Kerala Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer said there is no need to fear artificial intelligence and that the time has come to think not just about what AI can do, but whom it should serve. He was speaking after inaugurating the Kerala Regional AI Impact Conference, held at the Leela Raviz Hotel in Kovalam, aimed at assessing the practical possibilities of AI across sectors and its social and economic impact.
Shamseer stressed that AI should be used continuously and questioned critically, but not feared. He added that artificial intelligence holds value only when it contributes to improving human life. The one-day regional summit, titled Kerala AI Future Con, was organised by the state government as part of the preparations for the upcoming India AI Impact Summit.
Speaking at the event, Kavita Bhatia, Chief Operating Officer of the India AI Mission under the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said the India AI Summit 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi this February, would be historic. India will be hosting an AI summit for the first time, she noted, adding that by bringing together ideas from investors, industry leaders, startups, technology experts and students from across the world, India is setting an example for other Global South nations. She also revealed that over 25,000 registrations have already been completed for the summit, with participation expected to exceed one lakh.
Discussions at the Kerala AI Future Con focused on Kerala’s vision and action plan in the field of artificial intelligence. The conference was organised under the leadership of the state’s Electronics and Information Technology Department, in coordination with the India AI Mission under the Union Ministry and the Kerala IT Mission. The State IT Department, Kerala IT Mission, Kerala Startup Mission, Digital University Kerala, C-DIT and ICFOSS served as official partners.
Senior officials from the India AI Mission, representatives from central and state governments, policymakers, technology experts, startups, academic institutions and industry leaders participated in the conference. Alongside key discussions on Kerala’s AI roadmap, an AI exhibition was also held. The sessions focused on themes such as Responsible AI, AI for Public Good, Generative AI in Governance, Climate Resilience, and the use of AI in healthcare and education.
Electronics and IT Special Secretary Seeram Sambasiva Rao IAS, Kerala IT Mission Director Sandeep Kumar, and ICT Academy Kerala CEO Muraleedharan Manningal were among those who attended. The summit also featured an AI Expo, investor roundtable discussions and startup pitch sessions, which drew significant attention.
