KEO to take AI computing to every government school in Karnataka: Shivakumar

The State government on Friday rolled out the country’s first home-made AI personal computer, KEO (knowledge, economic and opensource) aimed at students, government schools and the common people who cannot afford expensive AI computing.

Unveiling the KEO, priced at ₹18,999, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that this innovative, affordable device that offers AI computing to the masses would democratise access to artificial intelligence and hence would greatly boost learning, farming and enterprising.

“The KEO will offer every government school student, teacher in the State an opportunity to learn and build with emerging technologies. It will also help farmers and entrepreneurs,” he said, adding that the KEO was a typical example of government-driven technology transformation for the masses.

According to the Chief Minister, the KEO represents the evolution of KEONICS from supporting technology projects to developing solutions aimed at creating wider social impact. “Your child’s ZIP code should never determine his or her access to technology and opportunity,” he stated.

Home Minister Priyank Kharge said that solving the problem of computing at the grassroot level is something no other State has done it. “This is truly India’s first affordable AI-PC make in Karnataka for our people while all others are welcome to buy and use it,’’ said Mr. Kharge.

The KEO is developed through a collaboration between the Department of Electronics, IT and Biotechnology, State-owned KEONICS, semiconductor partners, AI-focused system integrators, and brings together an open-source RISC-V processor architecture, open-source hardware and software and on-device artificial intelligence in a compact desktop platform.

Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda, Chairman of KEONICS, said, “Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi heralded the tech revolution in the country and KEONICS would like to dedicate the KEO to his memory. He also invoked former Chief Minister Devaraj Urs who was instrumental in establishing KEONICS. Today, we are also building a portfolio by launching the KEO Lite and KEO Pro,” he said.

Mr. Gowda told The Hindu that KEONICS was releasing 2,222 units of the KEO to start with. These devices would go across 239 taluks. Two Arivu Kendras and two government libraries in each of these taluks will get four devices each. Also, select government schools in 31 districts will get 10 devices each. These 2,222 devices are sponsored by industry leaders Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Kris Gopalakrishnan and Prashanth Prakash through a contribution of ₹1 crore each. In addition to these, KEONICS is currently preparing a second batch of 3,000 units.