IIT Hyderabad to launch a B Tech in artificial intelligence program in 2019

No institution in India has had a full-fledged course on artificial intelligence, until now. The Indian Institute of Technology in Hyderabad is reportedly launching a Bachelor of Technology program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the following academic year, that is 2019-2020.The course will have an intake of 20 students who can take the program via JEE-Advanced, which is an annual engineering college entrance examination in India conducted by IIT.According to a report by the Times of India, it will be the first Indian institution, to offer such a course. Globally, it will rank the third after Carnegie Mellon University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).[caption id="attachment_4639901" align="alignnone" width="1280"]

Representational image.[/caption]IIT Hyderabad already offers a Masters of technology program in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning.Professor UB Desai, who is the director at IIT Hyderabad said that, "the basic aim is to create a complete ecosystem for Artificial Intelligence Academics and Research at IIT Hyderabad. This involves B Tech, M Tech and different minor programs in AI."One of the key components of the program is the ethical impact of artificial intelligence on areas like privacy, bias and more. It will also focus on areas such as healthcare, agriculture, smart mobility, among others.Artificial intelligence is now being used in an ever-expanding array of products: cars that drive themselves; computers able to distinguish dangerous skin cancers from benign moles, thermostats, speakers and digital assistants that are bringing the technology into homes.The expanding applications for AI have also created a shortage of qualified workers in the field, according to Reuters. There are too few potential employees with training or experience in AI.In that scenario, introducing a course in AI seems like the right way forward for India.