Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that Maharashtra aims to spearhead the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution globally, leveraging Mumbai’s financial strength and tech expertise. Speaking at the ‘Mumbai Tech Week 2026’ inauguration, he revealed ambitious goals, including attracting Rs 10,000 crore in AI investments and creating 1.5 lakh jobs. The state plans to establish six ‘Centres of Excellence’ and dedicated ‘AI Innovation Zones’ to drive innovation in the sector.
To boost AI research, Maharashtra is constructing a ‘Compute-as-a-Service’ infrastructure with 2,000 GPUs for startups and researchers. Fadnavis highlighted the importance of affordable high-capacity computing for fostering innovation. He credited tech entrepreneurs for shaping the state’s startup ecosystem and attracting investments, making Maharashtra a top destination for startups in India.
The Chief Minister invited startups and tech firms to invest in Maharashtra, emphasizing the state’s conducive environment for technology and AI development. He assured full support, including investment assistance through the government’s ‘Fund of Funds’ and institutional backing for entrepreneurs. Maharashtra is integrating AI across government departments, with initiatives like the ‘Maha-Vistar’ farmers’ app recognized for its innovation.
AI applications are enhancing efficiency in various sectors, from agriculture to law enforcement, with systems like ‘Crime OS’ expediting criminal investigations. Fadnavis highlighted the state’s commitment to ethical AI, ensuring accessibility and democratization of the technology. The government aims to develop 50 specialized AI engines for different departments, focusing on data security and human-centric AI development.
