The Elets India AI Summit, organised by Elets Technomedia in collaboration with the Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, and the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), concluded successfully on July 12, 2024. The event, held at the Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel in Brigade Gateway, brought together thought leaders, innovators, industry experts, and policymakers to explore the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various sectors, aiming to propel India towards its 2047 vision. The summit also witnessed the launch of a special edition of eGov magazine, dedicated to showcasing Karnataka’s enthusiasm and preparedness in leveraging AI to propel economic growth and societal advancement.

The summit featured Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister of IT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Departments, Government of Karnataka, as the Chief Guest. He emphasised Karnataka’s leadership in fostering innovation through various Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in fields such as IoT, cybersecurity, agri-innovation, and AI. Minister Kharge highlighted that by the end of this financial year, Karnataka plans to establish more CoEs in health sciences, wireless technology, biomanufacturing, and additional emerging sectors, focusing on nurturing talent, building skills, and addressing real-life problems through commercialization of innovations.

Programme mentors, Dr. Ekroop Caur, IAS, Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, and Darshan H.V, IAS, Director of the same department and Managing Director of KITS, were instrumental in the seamless organisation and execution of this highly successful summit. Their leadership and vision were key in orchestrating the event’s agenda and ensuring its impactful delivery.

Key speakers at the summit included D. Thara, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India; Manish Bhardwaj, Deputy Director General, UIDAI; A. Dhanalakshmi, Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India; Arvind Kumar, Director General, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI); Uma Mahadevan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods, Government of Karnataka; Yeshwanth V Gurukar, IAS, Executive Director, Center for Smart Governance, Government of Karnataka among others.

The discussions at the summit revolved around key topics such as Generative AI empowering governments and enterprises, AI-powered cloud and data centers, AI for citizen service experiences, accelerating the semiconductor ecosystem, Digital India Mission, digital public infrastructure, and cybersecurity and threat protection.

Delivering his welcome address, Dr. Ravi Gupta, Founder & CEO of Elets Technomedia and Editor-in-Chief of Elets CIO, provided exclusive insights into the organization’s journey. He recounted how Elets Technomedia started its e-governance journey two decades ago and pioneered launching print magazines, portals, conferences, and workshops on e-governance, digital learning, and eHealth sectors. Dr. Gupta emphasised that the summit aimed to bring together thought leaders, innovators, industry experts, and policymakers to explore the transformative power of AI across various sectors, propelling India towards its 2047 vision.

Addressing the event virtually, D. Thara, Additional Secretary (A & CV), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, highlighted the potential of AI to automate many government-administered processes, thereby improving efficiency in governance. She noted that AI could handle tasks like preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and various other reports, significantly reducing the time required for these processes and enabling quicker decision-making. Thara emphasised the importance of integrating AI across all ministries and sectors to enhance overall efficiency and streamline operations.

Speaking at the event, Shalini Rajneesh, Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka, stressed the importance of domain knowledge in socio-economic parameters as the foundation of any AI modeling or application. “Though, I wholeheartedly invite all AI practitioners to join the government in leveraging AI for governance. However, it is crucial to emphasize that domain knowledge of socio-economic parameters must be the foundation of any modeling, predictive analysis, or application.” She added.

Darshan H.V, Director, Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, and Managing Director, KITS, Government of Karnataka, spoke about the ever-evolving nature of technology and the pivotal role AI plays in this landscape. He noted that AI has seamlessly integrated into daily lives, reshaping industries and influencing society profoundly. He commended the Karnataka Government’s pioneering efforts in leveraging technologies to transform the country and its emergence as a leader in shaping the future of AI in India.

The 3rd Elets Startup Awards, was also held at the summit to celebrate visionaries and pioneers who are pushing the boundaries of IT and AI innovation across industries. Elets Technomedia extended heartfelt gratitude to the Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, and KITS for their support as Host Partners. They also thanked their partners, including CISCO, Google Cloud, Pinnacle, SBI, Open Text, IIM Bengaluru, L&T Cloudfiniti, among others for extending their generous support as supporting partners for the summit.

The Elets India AI Summit has set the stage for India’s AI-driven future, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts between the government, industry, and academia. The discussions and insights from this summit will serve as a catalyst for innovative AI applications, fostering a vibrant ecosystem that will drive India towards its 2047 vision.

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