Mumbai: CM Devendra Fadnavis launched AI tools and oversaw the signing of agreements for AI implementation in various sectors in Maharashtra at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi on Friday.Fadnavis announced the launch of Shiksha Saathi, an AI-powered WhatsApp-based assistant for Anganwadi workers across the state. The AI-enabled tool, developed by Rocket Learning in collaboration with Open AI, will provide guidance on developmental milestones and early learning, national curriculum-aligned practices, activities rooted in Aadharshila standards, and everyday strategies to foster positive learning environments.The CM also launched the app ‘Kumbhdoot: AI Agent for Every Pilgrimage’, developed to provide guidance and assistance to devotees attending the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik.He also presided over the exchange of a letter of intent (LoI) between the GoM and Sarvam AI to build sovereign AI infrastructure at scale for deployment across the state. In a social media post, Fadnavis said, “Its key focus areas include strengthening AI foundations across education, health, agriculture, welfare delivery, and public administration; advancing research, innovation, and technological development; promoting skill development and training in emerging AI domains; and building a sovereign AI-optimised compute capacity of 20 MW, scalable up to 50 MW.”An LoI was also exchanged between the state govt and Open AI for collaboration in governance and innovation. This would include an AI Sandbox for government projects: development and piloting of up to 12 AI solutions across priority sectors such as agriculture, health, education, judiciary, IT, and urban and rural development. It would also include the Maha Open Space Sandbox Facility for exploring a physical facility for training, research, and innovation, as well as workshops, hackathons, and expert convenings, which would involve continuous engagement with Maharashtra’s AI and innovation ecosystem through events and collaborative programmes. Besides, it would include the development of AI-powered applications or websites to enhance citizen service delivery at scale, leveraging ChatGPT’s advanced features and third-party integrations with ChatGPT to enable enhanced citizen services in Maharashtra.Meanwhile, Fadnavis condemned the protest by Youth Congress party workers at the India AI Impact Summit on Friday. In a social media post, Fadnavis said, “Highly condemnable, disgraceful, deplorable! It is such a shame that Congress Party has stooped down to such a new low. What they did at Bharat Mandapam today is a display of their anti-India antics which is at the peak and they’re exposed yet again. It was a systematic well-planned strategy to disrupt India’s historic moment of tech leadership before the world. Absolute Shame! We strongly condemn such incidents & demand strong action against the culprits for the brutal attempt to tarnish Bharat’s name and respect.”
