Bengaluru to get India’s first government-sponsored AI University, CM D.K. Shivakumar announces

Karnataka unveils ambitious AI roadmap with a dedicated AI University, stronger partnership with Google, and plans to use artificial intelligence in education, healthcare, agriculture and governance. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has announced that Bengaluru will be home to India’s first government-sponsored Artificial Intelligence (AI) University, marking a major step in the State’s efforts to become a global leader in responsible AI technology. The announcement was made during the Google I/O Connect India 2026 event held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) on Tuesday. The Chief Minister said Karnataka is working towards becoming an AI-native State, where artificial intelligence will play a major role in governance and the delivery of public services. He said the proposed AI University will help develop skilled AI professionals, promote advanced research, and strengthen collaboration between educational institutions, industries and the government. Shivakumar said the State plans to use AI across multiple sectors to improve services and increase efficiency. Also Read: Karnataka to form 10,000 Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas; ₹10 lakh annual grant for each According to him, AI-assisted teaching will improve the education sector, while healthcare will benefit through early disease detection and better medical support. Farmers will receive AI-powered advisory services to improve agriculture, government services will become faster and more citizen-friendly, and small businesses will be able to improve their competitiveness using AI-based tools. He said these initiatives will help Karnataka become a responsible global centre for AI technology. Welcoming participants to the Google I/O Connect India 2026 event, the Chief Minister said Bengaluru is not only India's innovation capital but also one of the world's most vibrant technology ecosystems. He said very few places in the world could naturally host an event of this s c ale because technology is deeply connected to everyday life in Bengaluru. Speaking about the evolution of technology, Shivakumar said every generation witnesses one major innovation that changes human civilisation. He noted that the steam engine transformed industries, electricity reshaped cities, the internet changed communication, mobile technology made services easily accessible, and today AI has the potential to redefine human capability itself. Also Read: 'Clean Bengaluru' drive from August 1; Government warns property owners, tax defaulters He added that AI is no longer viewed as just another technology but as one of the defining forces of the present generation. The Chief Minister said Karnataka is already playing a leading role in India's technology growth. He pointed out that the State contributes around 40% of India's software exports. Bengaluru is home to more than 17,000 startups, making it the startup capital of India. He also said thousands of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) have chosen Karnataka for product design, engineering and innovation aimed at global markets. Recalling Swami Vivekananda's message, "Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life," Shivakumar said Karnataka has remained focused on innovation and technology as its guiding vision. The Chief Minister described Google as one of Karnataka's strongest technology partners. He said that over the past two decades, Google has chosen Bengaluru not merely as an office location but as one of its most important global centres for engineering, research and innovation. According to him, Google employs around 18,000 people in India, of whom approximately 12,000 are based in Bengaluru, meaning nearly two-thirds of the company's Indian workforce is located in the city. He said this reflects Bengaluru's strength as a global technology hub. Also Read: Supreme Court backs Karnataka HC; Preliminary enquiry must be proper if source report is incomplete Shivakumar thanked Google's leadership and policy teams for maintaining a strong relationship with Karnataka and expressed the government's commitment to taking the partnership to the next level. The Chief Minister also said the government wants to use AI to address Bengaluru's traffic congestion. He noted that the city's population has grown from around 70 lakh 25 years ago to nearly 1.40 crore today, creating significant pressure on infrastructure and transportation. He said the governme nt is actively looking at AI-based solutions to improve traffic management and urban mobility. Reiterating the State government's commitment to technological progress, Shivakumar assured industry leaders that Karnataka would extend full support for AI-driven innovation. Calling for collective efforts, he said working together is the key to success and urged all stakeholders to join hands for the progress of Karnataka and the country. He assured that the Karnataka government would continue to stand with the technology sector in achieving these goals.