Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu emphasized that while Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technologies are pivotal for smart governance, the human element must remain at the core of public service delivery. Speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on “Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies for Government Digital Transformation” held at the Secretariat, Naidu underlined the need to balance technology with empathy.

“AI-powered smart systems can revolutionize real-time service delivery, but technology must serve the people, not the other way around. As we bring in new-age solutions, we must ensure that the human touch is never lost,” Naidu said. He announced that the state is working towards setting up a massive data lake to harness data-driven governance for better policy-making and service delivery.

Recalling his own journey of technological adoption, the Chief Minister reflected on the days when 2 Mbps internet was a distant dream. “Three decades ago, we were striving to get even basic internet connectivity.”  

He urged officials to move away from outdated practices and embrace innovative approaches. “We have brilliant minds within the government, but we are still following archaic systems. It is time to transform our governance models to align with modern technologies,” he stressed.

Highlighting the pressing need to address land-related grievances, which constitute nearly 75% of public complaints, Naidu directed officials to expedite the digitization of land records. “Resolving land disputes swiftly is essential for citizen trust. Digital records will pave the way for transparency and efficiency,” he said.

Drawing parallels to the nation's progress in space technology, Naidu said, “There was a time when we marvelled at ISRO's satellite launches. Now, Indian startups are building satellites at a fraction of the cost. The world is looking at us with pride.”

The two-day workshop is set to delve deep into how AI, Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and emerging tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can reshape governance. Sessions will explore AI playbooks, pilot projects, data-driven governance, and evidence-based policy-making.

On Day 1, secretaries from various departments participated, while Day 2 will see department heads joining the deliberations.

Prakash Kumar, CEO of Wadhwani Center for Government Digital Transformation, highlighted the organization's two-decade-long journey in fostering innovation. “We have been training students, professionals, and even IAS, IPS, and IFS officers to become AI champions and enablers,” he said.

Kumar showcased various AI applications already in use like AI-driven traffic management and grievance redressal systems, AI tools aiding teachers (Guru Mitras) in lesson planning, and AI in education, healthcare, and structural monitoring (FeedFab). He emphasized that AI is not just about automation but about empowering governance with intelligence and innovation.