Karnataka to launch India's first government‑driven AI University

Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced at the Google I/O Connect India 2026 event in Bengaluru that Karnataka will establish India’s first government‑driven Artificial Intelligence University and an AI Hub to incubate research and development. The university is intended to produce world‑class AI talent, advance advanced research and create strong links between academia, industry and government. Shivakumar described AI as “the defining technological revolution of this generation” and said Bengaluru is “one of the world’s most vibrant innovation ecosystems.”

Karnataka contributes roughly 40 % of India’s software exports, hosts more than 17,000 startups and thousands of Global Capability Centres. The state plans to expand digital infrastructure, including new data centres and hyperscale computing facilities, to support AI workloads. The AI Hub will bring together startups, companies and research institutions to accelerate AI‑driven solutions across education, healthcare, agriculture, governance and small‑business competitiveness. The chief minister invited Google to deepen collaboration on AI tools for these sectors and to help position Karnataka as a global laboratory for responsible AI.

A separate policy draft aims to strengthen the state’s digital backbone to sustain AI growth and further attract Global Capability Centre investment, reinforcing Karnataka’s ambition to become an AI‑native state.