Dr. Shawn Daly, professor of marketing, was the guest of honor at the Higher Education 4.0 International Conference at De Paul College in Mysore, India, May 15-16, 2025. “Revolutionizing the Pathway to Career through Digitalization” brought together academicians, researchers, policymakers, industry experts, and education leaders to discuss the way digitalization, AI-driven learning, and industry-aligned education are reshaping academic institutions.
Dr. Daly delivered two sessions exploring the evolving role of AI in society and business. The first, “The Future of AI and Its Impact on Society,” examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping education, policy, and the workforce.
“We discussed current usage trends, legal and ethical challenges, and the urgent need for organizations to develop thoughtful, adaptable frameworks for human-AI collaboration,” Dr. Daly explained. “This conversation was enriched by Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural address, where he emphasized that AI poses new challenges to human dignity, justice, and labor.”
The second presentation, “The AI Future of Marketing Is Now!,” explored how marketing professionals are co-creating with machines to achieve faster, smarter, and more personalized campaigns. Dr. Daly used case studies from companies like Klarna and Coca-Cola to emphasize the strategic value of keeping humans in the loop to ensure not only efficiency, but brand integrity and ethical accountability.
“Across both sessions, the theme was clear: AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a partner, and we must shape that partnership wisely," he said.
In 2024, the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., Niagara University president, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Rev. Dr. Baiju Antony, C.M., the principal of De Paul College, a Catholic co-educational institution founded and managed by the South Indian Province of the Congregation of the Mission.