HP plans to expand its AI-Shala programme across India to change classroom learning

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming impossible to separate from everyday life. AI systems are increasingly shaping how people work, communicate and consume information through our smartphones, laptops, chatbots or recommendation algorithms.

Children, as a matter of fact and concern to some, are growing up at the centre of this technological shift.

But while AI-powered entertainment and social media dominate screen time globally, tech giant HP believes India faces a more complicated challenge. According to the company, Indian children are spending large amounts of time consuming digital content, yet very little time using technology in ways that actively improve learning and productivity.

More from Tech

That concern is now driving HP’s growing push into AI-powered education infrastructure. Speaking to Firstpost, Ipshita Dasgupta, Senior Vice-President & Managing Director, HP India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, said the company sees AI not just as a workplace tool for adults, but as a long-term educational opportunity for children.

“For Indian children, the consumption is equally high as consuming entertainment for a child in the US or a mature market,” Dasgupta said.

“But if you look at the amount of time an Indian child gets to spend on a productive device, on an average, it is nothing. That's a tragedy for our children.”

Her comments come at a time when concerns around children and technology are growing worldwide. Governments across several countries, including India, have increasingly warned about the harmful effects of excessive social media use, addictive content systems and AI-generated entertainment. Platforms ranging from short-video apps to streaming services are frequently criticised for affecting attention spans and mental wellbeing.

HP, however, argues that the bigger issue may be the absence of productive digital engagement inside classrooms.

HP’s Maha-AI shala

In October 2025, HP signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtra government to establish AI-powered learning labs in schools across the state.

Maha AI Shala initiative was signed on October 30, 2025

The initiative is currently being tested through four proof-of-concept centres, including one school in Mumbai and three others in different parts of Maharashtra. According to Dasgupta, the programme is designed not only to introduce children to AI-enabled learning, but also to reduce the pressure on teachers struggling with overcrowded classrooms and varying learning capabilities among students.

“The other thing other than being having the lack of access to computers or productive devices is the I'm overwhelmedness of teachers in government schools,” she said. “And not really having the time to answer questions, adapt to different levels of learning and different levels of capability to absorb.”

HP believes smaller language models running on AI platforms could eventually help students learn independently by allowing them to repeatedly ask questions and interact with educational systems at their own pace.

“So to adapt to the child's way of learning in that situation,” Dasgupta explained.

“And in that case if you have access to AI, so imagine the future vision that we have is that if you could use smaller language models on these AI platforms that allow for a child to learn from the computer itself and be able to ask a question over and over again, until they understand it in the way they best understand something that will just unlock learning in a different way.”

During the launch event, Dasgupta also said HP is “monitoring the initiative end-to-end”, though the company declined to comment further on operational specifics.

HP future plans to expand initiative

For now, HP’s AI learning labs remain experimental projects. But the company’s ambitions stretch far beyond the initial four schools.

Dasgupta said the Maharashtra pilot is intended to help HP refine the model before scaling it to a much larger network of schools across India.

“Currently, we are building 4 proofs of concept. And once these proofs are perfected, there are thousands of schools that we will hopefully expand to,” she said.

If expanded nationally, the programme could gradually reshape how technology is introduced inside Indian classrooms. As industries increasingly adopt AI-driven workflows and automation, companies like HP believe future generations will need far earlier exposure to productive digital systems.

The company’s broader vision is not simply about giving children access to devices, but about ensuring they learn how to use AI as a tool for education rather than only entertainment.