Andhra Pradesh Government Advances AI Integration Across Public Departments
The Andhra Pradesh government is embarking on a significant digital transformation initiative by preparing to roll out artificial intelligence-based services across multiple public departments. This strategic move follows the establishment of a specialized AI Center of Excellence in Visakhapatnam, marking a new era of technological governance in the state.
AI Center of Excellence Established Through Strategic Partnership
In September 2025, the state government formalized its commitment to artificial intelligence by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Tech Bharat Research Foundation. This partnership led to the creation of an AI Center of Excellence in Visakhapatnam, specifically designed to advance AI applications for public welfare and governmental efficiency.
The center's flagship program is a comprehensive 120-day fellowship initiative where selected fellows collaborate directly with various government departments. During this intensive period, participants work to develop practical AI prototypes that address real-world public challenges and improve service delivery mechanisms.
Successful Fellowship Program Yields Tangible Results
The inaugural fellowship cohort comprised a dedicated 25-member team, including 10 fellows and 15 interns, who developed an impressive portfolio of 10 AI-driven systems. These innovative solutions were recently showcased at the AI for Public Good Demo Day summit, hosted by GITAM Deemed to be University. This event served as a pre-summit to the larger India AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026.
Among the developed solutions, one AI system has already been implemented in the state translation department, while the remaining nine are prepared for immediate deployment across various governmental functions. This rapid development-to-implementation cycle demonstrates the program's practical effectiveness.
Major Announcement: India's First Dedicated AI University
During the summit, AP IT secretary Katamaneni Bhaskhar made a groundbreaking announcement that further solidifies Andhra Pradesh's position as an AI innovation hub. The state government is establishing India's first dedicated Artificial Intelligence University in Amaravati, developed in partnership with global technology leader NVIDIA.
"The AI University will begin its operations on February 19," confirmed Bhaskhar, who served as chief guest at the event and distributed fellowships to program participants. This institution represents a significant milestone in India's technological education landscape.
Foundation of the AI Center: Experience and Collaboration
Paradigm IT Group founder Sridhar Gadhi explained the genesis of the AI Center of Excellence concept, which emerged from their extensive experience executing large-scale government technology projects. These included smart city platforms, Kumbh Mela management systems, and Covid-19 command centers.
"The memorandum of understanding swiftly followed, with industry partners including Google, Cisco, and L&T joining the initiative, while GITAM University came on board as the academic partner," Gadhi elaborated.
Rigorous Selection Process and Practical Implementation
The fellowship program attracted nearly 2,000 applicants from across the nation, who underwent a comprehensive multi-stage selection process. This included aptitude games, psychological assessments, programming evaluations, hackathons, and build-a-thons to identify the most capable candidates.
From this extensive applicant pool, 10 fellows were selected who, along with 15 interns from GITAM and other colleges, formed the core team that worked intensively for 120 days on practical AI solutions.
Gadhi further detailed the implementation process: "The state government contributed more than 200 problem statements from various departments, from which the fellowship team selected 10 of the most complex challenges. Fellows worked directly with departments, spending time on-site in Tadepalli and other locations to understand workflows, data constraints, and ground realities. Solutions were iteratively built, field-tested, refined, and prepared for deployment."
Future Expansion Plans
Mission Director Jignesh Talasila revealed ambitious expansion plans for the AI Center of Excellence. The center intends to launch its second cohort by April, with plans to increase intake and potentially address problem statements from beyond Andhra Pradesh at its Rushikonda campus.
This forward-looking approach positions the Visakhapatnam center as not just a state resource but potentially a national hub for AI innovation in public service delivery.
