Bengaluru: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently announced that Karnataka would establish India’s first government-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) University, reaffirming the state’s ambition to become a global leader in responsible AI innovation.
He also announced that the government will set up an AI Hub as an incubation centre for research and development in AI by startups, companies and others.
Making these announcements while inaugurating Google I/O Connect India 2026 in Bengaluru at BIEC, Shivakumar said the proposed university would play a pivotal role in building world-class AI talent, advancing research and strengthening collaboration between academia, industry and the government.
Addressing technology leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, developers, researchers and policymakers from across India and the world, the Chief Minister said Artificial Intelligence was the defining technological revolution of the present generation, comparable to the transformative impact of the steam engine, electricity, the internet and mobile technology.
“Bengaluru is not just India’s technology capital but one of the world’s most vibrant innovation ecosystems. Karnataka’s vision is to build one of the world’s leading centres for responsible Artificial Intelligence,” he said.
Shivakumar said Karnataka currently contributed nearly 40 per cent of India’s software exports, while Bengaluru was home to over 17,000 startups and thousands of Global Capability Centres that design and engineer products for the global market.
He said the state’s first ambition was to become an AI-native state, where Artificial Intelligence is used responsibly to improve governance and everyday lives rather than remaining a technological slogan.
“AI must help teachers teach better, doctors diagnose diseases earlier, farmers receive better advisory services, citizens access government services with dignity and speed, and small businesses compete confidently,” he said.
The Chief Minister praised Google for its long-standing partnership with Karnataka, noting that for over two decades, the company had chosen Bengaluru as one of its most important global centres for engineering, research and innovation.
He said Google’s products, including Search, Android, YouTube, Maps, Chrome, Gmail and Google Pay, had transformed how Indians access knowledge, conduct business and interact with government services.
Calling for a stronger partnership, Shivakumar invited Google to collaborate with Karnataka in building AI solutions for education, healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, urban mobility and governance.
He outlined five key areas for collaboration: developing AI tools for education, healthcare, agriculture and small businesses; supporting startups solving Indian challenges at scale; expanding AI learning opportunities for students across Karnataka; making the state a global laboratory for responsible technology; and deepening Google’s commitment as a long-term ecosystem partner.
Emphasising Karnataka’s innovation-driven culture, the Chief Minister said technological revolutions begin with curiosity and the willingness to ask, “What if we could do this differently?”
He concluded by urging developers to ‘build boldly’, entrepreneurs to ‘dream big’, researchers to continue innovating and students to never stop learning, saying Karnataka would continue shaping the future of technology while ensuring AI remains innovative, inclusive and trusted.
Key announcements by the CM
- India’s first government-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) University will be established in Karnataka to develop AI talent, promote advanced research, and foster collaboration between academia, industry and government.
- Karnataka aims to become an AI-native State, integrating AI into governance and public service delivery.
AI will be deployed to improve:
- Education through AI-assisted teaching.
- Healthcare through early diagnosis and better medical support.
- Agriculture with AI-driven advisory services for farmers.
- Government services through faster, citizen-centric delivery.
- Small businesses by enhancing competitiveness using AI tools.
Data Centres and Digital Infrastructure
- Karnataka will continue strengthening its position as India’s technology hub by expanding its digital infrastructure, including data centres, to support AI innovation, cloud computing and next-generation digital services.
- The government aims to build a robust ecosystem that supports AI research, hyperscale computing and Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
Innovation and Startup Ecosystem
- Position Karnataka as one of the world’s leading centres for responsible Artificial Intelligence.
- Strengthen the state’s startup ecosystem, which already has over 17,000 startups.
- Support startups developing AI solutions for Indian and global markets.
- Encourage greater collaboration between academia, industry and government.
Partnership with Google
The Chief Minister invited Google to deepen its partnership with Karnataka by:
- Building AI solutions for education, healthcare, agriculture and small businesses.
- Supporting startups solving India’s challenges at scale.
- Creating more AI learning opportunities for students across Karnataka.
- Making Karnataka a global laboratory for responsible AI.
- Continuing long-term investment in Karnataka’s technology ecosystem.
Technology and Investment Vision
- To reinforce Karnataka’s leadership in software exports, contributing nearly 40 percent of India’s software exports.
- Further expand the state’s ecosystem of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and R&D facilities.
- Position Karnataka as a global destination for AI innovation, advanced computing, data centres, research and digital infrastructure.
