As part of its Seminar Series, the Graduate Institute of Development Studies hosted a talk on artificial intelligence (AI) by technologist Tariq Khan on December 17, 2025. The seminar, titled “AI in Practice: Opportunities, Real-World Applications, and the Road Ahead”, provided participants with a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence, followed by a discussion on its practical applications in development and policy.
In his presentation, Mr. Khan, the VP and Head of AI Products Practice at Systems Ltd., provided an accessible overview of recent developments in the field of AI, distinguishing between traditional and generative AI. He highlighted how recent advancements, particularly in multi-modal AI models, are enabling systems that can perform multiple tasks, learn from prompts, and work across multiple modes, including text, images, and videos. The discussion focused on real-world use cases of AI in data-driven decision making, service targeting, development economics, and education.
Mr. Khan further emphasized AI’s growing relevance in development research and practice by illustrating how it enables the collection and analysis of diverse data from a variety of sources. With a focus on the education sector, personalized learning modules, changing pedagogical practices, and the need for new assessment approaches were also discussed. The session concluded by underscoring the growing need for inclusive engagement with AI through capacity building of teaching faculties and the future workforce.