Bringing AI to the Ocean: Highlights from ICAIO 2025
The International Conference on AI for the Oceans (ICAIO) 2025, held April 16-18 and hosted by the MTS India Section in partnership with SRMIST, showcased how artificial intelligence is transforming ocean science, technology, and sustainability. Endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science and supported by MoES, NIOT, and other key institutions, the event brought together global experts across academia, industry, and government.
Keynote speakers—including MTS’s Hans Van Sumeren, Dr. Kamakoti (IIT Madras), and Dr. Joanna Staneva (Hemlholtz-Zentrum Hereon)—shared how AI is revolutionizing ocean observation, autonomous systems, and climate resilience. The event featured over 120 paper presentations across 10 technical tracks, panel discussions, student poster sessions, and an Early Career Ocean Professionals forum on “Deep Learning for Deep Seas.”
Notable moments include:
- Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. R. Vankatesan, MTS India Section founder
- MTS Nanda Innovation Award presented to promising young researchers
- Industry showcase and startup panel on underwater tech entrepreneurship
- Inauguration of SRMIST’s new “Centre for Intelligent Marine and Energy Systems”
- A vibrant cultural program and student presentations from India and the U.S.
With over 250 paper submissions and participation from leading organizations like Kongsberg, Andromeida, and Samhitha Marine, ICAIO 2025 established a strong platform for advancing marine technology through AI—and for building the global ocean workforce of the future.