Pictures BS News Agency, PIB.
BS News Agency, PIB: In a pioneering initiative to chart the future direction of Artificial Intelligence in India, a historic tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) alumnus and philanthropist Shri Vinod Gupta and IITKGP Foundation USA today. The MoU will establish the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI.
Designed to be India's first independent educational institution focused on Physical AI, this initiative will usher in a strategic shift in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Whereas AI has traditionally focused on data, algorithms and digital applications, this initiative will focus on developing AI that can understand, interact with, predict and intelligently control the real world.
The school aims to position IIT Kharagpur at the forefront of an emerging global technology landscape where AI is deeply integrated with the fundamental principles of physics, engineering, biological systems and specific fields of scientific knowledge.
The Rs 35 crore initiative will be funded by the family of Shri Vinod Gupta, Rs 12.5 crore, an anonymous alumnus will contribute Rs 10 crore and the balance will be contributed by IIT Kharagpur. This investment will create a dedicated infrastructure for the Department of Artificial Intelligence and its associated interdisciplinary teaching and research work.
The school will be named in memory of Shri Gupta's late son, Benjamin Gupta. This will transform a deep personal memory into a permanent institution that will contribute to scientific progress and the well-being of society.
Conventional AI has made significant progress in language, scene recognition, and data-driven prediction. However, the next breakthrough is the development of intelligent systems that can reliably operate in the real world. In the real world, the laws of physics, uncertainties, behavior of matter, complexity of biological systems, safety, and engineering limitations cannot be ignored. Physical AI aims to bridge this gap by integrating artificial intelligence with fundamental physical principles, understanding of processes, collecting real-world sensory data, experimenting, and intelligent control.
IIT Kharagpur aims to lead the development of this technology trend by adopting a unique approach that combines physics-based machine learning, scientific AI, digital twins, artificial intelligence-enabled robotics, autonomous systems, advanced sensing technologies, computational engineering and AI-assisted experimentation. The school will focus on interdisciplinary research and its practical application in areas such as advanced manufacturing, energy systems, climate and environmental technologies, agriculture, healthcare, medical devices, smart infrastructure and engineering systems for the needs of the next generation.
The core philosophy of the school will be that AI will not only learn from data; it will also learn from the natural laws that govern the real world, obey those laws, and intelligently interact with them.
Leveraging IIT Kharagpur’s extensive expertise in engineering, fundamental science, medicine, computational technology, and emerging technologies, the school will bring together scientists, engineers, AI researchers, industry professionals, and clinicians from specific fields. It will aim to develop reliable, explainable, and practical solutions. It will also focus on safe, reliable, and responsible AI—especially in critical applications where safety is essential and compliance with physical laws, robustness, and accountability are essential.
A notable feature of the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI will be its emphasis on developing new approaches to advanced education and professional development for an AI-integrated technological future.
Subject to the necessary academic approvals, the school is scheduled to start its educational programs from the next academic year. The proposed programs include hybrid master's programs, executive education, professional certifications, and specialized interdisciplinary learning modules. These programs will be designed keeping in mind students, researchers, working professionals, industrial technologists, and graduates of engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, and medicine. In addition to traditional degree education, the school is also planned to be a specialized skill-development center for the next generation of engineers, scientists, and medical professionals. Here, they will be able to combine their fundamental knowledge of their subjects with contemporary AI-related skills through value-added and application-oriented education. The core philosophy of this education system is that a future engineer will not only use AI tools to solve engineering problems; he will also try to understand how to combine the laws of physics, properties of matter, dynamics of systems, and computational intelligence to define and solve those problems. Similarly, future medical professionals will need to develop the skills to integrate clinical and biological knowledge with AI-assisted diagnosis and decision-making.
This integrated understanding will be emphasized rather than relying on the results of algorithms that cannot be interpreted without verification.
Through a flexible hybrid approach to education, interdisciplinary projects, industry-related problem solving, laboratory work experience, and application of specific AI, the school aims to develop a new generation of professionals who will be able to develop and apply AI with scientific understanding, technical confidence, and real-world accountability.
Such an approach is expected to help fill a critical skills gap in the country between rapidly expanding AI capabilities and the specialized domain knowledge needed to transform them into reliable physical technologies.
Expressing gratitude to Shri Vinod Gupta and his family for their support in establishing India's first independent institute focused on Physical AI, IIT Kharagpur Director Professor Suman Chakraborty said, "Artificial Intelligence has transformed the way we process information. Its next big leap will be to understand the real world, engineer it and transform the way we interact with it. IIT Kharagpur is keen to lead this transformation in India through the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI."
He added, “Our goal is to move beyond treating AI as a ‘black box’ solution. An engineer needs to understand the physics behind an intelligent machine; a scientist needs to connect AI predictions to fundamental scientific principles; and a medical professional needs to combine the intelligence of algorithms with biological and clinical understanding. The future belongs not just to those who can use AI; but to those who can combine AI with deep domain knowledge to create reliable, interpretable, and effective technologies.”
The Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI will serve as a catalyst for a collaborative environment by connecting academia, industry, healthcare institutions, laboratories, startups, and international partners. By integrating fundamental scientific discovery, advanced education, practical application of research knowledge, technology development, and professional skills redevelopment, the school aims to rapidly increase India's capabilities in indigenously developed, reliable, and globally competitive AI-powered physical technologies.