Kerala unveils AI push in governance, drafts state policy for responsible use

Kerala government is piloting AI in governance, working with 18 departments and Kerala AI Mission on 237 proposed solutions, while preparing a state AI policy focused on transparency and responsible use Kerala has begun a structured push to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve governance, with the state government drawing up a dedicated AI policy and piloting technology-led solutions across multiple departments. Governance problems mapped to AI solutions State IT Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty informed the Kerala Assembly that the government has already identified 51 specific issues in governance where AI could help enhance efficiency, transparency and service delivery. Start-ups working with the Kerala AI Mission (K ‐ AI) have proposed 237 AI-based solutions to address these problem areas, ranging from decision-support tools to citizen-facing applications. These proposals are now being vetted by the respective departments, and selected solutions will be rolled out on a pilot basis before wider adoption. Dedicated AI portfolio and mission The newly sworn-in Congress-led United Democratic Front government has created a separate AI portfolio under the IT department to give focused attention to the sector’s growth. Kunhalikutty said that 18 government departments are already collaborating with the Kerala AI Mission to explore AI uses in governance. The overarching goal is to use AI not just for automation, but to improve transparency, speed up public service delivery and strengthen data-driven decision-making. Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s emotional India Jersey moment wins hearts, touches Raghu’s feet Priority sectors and applications The government sees significant scope for AI in areas such as health, education, agriculture and disaster management. Possible applications include AI-powered decision support systems, advanced data analysis, and chatbots that can interact with citizens and frontline workers. Officials believe these tools can help in early disease detection, personalised learning support, precision farming advisories and faster disaster response. Alongside the pilots, Kerala is preparing a formal AI policy to guide development and deployment across the state. The policy will draw on national and international models and best practices, with an emphasis on responsible, transparent and accountable use of AI. Kunhalikutty said the government will also invest in awareness and training programmes so that officials and citizens can understand both the potential and risks of AI, and use it effectively and ethically. Also Read: Tilak Varma tipped to lead ‘New MI’ as Hardik Pandya trade all but sealed