AI x Creativity: Skilling for Innovation in the Intelligent Economy

Abstract

The panel explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping creative workflows—from pre‑production and visual‑effects pipelines in filmmaking to hyper‑personalized storytelling in travel marketing. Speakers examined the evolving skill‑sets required for the “intelligent economy,” highlighting government‑driven AVGC (Animation, VFX, Gaming, and Comics) curricula, industry‑led upskilling models, and the role of platforms such as Adobe and NASSCOM’s Future Skills Prime. The discussion closed with a formal MOU between Adobe and the NASSCOM Sector Skill Council to launch 21 AI‑creativity courses for learners across India.

Detailed Summary

Mala Sharma (Moderator) welcomed the audience, introduced the panel, and noted the partnership between Future Skills Prime (a NASSCOM‑MeitY digital‑skilling initiative) and Adobe. She played a short AI‑generated experimental short film to illustrate the power of generative AI in visual storytelling.

Key Insight – The film was 99 % AI‑generated, underscoring how generative tools can produce complete creative artefacts with minimal human input.

2. AI’s Immediate Impact on Filmmaking

2.1 Pre‑production Transformations

Rana Daggubati (Anthill Studio) described AI‑driven shifts in pre‑production:

Script ideas and storyboards, traditionally sketched on paper, can now be visualised instantly with generative models.
AI enables “pre‑visualisation” where filmmakers can preview entire sequences before shooting, accelerating green‑light decisions.

“The communication in the creative room has changed fast – we can create parts of the story much earlier than before.”

2.2 Visual‑effects Acceleration

Traditional VFX pipelines required 3–5 days per shot; AI‑assisted workflows reduce this to 2–3 hours.
Artists still handle high‑level composition, while AI fills in repetitive layers (e.g., rotoscoping, texture generation).

2.3 Human‑Centred Elements

Rana stressed what remains uniquely human: cultural context, narrative intuition, and storytelling literacy. He argued that creators who master these “soft” skills will be better positioned to leverage AI tools effectively.

Recommendation – Upskill creators in tech‑literacy and narrative craft; AI is a catalyst, not a replacement.

3. Structured Learning for the Creative Economy

3.1 AVGC Policy & Curriculum Design

Dr. Ashish Kulkarni explained the evolution of India’s national education policy (NEP) that now embeds AVGC streams from Grade 6 onward.

Three‑stage model – Foundational (Grades 6‑8), Consolidation (Grades 9‑10), Professional (post‑10).
Emphasis on foundational storytelling skills (composition, continuity, lens choice) before technical tool training.

He warned that “the grammar of storytelling must not be lost amid AI hype.”

3.2 Dynamic Curriculum Challenges

From Semester 3 onward, curricula must evolve each term to incorporate emerging AI tools.
Institutions must balance foundational skills, technical software proficiency, and emerging AI capabilities.

3.3 Institutional Initiatives

IICT secured a mandate to roll out AVGC programmes in 15,000 schools and 500 institutes.
AI‑generated outputs are already being used for character design, story‑writing, and pre‑visualisation pilots.

Open Question – How can education systems develop a sustainable loop for continual AI‑tool updates without over‑burdening teachers?

4. Formal vs. Self‑Directed Education in the Creative Industry

Rana Daggubati argued that historically 98 % of Indian entertainment professionals are self‑taught, learning on the job. Formal film schools existed only in a few cities and did not guarantee industry success.

The rise of VFX, animation, and AI tools creates a demand for structured training, but the core remains storytelling acumen.
Ownership of IP is shifting from large studios to independent creators, making ideation skills a new differentiator.

Key Insight – The future advantage will belong to those who can create and protect IP using AI‑enhanced workflows.

5. Higher‑Education Constraints & “Professor of Practice” Model

Mala Sharma highlighted two systemic barriers:

UGC faculty qualification rules (masters for undergrad, PhDs for postgrad) exclude many industry experts.
Assessment mismatch – Traditional written exams cannot evaluate practical creative competencies.

Solution – Adoption of a “Professor of Practice” model, allowing seasoned creators (e.g., Rana) to teach without formal academic credentials, and shift assessment toward continuous, project‑based evaluation.

6. AI‑Enabled Hyper‑Personalized Branding (Travel Sector)

Rishi Raj Singh (Make My Trip) explained how AI transforms travel marketing:

Hyper‑personalization – AI can craft a narrative for each traveller (e.g., “Goa is perfect for you because you love temples”).
Conversational interfaces – The Myra chatbot learns from interactions, resolves friction points (visa, airport navigation), and continuously improves.

Principle Stated – “Do not implement AI for its own sake; solve a real problem first.”

Data Point – Make My Trip’s user base: ~50 million Indian travellers, providing a rich data source for AI‑driven insights.

7. The Possibility of an AI “Task Bot” in Filmmaking

When asked whether a chatbot could act as a collaborator, Rana replied that AI is evolving from a tool to an agent for routine decisions (meeting notes, task routing). He envisioned task‑bots that assist rather than replace creative judgment.

8. Adobe’s Role in Scaling Creative Skills

Dr. Ashish Kulkarni called on Adobe to:

Localise software interfaces into regional Indian languages to empower artisans from Krishnanagar, Mahabalipuram, etc.
Partner on a train‑the‑trainer programme, extending Adobe tool literacy to 4,000 schools and 43,000 teachers.
Provide simplified entry tools (e.g., After Effects) analogous to how early drivers learned on basic car models.

Mala Sharma confirmed Adobe’s existing collaborations, emphasizing the Future Skills Prime platform as a conduit for Adobe courses.

9. Cognizant’s Talent‑Transformation Approach

Saransh (Saranj) Agrawal outlined Cognizant’s shift from role‑centric to capability‑centric skilling:

Core capabilities – problem framing, creativity, AI‑augmented decision‑making.
Creativity as a foundational skill for all, not a niche classroom offering.
Large‑scale hackathon (Guinness World Record) – 50 k employees generated 30 k prototypes in a week, proving that providing tools + a safe experimental space unlocks collective creativity.

He introduced the concept of learning‑in‑the‑flow‑of‑work, powered by AI agents that deliver micro‑learning as needed.

10. NASSCOM‑SSC’s Structured Skilling Framework

Dr. Abhilasha Gaur described the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF):

Levels 1‑8 map from basic literacy (grade 5) to PhD‑level research.
Shift from 400–600 hour courses to stackable micro‑credentials (10‑90 hour modules).
Use of Digital Locker & Academic Permanent Registry (APAR ID) for verifiable, lifelong credentials.

She announced an MOU with Adobe to launch 21 AI‑creativity courses on the Future Skills Prime portal, covering Digital Marketing, Content Creation, Design, and a flagship “Gen AI for Modern Professionals” module.

11. Audience Q&A Highlights

Question	Speaker(s) Answer
Verification of credentials for job mobility	Dr. Gaur: Digital Locker and APAR ID provide a trusted record; employers can view a learner’s complete, stackable skill portfolio.
Scaling AI‑enabled upskilling to rural MSMEs	Dr. Gaur & Saransh: AI can deliver language‑localized, self‑paced content; platforms must collaborate to convert intent into concrete programmes.
Integrating AI into K‑12 subjects	Jayadev Gopalakrishnan (Adobe): Ongoing work to embed AI projects in grades 6+ across subjects (science, math, language).
What should a student’s portfolio show?	– Dr. Gaur: Evidence of lifelong learning progression. – Rana: Depth in culture & creativity. – Rishi: Demonstrated risk‑taking & self‑initiated projects. – Saransh: Strong decision‑making with AI insight. – Dr. Kulkarni: Storytelling ability.
Industry‑informed curriculum design	Dr. Gaur: Future Skills Prime aggregates industry‑curated courses (Microsoft, IBM, Salesforce, Adobe, etc.) to ensure relevance.

12. Formal MOU Exchange

A brief ceremony brought Sangeeta Gupta (Chief Strategy Officer, NASSCOM) and Jadeve Gopal Krishnan (Director & Head of Education) on stage with Dr. Birasha Gaur and Mala Sharma to sign the MOU.

Announcement – 21 Adobe‑created courses (including Gen AI for Modern Professionals) will be live on Future Skills Prime; learners are encouraged to enrol immediately.

13. Closing Remarks & Takeaways

Mala thanked the panel and audience, reiterated the partnership’s importance, and invited participants to explore the newly launched courses. The session concluded with a group photo and informal networking.

Key Takeaways

AI is already reshaping creative pipelines – from script‑to‑screen pre‑visualisation to AI‑accelerated VFX rendering.
Storytelling fundamentals remain essential; AI amplifies, not replaces, cultural and narrative intuition.
India’s NEP now incorporates AVGC streams from Grade 6, creating a structured pathway for creative talent.
Rapid curriculum updates are required; every semester must adapt to emerging AI tools.
Formal qualifications are lagging – “Professor of Practice” models and project‑based assessment bridge the gap for industry experts.
Hyper‑personalized branding (e.g., Make My Trip) demonstrates AI’s capacity to turn mass marketing into one‑to‑one conversations.
Adobe’s localisation and train‑the‑trainer initiatives are critical for scaling creative skills across regional languages.
Cognizant’s capability‑centric upskilling focuses on problem framing, creativity, and AI‑augmented decision‑making.
NASSCOM‑SSC’s NSQF and micro‑credential framework provide verifiable, stackable learning records for lifelong employability.
The Adobe–NASSCOM MOU launches 21 AI‑creativity courses on Future Skills Prime, signalling a large‑scale, industry‑backed skilling push.
Employers will increasingly look for portfolios that showcase continuous learning, cultural depth, risk‑taking, AI‑informed decision‑making, and strong storytelling.

End of summary.

See Also:

India AI Impact Summit 2026

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