Karnataka to set up centre of excellence in AI

In a first-of-its kind initiative, the Karnataka government is all set to launch an exclusive Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Data Sciences and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Bengaluru early next month.

Nasscom will be the programme manager, and bring industries, technology players and entrepreneurs, among others, together to work on this next wave. The state government will fund the project and help in bringing a few startups that are already funded by them.

Interacting with DH, Karnataka Minister for IT and BT Priyank Kharge said the CoE for AI will give further impetus to the government’s ambition to make Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru, as the hub of next-gen technologies, especially AI, machine learning, neuroscience and robotics.

“The Karnataka government will provide approximately Rs 50 crore as financial support, and it is expected to get further boost from other companies that are heavily investing in AI along with startups across the globe. Data sciences and AI companies can avail the talent pool available in the state,” he said.

Nasscom Vice President-Industry Initiatives, K S Viswanathan, said the objective of the centre is basically to increase the adoption of analytics and to create a data science ecosystem.

The development comes at a time when Bengaluru is emerging as a AI hub.

Artificial intelligence helps machines to carry out tasks in a smart and intelligent way.

Machine Learning is applications of AI to give machines access to data and let them learn for themselves.

Bengaluru became the cynosure of all eyes after Google acquired the city-based AI startup Halli Labs for an undisclosed amount. According to an IT analyst, AI is at present in the phase of what mobile app was in the beginning.

“Machines and devices with AI are classified into one of two fundamental groups – applied or general. Applied AI is where common problems, majority single solution is provided, for instance, manoeuvering an autonomous vehicle,” said the analyst.

The generalised AIs are systems or devices that can handle any task and some of the most exciting advancements are happening today in that space. “Generalised AI also led to the development of Machine Learning and often referred as a subset of AI,” he said.

According to a recent report by Assocham India and PwC, Data science is driving the AI market, with organisations looking to leverage AI capabilities for predictive modelling.

Talking about challenges, the report says, Indian academics, researchers and entrepreneurs face a more acute challenge than corporates do in terms of the less than ideal infrastructure available for an AI revolution in India.