evolving corporate realities, preparing PGDM students to navigate the increasingly technology-driven BFSI ecosystem.