Revanth Reddy seeks dedicated AI ministry
HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday urged the Centre to set up a dedicated ministry for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to position India as a global AI powerhouse.
Speaking at an AI summit in New Delhi, he said a specialised ministry was needed to oversee AI adoption, regulation, legal frameworks and national security in a coordinated manner.
AI a transformative shift in human history
Reddy said innovations such as fire, the wheel, agriculture, electricity and the internet had reshaped human civilisation, and AI represented a similar turning point. “AI is not just another technology; it is a transformative force in human evolution,” he said.
Unlike earlier machines, AI systems can learn, analyse and take decisions independently, he added. Combined with robotics, they are acquiring both cognitive and physical capabilities.
India must not miss AI opportunity
The chief minister said the global AI race had already begun, with several countries and companies moving ahead. Referring to missed opportunities during earlier industrial revolutions, he said India must not repeat past mistakes.
India, which has succeeded in services and software, should now lead in core technology products at the global level, he said.
Reddy stressed the need for an immediate national AI roadmap covering the entire value chain semiconductor chip manufacturing, graphics processing unit (GPU) capacity, data centres, green energy usage, AI platforms and applications.
He proposed the creation of a national “AI war room” with Centre state coordination to closely monitor global AI developments. Telangana, he said, was ready to host such a facility in Hyderabad if the Centre approved.
He also called for setting up a world-class AI university in the country to boost research.
Focus on jobs, skills and startups
Addressing concerns over employment, Reddy said AI could lead to job losses in some sectors. However, he added that new opportunities created by AI would be wider in scope if supported by re-skilling and up-skilling initiatives. He urged policymakers to prepare youth for an AI-driven future.
He proposed a national AI fund to support startups and announced that Telangana was ready to establish an “AI Startup Village” as a national hub for innovation.
Reddy also requested the Prime Minister to constitute an India AI Council as the apex body to guide policy, legislation and ethical standards in the AI sector.
He said AI development must promote social justice, poverty eradication, improved public services and national security. He urged global experts and institutions to work together to build a responsible and inclusive AI ecosystem, adding that the time had come for India to assume leadership in this era of technological change.
