Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar Unveils Plan for India's First Government-Led AI University
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday announced that the state will establish India's first government-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) University , reaffirming Karnataka's ambition to emerge as a global leader in responsible AI innovation .
The announcement was made while inaugurating Google I/O Connect India 2026 in Bengaluru, an event attended by technology leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, developers, researchers and policymakers from India and across the world.
Along with the proposed AI University, the state government will also set up an AI Hub , which will function as an incubation and research centre for startups, companies, researchers and innovators working in the field of artificial intelligence.
Shivakumar said the AI University would play a key role in building world-class AI talent , advancing research and strengthening collaboration between academia, industry and government. The institution is expected to focus on emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, data science and related fields while helping create a highly skilled workforce for the future.
Describing AI as the defining technological revolution of the present generation, comparable to the impact of the steam engine, electricity, the internet and mobile technology, he said Karnataka's vision is to become an AI-native state where technology is used responsibly to improve governance and improve people's daily lives.
“ Bengaluru is not just India's technology capital but one of the world's most vibrant innovation ecosystems,” Shivakumar said, adding that AI should help teachers teach better, doctors diagnose diseases earlier, farmers receive better advisory services, citizens access government services more efficiently and small businesses compete with greater confidence.
The proposed AI Hub will support research and development, startup incubation, innovation and commercialization of AI-driven solutions. It is expected to provide a platform for collaboration among startups, industry leaders, investors and academic institutions while helping transform research ideas into market-ready products.
Highlighting Karnataka's strengths, the Chief Minister noted that the state contributes nearly 40 per cent of India's software exports , while Bengaluru is home to more than 17,000 startups and thousands of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) that design and engineer products for global markets.
Shivakumar also praised Google for its long-standing partnership with Karnataka and invited the company to collaborate on AI solutions for education, healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, urban mobility and governance. He said the government would continue expanding digital infrastructure, including data centres and cloud computing facilities, to strengthen Karnataka's position as one of the world's leading centres for responsible artificial intelligence.