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‘Take AI to the grassroots’: Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda on Karnataka’s affordable 'AI PC'

Hosakote MLA and Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Chairman Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda said Karnataka has developed a low-cost AI PC priced at around Rs 18,999, with the state aiming to give schoolchildren early exposure to artificial intelligence while strengthening its semiconductor design ecosystem,

By the Truvace desk1 min read1 sourceJournalismTRV-2026-1196· cite & verify
‘Take AI to the grassroots’: Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda on Karnataka’s affordable 'AI PC'

In brief

On September 26, 2026, Karnataka officials said the state had developed a low-cost AI PC priced at around Rs 18,999. The stated aim is to provide schoolchildren with early exposure to artificial intelligence while also supporting the state's semiconductor design ecosystem.

The effort matters because affordable hardware could determine whether AI literacy reaches public schools rather than remaining limited to well-funded institutions. What remains unclear from the supplied text is distribution scale, curriculum integration, and actual classroom availability beyond the announcement.

Main points

  1. The initiative was announced by Hosakote MLA and Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Chairman Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda.
  2. The device is positioned at around Rs 18,999 to make AI access affordable at the grassroots level.
  3. The state links the program to strengthening its semiconductor design ecosystem alongside education.

The gain

Karnataka has built an affordable AI-capable personal computer to give schoolchildren early hands-on exposure to AI.

The rundown

The announcement came from the chairman of the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation, who is also the Hosakote MLA, framing the device as a state-led effort.

Pricing around Rs 18,999 is presented as the mechanism to take AI to the grassroots, with dual goals of early learning for students and building local design capacity.

Sources

  1. JournalismMoneycontrol2026-09-26

The debate