In a significant convergence of technological vision and literary insight, QBurst unveiled its new tech identity High AI-Q alongside the launch of Dutch entrepreneur Jeroen Tas's book 'Changing Fast & Slow'. The special event, held in association with The Times of India on Friday, brought together technology enthusiasts and industry leaders for an evening of meaningful conversation and strategic alignment.
A Milestone Evening for Technology Innovation
The event commenced with QBurst CEO Arun 'Rak' Ramchandran setting the tone through his welcome address, where he reflected on the significance of having Jeroen Tas present and the shared journey leading to this pivotal moment for the company. Ramchandran acknowledged Tas as a long-standing mentor whose influence has shaped his thinking significantly. He emphasized that while many know Tas from media coverage, for him, the entrepreneur has been a guiding force whose ideas are now distilled into book form.
Ramchandran then shifted focus to QBurst's 21-year evolution, highlighting how the organization's journey has been driven by curiosity, continuous reinvention, and deep commitment to learning. He stressed that the introduction of their new identity represented much more than a visual update—it marked a strategic step toward the company QBurst aims to become in an AI-driven future.
Changing Fast & Slow: Bridging Neuroscience and Business Strategy
The evening transitioned into the official book launch where Jeroen Tas delved into the core concepts of 'Changing Fast & Slow'. Drawing inspiration from Daniel Kahneman's seminal work 'Thinking, Fast and Slow', Tas unpacked the dynamic between the fast brain—quick, instinctive, and often biased—and the slow brain, which enables deliberate analysis and thoughtful decision-making.
Tas explained that organizations face similar tensions, frequently prioritizing speed while neglecting reflective practices. This observation served as the foundational spark for his book. He urged the audience to perceive change not as a setback but as a growth opportunity, stating that the only way to make sense of change is to fully embrace it.
Panel Discussion: Navigating Speed, Strategy and AI Implementation
A dynamic panel discussion moderated by Jimmy Kappen, CDO at QBurst, featured Jeroen Tas, Arun 'Rak' Ramchandran, and Vishal Kulshrestha from Alshaya Group. The conversation opened with organizational agility, exploring how companies can accelerate in increasingly competitive landscapes.
Tas highlighted a common corporate dilemma: the desire for speed without accepting accompanying risks. He emphasized that clarity of capability is essential for meaningful acceleration, noting that organizations must understand what they are truly good at before attempting to move faster.
Vishal Kulshrestha contributed practical insights from retail and omnichannel perspectives, stressing the importance of understanding category performance across different channels. He identified the biggest challenge for merchandising teams as achieving the right channel-category mix and emphasized the need for separate business units to function as a unified ecosystem rather than isolated silos.
Arun 'Rak' Ramchandran reflected on AI's broader impact, suggesting that in optimistic scenarios, its true potential lies in creating abundance across sectors—a shift that could fundamentally redefine how organizations scale and serve their customers.
High AI-Q: More Than Just a Trendy Term
The evening reached its climax with the official unveiling of QBurst's High AI-Q brand identity. Sajith V K, VP of technology at QBurst, clarified that High AI-Q represents a well-thought-out process rather than merely a trendy term, noting that QBurst has been an early adopter of Generative AI technologies.
A special segment honored winners of a company-wide haiku contest, chosen specifically because haiku serves as a homophone for High AI-Q. Ameena Iqbal, director of projects at QBurst, explained the selection process. The third prize was shared by three participants: Bablu Ray from Bengaluru office, and Shilpa Ramadas and Faseela Kungaravida, both from Calicut office. The second prize went to Nithin Skaria from Kochi office, while the first prize was awarded to Aishwarya Mohan from Thiruvananthapuram office.
Faseela Kungaravida expressed surprise at her placement, while Shilpa Ramadas highlighted the privilege of meeting legends like Jeroen Tas through the event.
Event Concludes with Positive Feedback and Future Vision
The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by Jimmy Kappen, acknowledging speakers, partners, and involved teams. Merin George, assistant HR manager at Aspire Systems, praised the event's execution, particularly the panel discussion. She noted valuable insights about AI alignment and appreciated the recognition given to haiku contest winners flown in from different locations.
Jeroen Tas expressed satisfaction with the event, noting how attendees genuinely engaged with his concepts and how they complemented Ramchandran's narrative about QBurst's journey. The integration of book themes with brand identity resonated strongly with participants, with Biju Shoolapani, senior advisor from QBurst Chennai, describing the messaging as thoughtful and complementary.
The event successfully bridged theoretical concepts with practical business applications, setting the stage for QBurst's next phase of growth in an AI-transformed landscape while providing attendees with actionable insights about navigating organizational change and technological disruption.
