Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized that technology should be harnessed to bring meaningful improvements to people’s lives, rather than remain confined to theoretical discussions. He made the remarks while inaugurating the closing session of the AI FutureCon summit in Thiruvananthapuram.
The summit, held in Kerala as a precursor to the Global AI Summit scheduled in Delhi this February, marks an important milestone in the state’s vision for a knowledge-driven, modern Kerala. “Kerala is committed to using innovative and technological ideas to drive social change,” Vijayan said.
The Chief Minister noted that artificial intelligence can play a key role in bringing revolutionary changes across governance. Automation can streamline government services and make it easier to collect citizens’ feedback. In healthcare, AI can assist in early disease diagnosis and ensure better treatment at lower costs for the public. Predictive analytics can help anticipate natural disasters, while AI-based education initiatives aim to equip students from school level onwards with skills to excel in the workforce.
Over the past decade, Kerala has made significant strides in the IT sector. The state now hosts one of the world’s most vibrant startup ecosystems, India’s first digital university, and the Graphene Innovation Centre in Kochi, which has set new standards in technological research. Expansion of IT parks in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode has created numerous job opportunities.
Vijayan also highlighted the importance of protecting citizens’ privacy and security even as technology grows, which is why the summit emphasized the concept of “Responsible AI.” He underlined that the recommendations emerging from this summit will be crucial as Kerala continues its journey toward becoming a knowledge economy.
