Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Karnataka partners with Anthropic to train two lakh in AI
The government of a state in India called Karnataka wants to teach a lot of people about artificial intelligence, or AI.
AI is technology that can think and learn like humans.
Karnataka is teaming up with a company called Anthropic, which makes an AI helper named Claude.
Together, they want to train two lakh people, which is two hundred thousand people.
That is a huge number of students!
The classes will be special courses that give certificates when you finish.
These certificates will help students get jobs because companies trust them.
The courses will be taught at universities like VTU, UVCE, and IIIT Bangalore.
The leaders also want cheaper access to Claude so students can practice using AI.
This will help Karnataka build a big AI university in the future.
Karnataka and Anthropic will jointly develop industry-backed AI certification programmes to train up to two lakh people.
The move comes ahead of the state's proposed AI University and is part of a broader AI ecosystem vision by CM D K Shivakumar.
Shivakumar made the proposal during a meeting with an Anthropic delegation led by Michael Sellitto, Head of International Policy.
The certificate courses are expected to be delivered through VTU, UVCE and IIIT Bangalore, with Anthropic helping design curriculum and assessment.
The chief minister also sought subsidised Claude AI subscriptions for engineering students and PhD scholars, which could benefit at least 10,000 VTU-affiliated students.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and an Anthropic delegation led by Michael Sellitto, with the meeting arranged by Minister Priyank Kharge.
- What
- A partnership to co-develop industry-backed AI certification programmes to train up to two lakh people, ahead of launching a proposed AI University.
- When
- Thursday, August 8.
- Where
- Karnataka, India.
- Why
- To expand AI skilling at scale, give students industry-recognised skills, and build a coordinated AI ecosystem around the proposed AI University.
- Parties involved
- Karnataka government and Anthropic
- Training target
- Up to 2 lakh (200,000) people
- Proposal led by
- CM D K Shivakumar; meeting arranged by Minister Priyank Kharge
- Anthropic delegation lead
- Michael Sellitto, Head of International Policy
- Participating universities
- VTU, UVCE and IIIT Bangalore
- Certification support
- Curriculum design, teaching materials and assessment framework
- Subsidised Claude access
- Requested for engineering students and PhD scholars; at least 10,000 VTU-affiliated students could benefit
- Related initiatives
- Proposed AI University and NIPUNA skilling initiative