AI labs to come up in 10 colleges in capital, says Rajeev Chandrasekhar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar has announced that artificial intelligence (AI) laboratories will be established in 10 colleges in Thiruvananthapuram under the IndiaAI Mission unveiled recently.

Mr. Chandrasekhar, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the General elections in

Thiruvananthapuram constituency, told media the on Monday that the laboratories will be set up in collaboration with a global technology major.

He clarified the decision could not be dubbed as a poll promise and does not intend to make the election a condition to fulfil the announcement.

The Centre had received applications from 17 colleges, including both government and private sectors, in the State capital. The first batch of 10 colleges will be declared soon.

The laboratories will provide skilling opportunities, mentorship and support to startups and students.

Mr. Chandrasekhar also reiterated that he considered it his responsibility to help Thiruvananthapuram become a leader in startups and technology, including in the domain of AI. The city currently stood in the 18th position among startup ecosystems in the country.

The ₹10,372crore IndiaAI Mission will enable the country to develop its own Indian foundational models. “Based on our languages and India data sets, we expect that as a consequence of the IndiaAI Mission, we will have sovereign AI models that are designed in India,” he said.

Decision not a poll promise, says the NDA candidate for LS poll in Thiruvananthapuram