India (Commonwealth Union)_ In a significant move to position Kochi as a pivotal center for AI-assisted technology in India, the Kerala government is set to organize a global artificial intelligence (AI) summit in the city later this year. This strategic initiative aligns with IT giant IBM India’s plan to designate Kochi as a major hub for AI. Accordingly, Industry Minister P Rajeev and Suman Billa, the principal secretary of the industry department, engaged in discussions with Dinesh Nirmal, IBM India’s Senior Vice President (Products), resulting in an in-principle agreement for IBM India to establish its AI hub in Kochi. Following these discussions, the state government has further committed to hosting a global AI summit by the middle of 2024.
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Minister Rajeev highlighted the transformative impact of Kochi becoming IBM’s AI hub, anticipating an influx of top technology professionals from around the world. This trend, he noted, could lead to reverse migration and significantly benefit the new generation in IT. Additionally, Rajeev emphasized the potential for doubling the number of IBM staff compared to the current total. He said, “By becoming the AI hub of IBM, Kochi will see an influx of top technology professionals from across the globe. This will particularly benefit the new generation in IT. Also, it can double the number of IBM staff vis-à-vis the prevailing total”.
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The decision by IBM to make Kochi its AI hub is expected to catalyze other industry players to follow suit, especially with Infopark entering its second stage of expansion, enhancing facilities to support IBM’s initiatives. The proposed Kochi hub will focus on generative AI, going beyond generic AI. IBM is already providing AI services to global entities such as Boeing. Minister Rajeev expressed optimism about Boeing’s participation in the upcoming AI Summit.
The summit, organized in collaboration with the state’s Department of Industry, will involve key stakeholders like IT Parks, Kerala Startup Mission, Digital University, and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) will present preparations to position Kochi as the country’s principal AI hub. These decisions were reached during a video conference attended by Keltron CMD N Narayana Moorthy. The discussions also resulted in a consensus on Samsung establishing a center for semiconductors and chip design in the region.
