Empowering future innovators: India launches AI-enabled education tablet

In a significant stride towards fostering digital education in India, S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) launched the nation’s first AI-enabled education tablet.

The tablets, funded by the EPIC Foundation and designed by VVDN Technologies in collaboration with MediaTek India and CoRover.ai, aim to address critical issues of the digital divide and electronic waste accumulation in the country.

One distinguishing feature of these tablets is their unique focus on repairability and upgradability, aligning with the vision of the EPIC Foundation. This approach aims to combat the challenges posed by the digital divide and the environmental impact of electronic waste in India.

Krishnan expressed pride in the launch, stating, “It is a matter of great pride that we are launching an India-designed, India-inspired education tablet, which will be of great use to a vast majority of students. It will inspire the youth to take up the mantra of designing and making things in India, for India, and for the world.”

Ajai Chowdhry, Founder-chairman of the EPIC Foundation, and Arjun Malhotra, Co-founder of the EPIC Foundation, emphasised the need for products with easily replaceable and upgradable components. They highlighted concerns such as repair expenses surpassing the cost of purchasing a new device, the production of substandard goods, and obsolescence strategies contributing to the growing problem of electronic waste.

The introduction of repairable products is expected to generate employment opportunities for repair engineers across India. The education tablet is specifically designed to actively facilitate digital learning, featuring integration with the BharatGPT virtual assistant. This groundbreaking feature includes AI/ML-based inter-lingual translation for Indian languages, catering to the linguistic diversity of the country and promoting inclusivity for differently-abled citizens.

The EPIC Foundation’s initiative aims not only to provide innovative educational tools but also to address socio-economic and environmental challenges. By promoting repairability and upgradability, the foundation envisions a sustainable and accessible future for digital education in India.

This unveiling marks a significant step forward in India’s pursuit of technological self-reliance and underscores the commitment to fostering a knowledge-driven society. The AI-enabled education tablet stands as a testament to the nation’s dedication to shaping a brighter future for its youth, encouraging innovation, and addressing critical issues in the realm of digital education.