Chief Minister D K Shivakumar reiterated the state's goal of being a global leader in responsible AI innovation on Tuesday by announcing that Karnataka will create India's first government-driven Artificial Intelligence University.
Additionally, he declared that the government will establish an AI Hub as an incubator for AI research and development by businesses, startups, and other entities.
During the opening of Google I/O Connect India 2026, which is being attended by technology leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, developers, researchers, and policymakers from all over India and the world, the chief minister made these remarks.
According to Shivakumar, the planned institution would be crucial in developing top-notch AI expertise, promoting research, and enhancing cooperation between government, business, and academia.Similar to the revolutionary effects of the steam engine, electricity, the internet, and mobile technology, he claimed that artificial intelligence is the defining technical revolution of the current generation.Bengaluru is one of the most active innovation ecosystems in the world in addition to being India's technological hub. The chief minister stated, "Karnataka's vision is to create one of the world's leading centers for responsible AI."
According to Shivakumar, Bengaluru is home to over 17,000 startups and thousands of Global Capability Centers that create and engineer goods for the international market, while Karnataka currently accounts for roughly 40% of India's software exports.

According to him, the state's primary goal is to become an AI-native state, where AI is employed sensibly to enhance daily life and governance rather than just being a catchphrase.AI must improve education, enable doctors to identify illnesses sooner, improve advising services for farmers, enable individuals to quickly and dignifiedly access government services, and enable small enterprises to compete with confidence," he stated.
The chief minister commended Google for its long-standing collaboration with Karnataka, pointing out that the business has made Bengaluru one of its most significant international hubs for engineering, research, and innovation for more than 20 years.

He claimed that Google's products, like as Search, Android, YouTube, Maps, Chrome, Gmail, and Google Pay, had revolutionized how Indians engage with government services, conduct business, and obtain information.
He claims that by growing its digital infrastructure, including data centers, to support AI innovation, cloud computing, and next-generation digital services, Karnataka would continue to solidify its position as India's technology hub.
According to him, the government wants to establish Karnataka as one of the world's top hubs for responsible artificial intelligence by creating a strong ecosystem that supports hyperscale computing, AI research, and Global Capability Centers (GCCs).
Shivakumar urged Google to work with Karnataka to develop AI solutions for healthcare, education, agriculture, climate resilience, urban mobility, and governance.

He listed five crucial areas for cooperation: Creating AI tools for small businesses, healthcare, education, and agriculture; helping startups solve Indian problems on a large scale; increasing AI learning opportunities for students throughout Karnataka; establishing the state as a global center for responsible technology; and strengthening Google's commitment as a long-term ecosystem partner.
The chief minister highlighted Karnataka's innovative culture and stated that technology revolutions start with curiosity and the readiness to question, "What if we could do this differently?"
Developers should "build boldly," entrepreneurs should "dream big," researchers should keep coming up with new ideas, and students should never stop learning, he said, adding that Karnataka will continue to shape the future of technology while making sure AI is creative, inclusive, and reliable.