Even a traditionally run family business cannot pretend to be unaffected by the possibilities thrown up by Artificial Intelligence. "Ours is a soap manufacturing company that cannot be replaced by a 100 per cent AI system. But in every aspect of our management, AI can come in handy," said AV Anoop, Managing Director, AVA Group.

He was speaking on the subject 'AI vs BI' (business intelligence) at Manorama Conclave 2025 held at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre in Kochi on Friday.

It is in planning advertisements that AI has been of particular use to the AVA Group. "Our survival is through ads. Besides mainstream media, we also have to showcase ads regularly on social media. And in social media, fresh ads have to be put out regularly," Anoop said. 

Before AI, creating advertisements was not just a long-drawn-out process but was also costly. "Now, with the help of AI, we can get an ad done in five minutes," he said. Anoop said that the forthcoming Onam ads of his company products are "fully AI-made".

The entrepreneur, however, is aware of the AI fallout. "When computerisation came, typists and stenographers lost their jobs. There will be replacement in the AI era, too," Anoop said. "However, our goal is to avoid retrenchment and instead redeploy the workforce in other areas," he said.

Even if its impact is cushioned, technology will still stealthily bleed employment, and painfully cast aside old bonds. "Looking back, in the last 20 years, the number of people working for us has come down," Anoop said.

It is not just employees, even small businesses and agencies that helped the family concern grow will also have to be sacrificed as technology advances. "It is the fate of family businesses. The new generation will attach no emotional value to the old bonds," Anoop said. 

However, a fully-AI driven company does not appeal to Anoop. "I have heard that there will soon come a time when there will be hundreds of single-man one-billion dollar companies. I don't prefer this," he said. Anoop said profit was not the sole objective of business. "If we get one billion, it will be great if 10,000 benefit from it. What is the joy in keeping all for oneself," Anoop said.

The AVA Group is a diversified business conglomerate with significant investments in Kerala, particularly in its food and ayurvedic healthcare sectors through the acquired 'Melam' and 'Sanjeevanam' brands.

The AVA Group is known for brands such as Medimix (a world-leading ayurvedic soap), Sanjeevanam (ayurvedic treatments and healthy food), Kaytra (herbal skincare), and Melam (spices, pickles, and desserts). AVA Group has also ventured into film production. In fact, Anoop acts in some of his films.