Karnataka to unveil KEO, India’s first AI-ready, affordable PC

Karnataka doubled down on Bengaluru’s ‘IT capital’ moniker with the formal announcement of KEO, a compact, affordable, AI-ready personal computer designed and developed entirely in the state.

Announced on November 17 and to be officially unveiled at the Bengaluru Tech Summit by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on November 18, the device is poised to revolutionise (and democratise) digital access in the state, and the nation.

KEO, short for Knowledge-driven, Economical, Open-source, is a homegrown answer to the challenge of affordable, mass-scale computing. It is developed by Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (KEONICS).

Under the hood, the device runs on an open-source RISC-V processor, powered by a Linux-based operating system. It’s packed with connectivity: 4G, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB-A/USB-C, HDMI, and an audio jack.

Whether in schools, colleges, small businesses, homes, or government offices, KEO promises a full-fledged computing experience without the price tag of standard PCs.

But what really sets it apart is its on-device AI core. Unlike most budget computers that rely on the cloud, the KEO can run artificial intelligence applications locally, even without internet.

At launch, every unit is preloaded with BUDDH, an AI agent trained on the Karnataka DSERT syllabus, allowing students in even low-connectivity regions to tap digital learning resources.

This focus on local, AI-ready education could be a game-changer for bridging India’s urban-rural tech divide.

The device is not just for classrooms—it’s part of a broader vision. According to Karnataka IT minister Priyank Kharge, KEO is meant to be an “inclusion device, not a luxury device.”

KEONICS chairman Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda stressed on the achievement as a major leap forward for “accessible, locally adaptable, home-grown computing.”

The device will be at the heart of Karnataka’s push to bring digital skills—and digital jobs—into every district, laying the groundwork for wider entrepreneurship and decentralised tech growth.

Public rollout is expected to begin at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, where participants can try the KEO firsthand. 

Sci/Tech