Yogesh K Porwar
*Karnataka must aspire to become one of the world’s great centres of innovation;engineers must prepare for the age of AI and AGI.
Belagavi:Deputy Chief Minister Dr.G.Parameshwara called upon young engineers to prepare themselves for an era in which Artificial Intelligence will fundamentally transform industries,employment and society,and said that India must move from being a provider of technological talent to becoming one of the world’s leading creators of technology.
Addressing the 26th Annual Convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) as Chief Guest,Dr.Parameshwara said the present generation of engineers is entering professional life at an extraordinary moment of technological transformation.
“Artificial Intelligence can now write software, analyse medical images, design molecules and assist scientific discovery.
Quantum computing,robotics,
Prepare for the age of AGI:
Referring to rapid developments towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI),the Deputy Chief Minister said learning AI can no longer be optional for engineers.
He urged graduates to learn not only how to use intelligent systems, but also how to build them,question them and apply them responsibly.
“In the age of AGI,your advantage will not come from knowing what the machine already knows.It will come from knowing what to ask,what to build,what to trust, and what purpose technology should ultimately serve,” he said.
He stressed that human judgement,creativity,critical thinking and character would become even more important as machines become increasingly capable.
Engineers must take AI beyond technology companies:
Dr.Parameshwara said the AI revolution would not remain confined to software companies and technology laboratories,but would increasingly transform agriculture,manufacturing,
AI could help farmers detect crop diseases,predict weather risks and optimise irrigation; computer vision and intelligent machines could improve manufacturing productivity;and robotics could undertake repetitive and hazardous work while enabling people to move towards higher-value roles.
“Engineers must become the bridge between emerging technology and the real problems of society.The next great Indian engineering innovation could come from a farm in Karnataka,a textile unit,a small factory,a hospital, a construction site or a village,”he said.
He said India’s challenge was not simply to automate, but to use technology to make every Indian more productive, capable and prosperous.
India must become a creator of technology:
Highlighting India’s achievements in space technology and digital public infrastructure, Dr.Parameshwara said the country had demonstrated the capabilities of its scientists and engineers.
He said India must now raise its ambition from supplying technological talent to the world to building technologies and globally competitive companies of its own.
“India should not only use the technologies of the future; we must invent them.We should not only provide talent to the world’s great companies;we must build the next generation of great companies here,”he said.
Drawing attention to China’s manufacturing strength,he said India must combine its vast engineering talent with manufacturing,deep technology and innovation to emerge as one of the world’s leading creators of technology.
Karnataka must be at the centre of India’s technological century:
Highlighting Karnataka’s technology ecosystem,the Deputy Chief Minister said STPI-registered units in Karnataka recorded software exports of nearly Rs.4.59 lakh crore in 2024–25,accounting for roughly 43% of software exports reported by STPI-registered units across India.
He noted that Karnataka is home to around 550 Global Capability Centres and nearly 18,000 startups,while Bengaluru has emerged among the world’s leading cities for AI and Big Data.
“Karnataka must not merely remain India’s technology capital. It must aspire to become one of the world’s great centres of innovation,”he said.
He identified Artificial Intelligence,semiconductors, robotics, quantum technologies,biotechnology, aerospace,clean energy,advanced materials and next-generation mobility as major opportunities for Karnataka and India.
Technology must serve humanity:
Dr.Parameshwara cautioned that technological advancement without ethics and inclusion could create new inequalities and risks.
“Technology without ethics can divide societies. Innovation without inclusion can deepen inequality. Artificial Intelligence without responsibility can create new risks,”he said.
Invoking Dr.B.R.Ambedkar’s vision of education as an instrument of human emancipation and social transformation,he urged graduates to use their education not merely to build successful careers but to build a better society.
He asked young engineers to remember the farmer, cobbler,pourakarmika,weaver,
“Technology must reduce inequality, not reinforce it,”he said.
Five principles for graduating engineers:
The Deputy Chief Minister urged graduating students to carry five principles into their professional lives:never stop learning; have the courage to innovate; protect integrity; remain compassionate; and remember that knowledge carries a responsibility towards society and the nation.
He called upon students to periodically ask themselves whether their work was making somebody’s life better.
VTU must aspire to global leadership:
Dr.Parameshwara said VTU occupies a special place in Karnataka’s technological and higher education ecosystem and should aspire to emerge as a globally respected institution for engineering education,research and innovation.
He stressed the need to continuously modernise curricula, strengthen research,deepen industry collaboration,encourage entrepreneurship and prepare students for technologies that may not even have existed when their courses began.
“A university must never become merely a factory producing graduates.A great university produces ideas, discoveries, entrepreneurs, leaders and citizens,”he said.
Congratulating the graduating students and their families, Dr.Parameshwara urged them to dream beyond their present circumstances and use their knowledge to create opportunities for others.
“Today, you receive your degree.Tomorrow begins your responsibility. India has given your generation an extraordinary platform.Your generation now has the opportunity to give India an extraordinary future,”he said.
