Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met with representatives from Anthropic on August 6, 2026, to discuss a potential long-term partnership aimed at expanding artificial intelligence use in governance, higher education, healthcare, research and the local startup sector. The delegation was introduced by the state’s Electronics and IT Minister Priyank Kharge as part of efforts to involve global AI firms in developing the region’s technology capabilities. Talks centered on practical AI applications for government and business, stressing responsible implementation, data privacy and data control within the state. Shivakumar described plans for an AI-focused university, large skilling programs and support for advanced technology innovation. The sides reviewed AI certification courses under the NIPUNA initiative and possible uses of AI in healthcare research with the Indian Institute of Science. Enterprise adoption was also addressed, with attention to keeping government data stored locally. The state proposed secure access to public datasets for developing AI solutions in administration. Working groups were suggested to explore applications in e-governance and other departments, alongside measures for cybersecurity and citizen privacy. Shivakumar asked for input on using AI to reduce fraud in government systems and improve exam security. He also suggested subsidized access to the Claude platform for universities such as Visvesvaraya Technological University. Additional topics included support for over 20,000 startups, especially in deep technology, and pilot projects in tax collection and public services. Partnerships with non-governmental groups were considered to promote wider social benefits from AI.
