Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently a powerful aspect of our daily lives. It helps us in the form of mobile assistants, self-driving cars and more. The technology is no longer limited to just tech companies or research labs in India. One big sign of the change is growing number of people enrolling in an artificial intelligence course. When did India first start offering artificial intelligence course? Let us take a brief look at the journey of AI education in the country.
1960s to 1980s
The connection of India with AI dates back farther than many can imagine. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and a couple of more giants started exploring the basics of computing and automation in the 1960s. The early studies however were not officially labelled as “AI.” They laid the foundation for future learning.
Two Indian professors made history in the 1970s. Prof. G. Krishna introduced the so-called first artificial intelligence course in the country. Prof. B.L. Deekshatulu started teaching pattern recognition around the same time and this is now a core part of AI studies. They sparked interest in the growing field even though the courses were rare and only offered in top research institutions.
Spreading Roots: 1990s to 2000s
The 1990s witnessed more attention to AI equipped with the rise of computers and the internet. Indian universities then started seeing AI as more than just theory and it was becoming a skill in demand. Prof. P.S. Sastry from IISc introduced a machine learning course during the same period. It was a giant leap forward as it showed that AI was being treated as a real subject having real-world applications.
The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H), became a leader in AI research in the early 2000s. They started groups which mainly focused on natural language processing, robotics and computer vision. These topics are basically now important in any modern artificial intelligence course.
2010s and Beyond
It is very true that AI really took off in during the 2010s in India. The demand for skilled professionals increased as companies around the world gradually started investing in AI. Indian educational institutions quickly adapted to the growing demand.
IIT Kharagpur launched a six-month certification program in AI and machine learning in 2019. The so-called artificial intelligence course was designed for students and also for working professionals who were looking ahead to upgrade their skills. It marked the beginning of AI education which were offered outside of traditional classrooms.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) encouraged engineering in the same time various colleges in India to start new courses in AI. Hundreds of colleges had included artificial intelligence courses in their degree programs by 2020. AI was for researchers and as well as for everyone now.
Role of Government and Online Platforms
The Indian government played an important role in making AI education accessible to all. It launched the SWAYAM platform in 2017. It was an online learning space that offered free courses in several subjects including AI. The artificial intelligence courses allowed students from smaller towns to access high-quality content. The courses were not expensive.
Simultaneously, a platform named SATHEE was introduced in 2023 by the Ministry of Education. It partnered with IIT Kanpur and the University Grants Commission. It used AI to help students in preparing their entrance exams.
Specialized Institutions and AI Universities
India witnessed another major milestone in 2023 when it launched Universal AI University in Maharashtra. The university is first of its kind and entirely dedicated to AI. It offers full-time artificial intelligence courses for the undergraduates, postgraduates and those who are at doctoral levels.
The university follows a unique as it combines AI with other subjects including business, healthcare and law.
Why Artificial Intelligence Courses Matter Today
The value of an artificial intelligence course is undoubtedly widely understood. Students from all backgrounds now seeks to learn AI as they know that it improves their job prospects. Businesses are gradually preferring to hire such people who can understand the process of working with data and automation.
AI is simultaneously also shaping agriculture, finance, healthcare, education, transportation and more such industries. AI tools are now being used to predict crop yields, detect diseases, prevent fraud and even personalize learning for students.
Need for Quality and Inclusivity
AI education is growing at a rapid pace, but not all artificial intelligence courses are of high quality. Some are focusing too much on theory and fail to provide real-world skills. Others are too basic and fail to explain the way AI affects our society.
Another challenge is access. Students in cities have access to the good internet and modern tools. Many students in rural India are still struggling with connectivity. AI courses need to be made available in regional languages and adapted to different learning levels.
AI is Future
The popularity of artificial intelligence course represents a long-term shift in the way we prepare for the future. Learning about AI helps to stay relevant in a changing job market. It simultaneously also helps to think critically about technology and also its impact on society.
AI education is also about awareness apart from employment. We can have better conversations about ethics, data privacy and bias in algorithms when more people understand the way AI works. A good artificial intelligence course can build awareness alongside technical knowledge.