Knowledge economy: Andhra CM Naidu meets tech leaders, seeks partnership in AI

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday outlined an ambitious roadmap to transform the state into a “knowledge and creator economy.

Naidu sought strategic partnerships with global technology and energy giants to train youth in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Technology (QT), and advanced digital skills.

Addressing industry leaders and technology firms during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh possesses abundant tech-savvy youth, and the government is focused on equipping them with next-generation skills to drive innovation-led growth.

Focus on AI, Quantu,m and Youth Empowerment

The Chief Minister said the state is working towards establishing quantum computing facilities, data centres, drone cities, and space cities, while also strengthening real-time governance and personalised medicine initiatives.

During his meeting with Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe, Naidu reiterated his vision of positioning Andhra Pradesh as a global knowledge hub. Narayen assured support by providing specialised creator software to enhance the skills of students and professionals.

Naidu also sought cooperation from NVIDIA Vice President Callista Redmond for setting up AI Living Labs in the state and invited collaboration through the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub to promote youth-led innovation. He proposed partnerships with IIT Tirupati and IISER Tirupati under the AP FIRST initiative.

Push for global capability centres and innovation academy

In discussions with Autodesk’s AI leadership, the Chief Minister requested support for establishing Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in Andhra Pradesh to advance design engineering solutions. He also proposed setting up an Innovation Academy in Amaravati aligned with Quantum Technology.

Meeting LEGO Education Vice President Tom Hall, Naidu urged collaboration in establishing AI and Robotics labs for school students and suggested setting up a LEGOLAND Cultural Experience Centre in Visakhapatnam to boost creative learning.

Clean Energy and Green Growth

The Chief Minister also held talks with representatives of Saudi Aramco on clean energy projects, particularly solar power. Inviting the company to expand operations in the state, he highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s vast potential for green energy production, including solar and wind resources.

Smart governance and AI applications

Naidu interacted with Quantela Inc. Chairman Sridhar Gadhi on leveraging AI solutions for smart governance and citizen services. He also met World Bank Group Digital AI Regional Director Mahesh Uttamchandani during the summit.

Later, the Chief Minister toured exhibition stalls set up at Bharat Mandapam, closely examining AI-driven solutions showcased by leading firms, including NVIDIA, Tata, Intel, and Microsoft. He enquired about sector-specific applications in agriculture, healthcare, and industry.

At the summit, Tata demonstrated its Digital Health Records initiative, `Sanjeevani', currently being implemented in Andhra Pradesh, along with its Digital Nerve Centre. The Chief Minister expressed keen interest in robotics and AI-enabled service delivery models.

Reiterating that youth will remain the country’s greatest asset over the next 25 years, Naidu emphasised that Andhra Pradesh is committed to building a future-ready ecosystem powered by knowledge, innovation, and sustainable energy.