The government of Karnataka, with the aim of making affordable computing accessible at the grassroots, has announced the launch of KEO (Knowledge-driven, Economical, Open-source), an AI-ready personal computer designed and developed in the State.
Karnataka Launches KEO: A Ground-breaking, Low-Cost AI PC Built for Everyone
In order to tackle the state’s digital divide, the IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the Department of Electronics, IT & BT, in association with KEONICS, has launched KEO. The cost of the PC is slated to be revealed at the Bengaluru Tech Summit on November 18, the minister said that the PC will be affordable and shall be built on an open-source RISC-V processor.
KEO has been in the making for a year, and its being jointly developed by start-ups and semiconductor companies. Notably, KEO is being designed, developed and assembled in Karnataka.
The minister said that “The idea of the government or the department is to ensure that we make affordable hardware, especially AI-enabled hardware, on a scale, so that we can ensure grassroots computing, which is very important for us. We have partnered with one semiconductor company, and also with a chip design company”.
KEO: Karnataka’s Affordable AI PC Packed with 4G, BUDDH & Real‑Time Learning
There are several features like 4G, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB-A and USB-C ports, HDMI, audio jack support that the KEO will be loaded with. Cherry on the top would be – BUDDH – the AI assistant trained on the Karnataka DSERT syllabus— which shall ensure that the students in low-connectivity areas can use it.
The minister said that “The AI agent will answer any queries almost in real time with respect to the syllabus. And if they want to go beyond that syllabus, they can do that also”.
As of now, the agent is trained in English and in future, it will include Kannada as well.
During a press-conference, Minister Kharge said, “When it comes to online learning, academic learning or computing, there are not enough computers or affordable hardware in urban areas or rural areas. Studies have found that over 60% of Indian students reported being unable to access online learning opportunities due to the lack of a device. So the idea is to take computing to the grassroots. We want to make computing more affordable.”
To begin with, 500 devices will be sold for B2C (business-to-consumer). Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda, Chairman, KEONICS, said that by adopting an open-source RISC-V stack, KEO strengthens the government’s commitment to accessible, locally adaptable and home-grown computing solutions.
Kharge added “We have built this with the belief that every student, every engineer, creator, disruptor, innovator and every household will have access to powerful, intelligent computing, not at the top of the pyramid, but at the grassroots. KEO breaks the cost and technology barrier”.
Summary
In order to bridge the state’s digital divide, Karnataka is launching KEO – a game-changing, budget-friendly, AI‑ready PC. Built on an open-source RISC‑V processor and Linux OS, KEO packs 4G, Wi‑Fi, HDMI, USB ports, and more. It also includes BUDDH, an AI assistant trained on Karnataka’s DSERT syllabus — working even without the internet.
