Mysuru: Can artificial intelligence help solve everyday problems in a tribal hamlet — and create jobs in the process? A new JanAI Cafe opened in HD Kote Wednesday aims to find out by bringing AI tools and entrepreneurship opportunities to the doorstep of the Jenukuraba community.The cafe, housed inside a Millets Cafe run by Jenukuraba women, will function as a community hub for AI-assisted services, digital skills training and entrepreneurship. Drawing on insights from local households about everyday challenges and unmet needs, the initiative aims to help residents use AI tools while enabling local youth and women to build livelihoods around community-driven solutions.NITI Aayog full-time members Dr R Balasubramaniam and Dr Joram Aniya, who participated in the inauguration, highlighted community-driven innovation, inclusive technology adoption and grassroots entrepreneurship as key to the vision of Viksit Bharat.The JanAI HD Kote community listening inception report, a grassroots study on AI readiness and aspirations, was also unveiled at the event. The report draws on insights from hundreds of households on everyday challenges and demand-supply gaps, as well as feedback from rural youth on their aspirations, entrepreneurial ambitions and perceptions of AI.The survey was carried out by trained local youth, including girls.JanAI founder Madan Padaki, who is managing trustee of NGO Head Held High Foundation (HHHF), said the cafe combines community listening, local leadership, AI adoption and entrepreneurship, with an ambition to establish JanAI Cafes across India.JanAI will open its second centre in Vysarajapura in T Narasipura soon and has set a target of opening 100 such cafes in the next three-six months.
