L-G urges universities to set up AI labs for research, innovation
Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha, during the National Science Day seminar at the University of Kashmir on Friday, urged all universities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to establish Artificial Intelligence (AI) labs for cutting-edge research and innovation.
Addressing the seminar, L-G Sinha extended his greetings on the occasion and paid tributes to the renowned scientist C.V. Raman. This year’s theme for National Science Day is “Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science and Innovation for Viksit Bharat.”
In his keynote address, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised the importance of promoting advancements in science and technology, fostering creativity and encouraging innovation for a sustainable future. He highlighted the rapid technological advancements occurring globally, stressing the need for AI to be integrated into the region’s educational and industrial landscape.
He urged universities in J&K to set up AI labs that will operate as separate entities within the Science & Technology Department. These labs will foster multidisciplinary collaboration with industry, researchers, educators and technologists. “We cannot imagine a future without AI. It will have a profound impact on every aspect of our lives and that’s why it is critical to enable our youth to develop their AI knowledge, reskill and up-skill the workforce to keep up with AI trends and make J&K more competitive,” Sinha said.
The L-G further elaborated that the AI labs in universities would work closely with local industries to integrate AI discoveries and innovations into businesses. Research will focus on the current use of AI and explore ways to enhance its adoption for increased productivity and profitability.
Additionally, Sinha called for a flexible approach toward AI in universities, recommending the introduction of short-term courses in line with rapid AI advancements and industry trends. “Scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs will power the journey of Viksit Bharat. They will drive India’s scientific and technological progress and provide a strong foundation to the innovation ecosystem of Jammu Kashmir,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, L-G Sinha emphasised that AI would be indispensable for sectors such as health, emergency services and business leadership. He tasked the universities with conducting workshops and weekly training modules to ensure that the entire workforce in J&K becomes AI-literate. “It will be the responsibility of all AI labs of universities to conduct workshops and weekly training modules for them so that our entire workforce in J&K becomes AI literate and leaders from various sectors are also better equipped to make the right decisions,” he added.
The L-G also called on students and faculty members to collectively work on an integrated action plan over the next five years, leveraging new technologies like AI for the development of J&K. Alongside ground-breaking discoveries, he stressed the need for innovations that offer solutions to local sector challenges. Furthermore, he emphasised that AI must adhere to ethical standards and be free from bias.
