With AI, Karnataka is entering a new phase of industrial transformation: Minister

Karnataka is entering a new phase of industrial transformation where artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and trusted digital ecosystems will redefine its global competitiveness, said M.B Patil, Minister for Large & Medium Industries & Infrastructure Development.

“With over 800 R&D centres, over 18,000 start-ups, and nearly 35% of India’s Global Capability Centres, Karnataka is uniquely positioned to lead this transition,” the Minister told the CII Karnataka State Annual Meeting 2025-26 in Bengaluru on March 10.

“Our focus now is not only on ease of doing business, but on the speed of doing business supported by policy stability, digitalised compliance, and a strong innovation ecosystem that empowers industry to scale responsibly and sustainably,” the Minister added.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, former president of CII and co-founder of Infosys, said, “Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology that will fundamentally redefine what was possible for economies, industries, and societies. The choices we make today as companies, as institutions, and as a nation, will shape India’s economic trajectory for decades to come. While AI offers extraordinary opportunities to expand productivity and democratise expertise, it is equally important that we invest in domestic capabilities, responsible governance, and large-scale reskilling to ensure that the benefits of this revolution are broad-based and inclusive.”

Thomas John Muthoot, Chairperson, CII Southern Region and Chairman & Managing Director of Muthoot Fincorp, said, “Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the way industries operate, but its success will depend not only on technological capability but also on trust, governance, and responsible implementation.

“As businesses integrate AI into their operations, it is essential that organisations focus on inclusive adoption, continuous skilling, and transparent frameworks that balance innovation with ethical responsibility.”

Rabindra Srikantan, Chairperson of CII Karnataka State Council 2025–26 and Managing Director of ASM Technologies, said, “Today, industry is experiencing a profound shift in how humans, machines, and intelligent systems work together across manufacturing and industrial value chains. As AI moves beyond assisting human judgement to enabling autonomous decisions, trust becomes the critical link between advanced technology and human confidence.

“This trust must be built through strong ethical frameworks, transparent governance, and accountability — ensuring that AI not only drives efficiency and innovation, but also supports responsible and sustainable industrial transformation.”

Guruprasad Mudlapur, Vice-Chairperson of CII Karnataka State Council 2025–26 and President of Bosch Group in India & Managing Director of Bosch Limited, said, “Industrial AI has evolved from experimentation to a core driver of productivity, quality, and resilience in manufacturing. Karnataka, with its engineering talent, innovation ecosystem, and industry-academia ties, is poised to lead, but success demands joint action across the ecosystem: SMEs, MSMEs, and MNCs collaborating on scaling AI for predictive maintenance, automation, and data-driven production.

“Equally critical are trusted digital ecosystems rooted in data security, transparency, and responsible AI to fuel this shared transformation.”

Published – March 11, 2026 10:26 am IST