The Odisha government is set to host a significant three-day Artificial Intelligence Summit in Bhubaneswar, commencing this Thursday. The event aims to assemble leading experts from government bodies, academic institutions, and the industry to collaboratively draft a comprehensive roadmap for India's AI future.
Summit Aims for Collaborative and Responsible AI Growth
The primary objective of the summit is to foster strong partnerships and outline actionable strategies for the inclusive and responsible integration of AI across sectors. Electronics and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling inaugurated the curtain-raiser event on Wednesday, signaling the state's ambitious push to become a national leader in AI implementation for governance and public services.
This state-level gathering is officially designated as a precursor to the larger India AI Impact Summit scheduled for 2026. Prior to the main regional conference, a crucial IndiaAI Working Group Meeting will be held on Thursday. This meeting is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and IT and the Odisha government.
Focus on Operationalising the IndiaAI Mission
The Thursday session will see key stakeholders from Union and state governments, academia, and industry converge to discuss the practical execution of the IndiaAI Mission. Deliberations will center on critical pillars like data infrastructure, computing power, skilling initiatives, and sector-specific AI applications.
The regional summit is designed to highlight Odisha's existing strides in deploying AI solutions in vital areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance. Simultaneously, it seeks to establish a national dialogue platform concerning AI's role in governance, research, data infrastructure, and inclusive economic growth.
Building a Future-Ready AI Ecosystem in Odisha
Minister Mahaling emphasized Odisha's forward-thinking approach to technology-driven development. He stated that the state is crafting a clear and investor-friendly framework for large-scale AI adoption through the Odisha AI Policy 2025, alongside its progressive policies for FinTech and Global Capability Centres.
"Our focus extends beyond mere infrastructure," Mahaling added. "We are committed to creating a holistic innovation ecosystem supported by robust governance, top-tier digital capabilities, and long-term policy stability. The core aim is to enable enterprises to build, scale, and lead from Odisha."
Echoing this sentiment, Electronics and IT Department Secretary Vishal Dev noted that the summit is a platform to demonstrate tangible progress. "The AI Summit will align departments, partners, and innovators around a shared AI roadmap and catalyze collaborations that can scale responsibly and sustainably," Dev explained.
The event is anticipated to yield concrete outcomes, including the signing of key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and the formalization of partnerships that will accelerate Odisha's journey in the AI domain.
