Kerala's Leap into the Future: AI Hub Unveiled

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan unveiled an Emerging Technology Hub in Thiruvananthapuram, focusing on AI integration in sectors like agriculture and healthcare. The initiative includes a Rs 350-crore investment, AI policy development, and educational courses. The hub aims to position Kerala as a leader in AI innovation and job creation.

In a significant push towards technological advancement, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the establishment of an Emerging Technology Hub in Thiruvananthapuram. Spearheaded by the Kerala Startup Mission, this Rs 350 crore initiative is designed to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) across critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, defence, and renewable energy.

The hub will be situated in Technocity, evolving into a central point for AI-driven innovation. As part of this expansive plan, the state government is drafting a comprehensive AI policy. This will encompass AI development, innovation centres, and support for startups in the AI domain. A collaboration with NVIDIA focuses on Small Language Models (SLM) research, further underlining the state's commitment to AI.

Amidst concerns of job displacement due to AI integration in the IT services sector, the Kerala government is prioritizing the creation of next-generation employment avenues. Educational institutions are also launching courses in AI and Data Science to fully embrace emerging technology and ensure a skilled workforce for future challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)