IIIT-H Fireside Chat: Chandrababu Naidu sees democratisation of knowledge through technology

HYDERABAD: Going down the memory line, the former Chief Minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandrababu Naidu recalled how he played a key role in bringing centres of excellence to set shop in Hyderabad leading to seamless development and enormous employment opportunities.

Speaking at the ‘Fireside Chat’ at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad campus on Wednesday, the former CM said that his vision of possible technological advances in the future helped him scout for institutions, companies and people.

“Now Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a crucial role in democratisation of knowledge. People with average knowledge could excel with the help of Apps like ChatGPT,” he said. He also pointed out that one must look for need-based technologies like he did when the need was for information technology to address civic problems.

“When the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) was looking for a permanent office, I invited them to come to Hyderabad. Similarly, we expanded to Indian School of Business (ISB), Microsoft, Genome Valley and stadiums for sports, he said.

When asked how would he perceive a smart city in the future, he said that one must also aim for a healthy nation and not just a wealthy nation. “While smart cities would make your living comfortable and effortless, you must eat fully but intelligently to contribute more to society,” Chandrababu Naidu said. He informed the students at the IIIT-H that currently he was working on a project called Nutrifill on a pilot basis to analyse optimal eating standards through an app for a sample of 80,000 people. “We want to expand this to 2,5 lakh,” he said.