IIT-Jodhpur's Distinction as the First 'MeitY Chair' in Emerging Technologies; Check Details Here

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IIT Jodhpur has excelled with its undergraduate program and advanced AI research, leading to its recognition as the first 'MeitY Chair' on AI.

IIT-Jodhpur's Distinction as the First 'MeitY Chair' in Emerging Technologies

New Delhi: IIT Jodhpur is a new-age institute that was first to start a full undergraduate program and advanced research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other new technologies. This led to them being recognized as the first 'MeitY chair' on AI in the country, as stated by the IIT Jodhpur Faculty members.

According to IIT Jodhpur, the AI and related courses are an important part of the curriculum for all their undergraduate and postgraduate programs, either as mandatory or optional subjects.

As per a senior IIT Jodhpur Faculty Member, the institute provides specialized programs for undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels focusing on Artificial Intelligence and its applications.

Since several other well-established IITs are already involved in advancing AI education and research, IIT-Jodhpur has been chosen as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) chair on AI.

On the institute's foundation day, which falls on August 4, the MeitY secretary announced a fund of INR 5 Crore for establishing this chair.

One of the senior faculty members also stated that the upcoming projects will encompass key AI and Machine Learning (ML) frontiers, deep-tech AI applications, and the ethical and governance aspects of AI.

What encouraged IIT Jodhpur to focus on AI-based Courses?

There was a growing need worldwide for engineers skilled in AI tasks. The advancements in AI technology have been revolutionary, benefiting various fields of science, technology, and humanities, shared the faculty member.

Further, the institute mentioned that the government is stressing the inclusion of AI in education. The MTech AI program was introduced in 2019, and the B Tech AI program started in 2020.

According to another faculty member, AI is relevant to all subjects and is becoming a foundational element in modern engineering. It can enhance the effectiveness of analysis, decision-making, and automation in various fields, the member added.

While discussions about the risks of AI are happening globally, the institute believes that issues related to data protection, privacy, ethics, and fairness are being recognized and addressed by creating suitable policies and rules at national and international levels.

The positive results of AI will be more significant than the needed efforts to counter any negative use of AI technology, the faculty member said.

Traditionally, many IIT graduates have gone abroad for work or further studies. However, the institute now observes a thriving research culture at higher education institutions in India. This means that talented individuals in India will discover more opportunities within the country.

There's a shortage of AI and data science engineers across the world, including India. With the government's drive to attract foreign investment and the expansion of multinational company branches in India, as well as the growth of Indian multinational companies, it is hoped that the skilled workforce in India will find a competitive work environment here.

The member also added that a world-class environment, along with a strong business and technology ecosystem in India, will attract talented individuals back to the country.

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