Odisha Forges Ahead in AI Revolution with Landmark Partnerships
Bhubaneswar witnessed a historic moment as the Regional AI Impact Conference kicked off at the State Convention Centre, positioning Odisha as a frontrunner in responsible AI for governance and public good.
Organized by the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Government of Odisha, the two-day event served as a precursor to the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in his virtual address, emphasised Odisha’s vision of becoming an AI-powered state to strengthen governance, accelerate service delivery, and empower citizens.
Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling highlighted the importance of local language AI models, aligning with the principles of Samruddha Odisha and Viksit Bharat, and underscored the guiding framework of “People, Planet, Progress” and “seven Chakras” for inclusive growth.
The conference announced major collaborations with global and national leaders in AI:
- OpenAI: Capacity building for students and officials, pilot use cases, and API credits.
- Wadhwani AI: Oral reading fluency assessments and behavioural nudges for Subhadra scheme beneficiaries.
- Sarvam AI: Enhancing issue resolution in government scheme delivery.
- TCS: Improving efficiency in the e-File management system.
Principal Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev unveiled Sushasan Sah’AI’Yak, an AI-powered chatbot designed to boost productivity among government officials.
A highlight of the event was the Odisha Vision 2036 Immersive AI Zone, a 360-degree exhibit showcasing AI applications in healthcare, education, disaster management, and citizen services.
With over 15 AI solutions already deployed across departments and an AI Centre of Excellence established with NASSCOM, Odisha has become India’s first state with a Cabinet-approved AI Policy.
International voices, including Dr Ahmed Hefnawy from Egypt’s MCIT, called for Global South collaboration in contextualised AI innovations.
Day Two promises deeper thematic discussions, reinforcing Odisha’s emergence as a regional AI hub and a key contributor to India’s technological transformation.
