'Bengaluru Will Give India its First Foundational AI Model'

Union Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at the Invest Karnataka 2025 inaugural event at Bangalore Palace, declared that "Bengaluru will give India its first foundational artificial intelligence model." The announcement underscores the city’s growing role as a leader in the next wave of technological innovation.

Singh highlighted how Bengaluru, long recognised as India’s technology capital, has consistently been at the forefront of transformative industries. "Just as the city of India laid its software and technology foundation, I am confident that in the near future, Bangalore will give India its first foundational artificial intelligence model," he stated, indicating the government’s commitment to using AI as a key driver of economic and industrial growth.

The event, attended by industry leaders, policymakers, and investors, showcased Karnataka’s strategic position in India's economic and technological landscape. Singh praised Bengaluru’s role in India's ascent to global prominence, citing its deep-rooted expertise in aerospace, information technology, and now, AI. "As India, Bangalore not only creates the future of India but also saves it, driving innovation and progress at national and global scale," he said.

The minister also reassured investors about India’s evolving business climate, emphasising that the days of bureaucratic hurdles were over. "Today, India no longer presents red tape to investors. Instead, we roll out a red carpet for them," Singh remarked. 

A few days back, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced at the Utkarsh Odisha Conclave that India is set to develop its own generative AI model, aiming to rival global platforms like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. “Soon, we will have our own LLM,” said Vaishnaw.

The initiative will be driven by the IndiaAI Compute Facility, which has acquired 18,000 GPUs to support the creation of an LLM tailored to the country’s needs.

Invest Karnataka 2025, scheduled from February 12 to 14 at Bangalore Palace, is set to be a novel platform where global leaders, investors, and innovators converge to discuss the future of industries, economies, and technology.