Karnataka, Anthropic discuss AI partnership for governance, skilling, & deeptech

Karnataka has initiated discussions with Anthropic for a long-term partnership to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across governance, higher education, healthcare, research, and the state's startup ecosystem, as it seeks to strengthen its position as India's AI hub.

Chief minister DK Shivakumar met an Anthropic delegation on Thursday to explore collaborations in AI deployment, skilling, and deeptech innovation. The delegation was introduced by electronics, IT/BT, and home minister Priyank Kharge as part of the state's outreach to global AI firms.

The discussions come days after the state announced plans to establish India's first government-led AI university and incubation centre, underscoring Karnataka's strategy to attract global AI players while expanding its talent base and research ecosystem.


The meeting focussed on deploying AI solutions for government and enterprise use cases while ensuring responsible AI adoption, and data privacy and sovereignty. The state emphasised that government data should remain within the state.



Shivakumar outlined Karnataka's vision of building a comprehensive AI ecosystem centred on the proposed university, large-scale skilling programmes, and support for deeptech startups. Both sides discussed introducing AI certification programmes, including certification for Anthropic's Claude AI assistant, under the state's NIPUNA initiative to create a large pool of skilled professionals.

The two sides also explored AI applications in healthcare, life sciences, and scientific research, including potential collaborations with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Anthropic expressed interest in supporting AI-led research and higher education skilling initiatives.

The state proposed creating department-wise working groups to identify AI use cases across e-governance, the home department, and other government agencies. Discussions covered the use of AI to improve tax administration, public service delivery, and fraud detection in government systems.

Shivakumar also sought Anthropic's expertise in strengthening the security and confidentiality of question paper preparation for examinations conducted by government agencies and educational institutions.

The chief minister proposed subsidised access to Anthropic's Claude platform for higher education institutions, including Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), to expand AI education and research. The discussions also envisaged a 100-day collaboration roadmap with measurable milestones.

Further, Anthropic also explored opportunities to work with Karnataka's startup ecosystem, which has more than 20,000 startups, particularly in deeptech. The meeting also examined partnerships with public institutions and non-governmental organisations to ensure wider social adoption of AI.

The Anthropic delegation included Michael Sellitto, head of international policy; Chris Ciauri, managing director, international markets; Irina Ghose, managing director, India; Amlan Mohanty, head of India policy; and Samarth Masson, who leads go-to-market initiatives for the public sector, health, and education.

Senior state government officials, including IT/BT Secretary Dr Manjula N, the CM's secretary Munish Moudgil, and the CM's finance adviser LK Atheeq, also attended the meeting.