AI, Sustainability, and Industrial Intelligence Converge at Smart Shift 2025

AI, Sustainability, and Industrial Intelligence Converge at Smart Shift 2025

Kozhikode, India - July 2, 2025



In a rapidly urbanizing world grappling with climate challenges and rising demands on infrastructure, Smart Shift 2025 emerged as a timely and insightful conference uniting voices from artificial intelligence, sustainable manufacturing, and smart city design. The event held at the Sahya Auditorium, Cyberpark, was organized by Core Cognitics in collaboration with Markaz Knowledge City and Peekay Steel Castings Pvt Ltd.

At the heart of the conference was a bold question: Can AI help us build smarter, more resilient cities and industries?

The event provided more than just answers - it offered a roadmap.



From Iron Domes to Intelligent Cities

The conference opened with a compelling address by Sahal Abdul Ghafur, Software Architect at Core Cognitics, who laid the foundation by discussing the role of AI in real-time defense systems, using Israel's Iron Dome as a reference point. His message was clear - if AI can make split-second decisions in high-risk defense scenarios, it can be repurposed to solve civic and industrial challenges.

Shabir Pathukkudi, CEO of Core Cognitics, expanded this vision in his keynote, describing AI as the "new electricity" of the industrial age. He argued that AI is no longer a luxury, but an operational necessity for organizations aiming to survive in a volatile and interconnected world.



A Living Smart City in Kerala

The highlight of the event was the presentation by Dr. Abdul Salam Mohammed, CEO of Markaz Knowledge City and former ISRO scientist. He offered a first-hand look at how Markaz is being developed as a sensor-driven, sustainable urban hub. With IoT-enabled water management, AI-based landslide prediction, and advanced environmental monitoring, Markaz is a living example of a smart city in action.

According to Dr. Salam, over 34 manual roles were replaced by automated systems, significantly increasing reliability and cutting costs. The initiative, which recently won India's Smart City Award 2025, is also being taught as a case study at institutions like IIM and reviewed by Harvard.





Steel That Thinks Green

Peekay Steels, one of India's leading steel foundries, showcased its transformation from conventional heavy manufacturing to an automated, environmentally conscious enterprise.

Dr. Nithin Raj, R&D Manager, and Mr. Adhil Moideen, ESG Lead, shared how the company is integrating AI across its production lines using digital dashboards, MAGMASOFT simulations, and India's largest industrial sand 3D printer. Their ambitious sustainability goals include full renewable energy reliance by 2045 and circular economy initiatives such as converting waste sand into construction bricks.

Peekay's TMT division has also earned accolades for producing Kerala's first GreenPro and EPD-certified steel, marking a significant milestone for the Indian metallurgy industry.



AI for Industry, Utilities, and Urban Ecosystems

Faizal Rahamadulla, Director of Client Services at Core Cognitics, presented a practical blueprint for AI deployment in enterprise settings. From predictive maintenance in manufacturing plants to sewer overflow detection and water quality monitoring, his talk demonstrated how AI, when paired with robust IoT frameworks, can reshape urban and industrial ecosystems.

He introduced the Model Context Protocol (MCP) as a next-gen integration tool, allowing industries to move beyond traditional APIs. His call to action emphasized building domain-specific large language models and creating intelligent, scalable infrastructures.



Technology Rooted in Responsibility

Closing the conference, Yusra Shabeer, Director at Core Cognitics, emphasized the need for intentional innovation. She noted that while technology continues to advance rapidly, its true impact lies in whether it helps society become more thoughtful, equitable, and sustainable.

"In an age of disruption, we must ask not just what technology can do - but what it should do," she said.







Smart Shift 2025: A Shared Dialogue for a Smarter Tomorrow

More than a conference, Smart Shift 2025 became a forum where policymakers, technologists, educators, and business leaders aligned around a common mission - to harness AI for inclusive progress. With over 200 attendees and representation across sectors, the event sparked partnerships that will likely shape the next chapter in India's smart infrastructure movement.

https://www.corecognitics.com/

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This release was published on openPR.