Chief Minister DK Shivakumar inaugurated KEO, an artificial intelligence-enabled computing device developed by the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation (KEONICS), marking a significant step towards providing AI access to all government school students in the state.
Shivakumar emphasised that the launch was intended to realise a broader vision of making technology and AI available across Karnataka, from rural areas to urban centres. “We don’t just launch a device. We launch a dream — the dream that every child in Karnataka, from rural villages to city centres, can learn, build and shape the future of artificial intelligence,” he stated.
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The government will begin by deploying 1,000 KEO AI Personal Computers in government schools, with the goal of eventually installing the technology in every government school in Karnataka, particularly those in rural locations. “This is not a pilot. This is a commitment. This is a promise,” Shivakumar said, underlining the importance of equal access to technology irrespective of geographic location.
KEO represents the evolution of KEONICS from supporting technology projects to developing solutions with social impact. The device enables students to learn coding, AI, machine learning, and electronics, while providing teachers with AI-based interactive learning tools.
Shivakumar highlighted that KEO aims to cultivate a distributed talent pool throughout Karnataka rather than concentrating technological opportunities in Bengaluru. “For years, talent flowed to Bengaluru. Today, with KEO, we are reversing that narrative,” he said. He added that a rural student using KEO could become a future innovator, entrepreneur or problem-solver.
Describing the initiative as a move to democratise opportunity and bridge the digital divide between government and private schools, Shivakumar stated, “Your child’s ZIP code should never determine their access to technology and opportunity.” He also called on industry partners and corporate social responsibility organisations to support the effort to expand KEO’s reach to all government schools.
Recalling Karnataka’s technology development, Shivakumar acknowledged former Chief Ministers Devaraja Urs, who established Electronic City, and S M Krishna, who strengthened the state’s technology infrastructure. He noted KEONICS’ key role in transforming Karnataka into a global technology hub. “Devaraja Urs and SM Krishna built the foundation for an entire generation of innovation,” he said.
Shivakumar said KEO embodies Karnataka’s commitment to creating homegrown technology solutions tailored to local needs, achieved through collaboration between the government, KEONICS, and the semiconductor and technology sectors. He added that KEO will advance with evolving technology, incorporating more powerful processors, improved AI models and expanded student opportunities. “KEO is just the beginning,” he said, reaffirming the government’s aim to ensure every government school in Karnataka has access to the device.
Ultimately, Shivakumar described the initiative as building a Karnataka where “talent knows no ZIP code,” offering universal opportunity and accessible innovation for all.
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