ABSTRACT Blockchain, once synonymous with cryptocurrencies, has emerged as a powerful digital infrastructure driving innovation across industries. Its decentralized, transparent, and tamper‑proof ledger enables secure data sharing, trust in digital transactions, and accountability without intermediaries. From healthcare record management and supply chain traceability to digital identity and e‑governance, blockchain is redefining how information is stored and exchanged. Despite challenges like scalability and regulatory uncertainty, it continues to evolve as a cornerstone of the digital world, offering transformative potential far beyond its financial origins. Biography: Dr. Amrutanshu Panigrahi is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. He completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University in 2023. He received his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree in CSE from BPUT, Odisha, in 2011, followed by a M.Tech. in Information Technology from the College of Engineering and Technology (Presently known as OUTR), Government of Odisha, in 2014. Dr. Panigrahi has completed Postdoctoral Research at Lincoln University College, Malaysia, where he continues to expand his work in next- generation intelligent systems. His core research interests lie at the intersection of Blockchain Technology, Machine Learning (ML), and Deep Learning (DL), with a focus on their applications in areas such as secure data sharing, intelligent decision-making, and trustworthy computing systems. Dr. Panigrahi has published more than 95 research articles in reputable SCIE, Scopus-indexed journals, and international conferences. In recognition of his expertise, Dr. Panigrahi serves as an Editorial Board Member of Springer BMC Artificial Intelligence, Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology journal and Discover Artificial Intelligence. He also serves as a reviewer for several high-impact journals indexed in SCIE and Scopus, contributing to the academic community through peer review and critical evaluation of emerging research. Email: [email protected] Address:Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, FET(ITER), Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), India, , Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 751030

ABSTRAT: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decades, beginning with the development of neural networks that enabled machines to learn patterns from data. The rise of deep learning in the 2010s, fueled by advances in computational power and large datasets, unlocked breakthroughs in image recognition, speech processing, and natural language understanding. Building on these foundations, the introduction of transformer architectures paved the way for foundation models—large, pre‑trained systems such as GPT and BERT—that can be adapted to a wide range of tasks with minimal fine‑tuning. This evolution reflects a trajectory from specialized models to general‑purpose AI systems, highlighting both opportunities and challenges. Foundation models demonstrate unprecedented scalability and versatility, but they also raise concerns about bias, explainability, energy consumption, and governance. As AI continues to advance, the integration of interpretability, ethical safeguards, and human oversight will be crucial to ensure that these powerful models serve society responsibly. Biography: Dr. Yajnaseni Dash received her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in 2022. She is currently associated with KIET Deemed to be University. She has previously served as an Assistant Professor at Bennett University and SRM University. She has been honored with prestigious grants, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) Travel Grant and the World Bank Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building (WB-TFSCB) Grant. Dr. Dash has published several research papers in reputed peer-reviewed journals and international conference proceedings. Her research interests span artificial intelligence, healthcare analytics, climate change, and computational approaches for real-world applications. She has received multiple recognitions for her academic contributions, including the Austin Student Travel Grant, the RST Award from IIT Delhi, and Best Paper Awards at IEEE conferences. Address:Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, FET(ITER), Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), India, , Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 751030