Bhubaneswar, Dec 17: The Odisha government will host a two-day Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit in Bhubaneswar from December 19, setting the stage for India’s larger AI Impact Summit scheduled in New Delhi in February 2026.

Briefing the media here, State IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the summit, organised by the Electronics & IT Department, will act as an official precursor to the national-level conference. He underlined Odisha’s ambition to position itself as one of the country’s frontrunners in adopting and deploying AI across governance and public sectors.

“Odisha is taking a future-ready approach to technology-led growth. With the Odisha AI Policy 2025, alongside progressive policies for FinTech, global capability centres, and advanced electronics, we are building a clear, responsible, and investor-friendly framework for population-scale AI adoption,” Mahaling said.

The Minister added that the state’s focus extends beyond infrastructure to building a complete innovation ecosystem backed by strong governance, world-class digital capabilities, and long-term policy certainty.

Electronics & IT Department Principal Secretary Vishal Dev said the summit will showcase how Odisha has already begun implementing AI solutions in healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance. “The conference will create a national platform to shape conversations around AI in governance, research, data infrastructure, and inclusive growth,” he noted.

The summit is expected to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and technology experts from across India and abroad. Discussions will align on Odisha’s long-term AI priorities, partnerships, and strategies to accelerate adoption.

Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has set its sights on becoming a global leader in AI applications. Odisha’s initiative reflects the state’s commitment to contributing to this national vision, while simultaneously driving regional innovation and economic growth.

By hosting the summit, Odisha aims to highlight its readiness for AI-led transformation and attract investments that can strengthen its digital economy.