BITS Pilani to Establish AI+ Campus in Andhra Pradesh Amid Technological Disruption

'Focus on...': Why KM Birla is advising techies to move beyond AI in the age of disruptions

Kumar Mangalam Birla addressed BITS Pilani's Class of 2025, urging graduates to lead a 'generative life' creating lasting value amidst global uncertainty and technological disruption. He emphasized resilience and stewardship. BITS Pilani is also set to establish its first Artificial Intelligence Plus Campus in Andhra Pradesh, offering cutting-edge AI programs and fostering innovation. Addressing the Class of 2025 at BITS Pilani's Convocation, Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla delivered an inspiring message to young graduates stepping into a world marked by both contradictions -- uncertainty and opportunity, disruption and innovation. "You are all, of course, passing out at a time of great global uncertainty. We are all being buffeted by the crosswinds of geopolitical turmoil and relentless technological disruption. The world appears uncertain and paradoxical in equal measure," Birla said during his address. He continued, highlighting the surreal nature of global events, "Take the month of June -- it seemed like we were at the brink of World War III, with headlines warning of escalating conflict and disruptions to global trade. Yet benchmark indices in the US hit record highs. It is a world where anxiety and optimism co-exist." Birla, whose group spans industries from telecom and metals to fashion and retail, urged students -- to live a generative life, a concept that resonates in an age dominated by artificial intelligence. "Today, in an age of generative AI, there is much discussion about what machines can produce. But I invite you to consider instead the idea of a generative life -- one fuelled by deliberate creative energy," he said. "A generative life is one that creates lasting value. It is the capacity to build what endures. It means choosing to make things better. It is about cultivating resilience or the ability to regenerate after setbacks. It is about stewardship -- or the responsibility to impact institutions and communities in a way that they are stronger than when we found them." The renowned deemed university, BITS Pilani, is to set up its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Plus Campus in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said on Monday. He thanked Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of Aditya Birla group and chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS)-Pilani, for selecting the southern state to set up the campus. In a post on X, Naidu said, the campus will offer world-class academic and industrial exposure. "With cutting-edge programmes in AI, Data Science, Robotics, Cyber-Physical Systems, and Computational Linguistics, the campus will offer a dynamic, global model of education with international exposure and hands-on industry internships," he said. The Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh will become the hub of AI-driven education, producing leaders for global industries while strengthening local employment, innovation ecosystems and economic opportunities. Naidu further said that BITS Pilani's investment reflects Andhra Pradesh's readiness for next-generation education, ensuring top-notch infrastructure, ease of doing business and proactive governance for such transformative educational projects.

BITS Pilani to Set Up AI+ Campus in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh: Kumar Mangalam Birla

BITS Pilani Digital to launch 32 online programs, reaching over 1,000 learners. Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, who is also the Chancellor of BITS Pilani, on July 13, Sunday, announced an investment of Rs 2,200 crore for three major initiatives that include a capacity expansion plan for BITS Pilani under Project Vistaar, the launch of an AI+ campus at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, and the unveiling of the edtech platform BITS Pilani Digital. Speaking at the Convocation 2025 of the institution, Birla reaffirmed BITS Pilani's commitment to nation-building as India aspires to become a 10-trillion-dollar economy and a knowledge superpower. Also Read: We Built Everything Ourselves End to End: Core, Hardware, Software for Jio 5G, Says Mukesh Ambani Out of the Rs 2,200 crore, around Rs 1,200 crore will be invested to expand and modernise BITS campuses under Project Vistaar, while approximately Rs 1,000 crore will be invested in the new AI campus in Amaravati. The first initiative is Vistaar, under which existing campuses of BITS in Pilani, Hyderabad, and Goa will be further strengthened with new academic blocks, cutting-edge research facilities, student hostels, and other amenities. "The vision is to deliver new academic blocks, cutting-edge research facilities, student hostels, faculty residences, and a broad range of amenities to accelerate the creation of a truly holistic, future-ready learning environment," Birla said. According to Birla, this initiative will also expand the student capacity at these three campuses to 21,000 from the current 16,000 over the next five years. Overall, the total student strength across all BITS Pilani campuses is expected to grow from 18,700 to approximately 26,000 in the next five years. The second initiative is the AI+ Campus in Amaravati, Birla said. "BITS Pilani is ready to set up a one-of-a-kind AI+ Campus at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. The focus of this campus will be to prepare Indian talent for leadership in the most defining technologies of our time. This future already campus will specialise in AI, data science, robotics, computational linguistics, and cyber-physical systems. The undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs have been designed with global best practises in mind, offering industry internships, joint PhDs with top international universities, and hybrid winning models that give students true international exposure." "The Amravati campus will also serve as a hub for research and to fostering entrepreneurship, with smart, sustainable infrastructure built in two phases to support over 7,000 students," Birla added. Also Read: Jio Building World's Best AI Infrastructure in India: Mukesh Ambani The third initiative of the institute is BITS Pilani Digital, an edtech platform that would extend BITS Pilani's spirit of excellence and innovation into the nation. "The third initiative is BITS Pilani Digital, which is about democratising access to education, and also fulfilling, in turn, a national mission. While building campuses is vital, India's education challenge also demands scale, flexibility, and inclusivity. India, as we know, is one of the world's youngest nations," Birla continued. "Nearly 65 percent of our population is under the age of 35, but the stark reality is that not too many of our bright, ambitious minds have access to the kind of quality education that can transform lives. "BITS Pilani Digital is our response. It is not merely an edtech platform, but an extension of BITS Pilani's spirit of excellence and innovation into the homes and communities of learners," he said. Over the next five years, BITS Pilani Digital will launch 32 programs, including 11 degree and 21 certificate courses, serving over a thousand learners -- from high school graduates to college students to working professionals," Birla added. Also Read: IBM, TCS Partner to Deploy India's Largest Quantum Computer in Quantum Valley Tech Park in AP The newly announced AI+ Campus at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, will spread across 35 acres, according to a MoneyControl report. The campus will be developed in two phases. Phase 1 will support 3,000 students, focusing on core academics and student life; Phase 2 will scale capacity to over 7,000, adding advanced research centers, global collaboration zones, and dedicated entrepreneurship hubs, built using sustainable, modular infrastructure for scalability and efficiency.