AI should enhance human creativity: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said Artificial Intelligence must remain a tool to enhance human creativity and not replace artists, stressing ethical use, protection of intellectual property and fair compensation in the AVGC-XR sector.
He also called upon industry leaders to invest in original content, educational institutions to modernise curricula, young creators to dream fearlessly and global partners to collaborate with Karnataka.
Speaking after inaugurating the seventh edition of Bengaluru GAFX- Games, Animation and Visual Effects Conference, themed "Evolution Reloaded", here, he said Karnataka's commitment to the AVGC-XR sector was not recent or reactive, asserting, "We have been pioneers."
Siddaramaiah recalled that in 2017, Karnataka became the first state in India to implement a dedicated (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics) AVGC policy.
"That decision was driven by foresight, recognising that content creation would become as powerful as code creation," he said.
"Today, GAFX represents the next great frontier. The Games, Animation and Visual Effects sector is no longer a small creative industry. In the era of digital revolution, immersive media, streaming platforms, e-sports, and extended reality, GAFX is shaping how humanity experiences stories, culture, education and even governance," he said.
The CM said the government is implementing its third AVGC-XR Policy for 2024-2029, reflecting sustained commitment to the sector.
"Our AVGC-XR Policy has provided incentives, infrastructure support, skill-building initiatives, incubation systems, and institutional collaboration to nurture this ecosystem," he said.
On Artificial Intelligence, Siddaramaiah said it is transforming content pipelines and enhancing productivity, but cautioned that it must remain a tool and not a substitute for human imagination.
"Technology should amplify human potential, not erase it. The soul of storytelling is human emotion, something no algorithm can replicate in its fullness," he said.
Calling for ethical usage of AI, he said, "Respect for intellectual property, data privacy, fair compensation, and skill upgradation must be central."
Emphasising expansion beyond Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said digital creative clusters are being promoted in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi and other emerging cities.
"We want the next great game designer or VFX innovator to emerge not only from the capital, but from every district of Karnataka," he said.
The CM said Karnataka should be known not only as the Silicon Valley of India but also as the "Creative Capital" of the Digital World.
Siddaramaiah said the state is reimagining tourism through Augmented Reality and integrating immersive AVGC-XR technologies into education, medical training through simulation, and digital preservation of cultural heritage.
He said the sector is both an economic and civilisational opportunity, empowering youth and enabling rural talent to create global content.
With the potential to create 20 lakh jobs over the next five years, the sector would generate employment across design, coding, storytelling, music, motion capture, AI modelling and production management, he said.
Calling for structured skill development, the CM said educational institutions must integrate AVGC-XR skills into mainstream education.
Outlining five strategic priorities, Siddaramaiah said the state would focus on building a future-ready talent pipeline, strengthening infrastructure, supporting startups and original intellectual property, expanding opportunities beyond Bengaluru, and building global partnerships.
While encouraging innovation in animation and gaming, he said, "We must also uphold responsibility, promoting ethical game design that avoids glorifying violence, safeguards the mental well-being of children, and encourages creativity, critical thinking and positive social values."
The chief minister assured that the government is committed to policies that protect human creators and users while empowering them with new tools.
"We will ensure that progress is inclusive. The digital revolution must not widen inequality; it must democratise opportunity," he said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
