The Indian Institute of Technology will launch a full-fledged bachelor course in Artificial Intelligence from the coming academic year (2019-2020). IIT Hyderabad will be the first institute in India to offer a course in AI. The course will have an intake of 20 students who can get into the program through JEE Advanced–annual engineering college entrance examination in India conducted by IIT. With this program, IIT Hyderabad would be the third institute across the globe to offer a full-fledged course in AI, after US-based Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The course will be taught by the Department of AI, IIT Hyderabad and will compromise of the study of algorithms from the computer science department, signal processing from the electrical engineering department, robotics from mechanical engineering department and mathematical foundations. The syllabus will also include application verticals like healthcare, agriculture, smart mobility, among others.
Moreover, this B.tech program will offer knowledge of the ethical impact of AI and its technologies on areas such as privacy, bias, and related issues, according to the institute.
IIT Hyderabad is already offering an M.tech program in AI, which includes Machine Learning and M.tech in Data Science.
“The basic aim is to create a complete ecosystem for Artificial Intelligence Academics and Research at IIT Hyderabad. This involves B.Tech, M Tech and different minor programs in AI. Moreover, the R&D will be strongly entwined with academics.” said UB Desai, director, IIT Hyderabad.
Artificial Intelligence has become an ever-expanding phenomenon through the years. We have seen an application of AI in our cars, smartphones, laptops and almost all the electrical appliances lately. With this expansion of AI in our lives, there has been a shortage of qualified workers in the field, according to a report from Reuters.
Microsoft, too, has shown a special interest in India in terms of the country’s rapid growth in AI. The company said that India will play a pivotal role in the development of AI technologies.
In that scenario, introducing a full-blown course in AI will help the country in standing up to the expectations.