Kerala's AI startups are set to stand out at the International Gen AI Conclave.

Thiruvananthapuram: Over 20 AI startups from Kerala have been chosen to present their products at the International Gen AI Conclave, set to take place in Kochi on July 11 and 12. This inaugural event in India is co-hosted by the Kerala government and IBM.

Anoop Ambika, CEO of Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), mentioned that the conclave will provide business and growth opportunities for the companies, allowing entrepreneurs to connect with national and international industry players and stakeholders. The participating startups could find new markets, investors, or mentorship from major tech companies.

The conclave will discuss the impact, challenges, and latest developments in generative AI, as well as explore opportunities for leveraging AI to advance India’s economy and youth careers. Key highlights include panel discussions, interactive sessions, and product demonstrations on the trustworthy deployment of generative AI.

The startups were selected based on their pitches at the 'IBM Watsonx Challenge,' a virtual hackathon. Industries Minister P. Rajeeve announced that the hackathon winner will receive up to ₹1 crore in scale-up funds from the KSIDC. He emphasized AI as one of 22 priority sectors for the department, aiming to establish Kerala as a major AI hub and a preferred destination for high-tech manufacturers within 10-15 years.

The conclave, held at Lulu Grand Hyatt Bolgatty International Convention Centre, will feature industry leaders, policy-makers, innovators, and academia from the AI, defense, and software sectors. Former NASA astronaut and technology executive Steve Lee Smith will be the key speaker, delivering a talk titled 'Lessons Learned from A Skywalker' at 4:15 pm on July 11.