Karnataka has unveiled plans to establish India’s first government-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) University as the state looks to expand its AI ecosystem and strengthen responsible AI development.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced the initiative on Tuesday while inaugurating Google I/O Connect India 2026 in Bengaluru. Along with the university, the state will also create an AI Hub that will function as an incubation centre for AI research and development by startups, companies and academic institutions.
According to Shivakumar, the proposed university will focus on developing world-class AI talent, supporting research and encouraging collaboration between academia, industry and the government.
Calling Artificial Intelligence the defining technological revolution of the present generation, he compared its impact with milestones such as the steam engine, electricity, the internet and mobile technology. He said Karnataka wants AI to become a practical tool that improves governance and benefits people’s everyday lives.
The chief minister said the state’s long-term goal is to become an AI-native state where AI is adopted responsibly instead of remaining only 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.
Shivakumar highlighted Karnataka’s position in India’s technology sector, saying the state contributes nearly 40% of the country’s software exports. He added that Bengaluru is home to more than 17,000 startups and thousands of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) that design and engineer products for global markets.
He also said Karnataka will continue expanding its digital infrastructure, including data centres, to support AI innovation, cloud computing and next-generation digital services. The government also aims to strengthen the ecosystem for AI research, hyperscale computing and GCCs.
During his address, Shivakumar invited Google to deepen its partnership with Karnataka by collaborating on AI solutions for education, healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, urban mobility and governance. He also proposed working together to support startups solving Indian challenges at scale, expand AI learning opportunities for students across the state, make Karnataka a global laboratory for responsible technology and strengthen Google’s role as a long-term ecosystem partner.
Praising Google’s presence in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the company has spent more than two decades building engineering, research and innovation capabilities in the city. He added that products such as Search, Android, YouTube, Maps, Chrome, Gmail and Google Pay have transformed how Indians access knowledge, conduct business and interact with government services.
“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,” the CM said.
Concluding his address, Shivakumar encouraged developers to “build boldly”, entrepreneurs to “dream big”, researchers to continue innovating and students to never stop learning. He said Karnataka will continue shaping the future of technology while ensuring AI remains innovative, inclusive and trusted.
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