IIT Kharagpur is set to launch India's first dedicated academic school focused on physical artificial intelligence (AI). The Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI will receive an investment of Rs 35 crore and aims to develop intelligent systems that interact with the physical world. The school plans to start academic programs in 2027, welcoming students and professionals from diverse fields.
- The school will focus on physical AI, which integrates scientific principles and real-world sensing.
- Funding comes from the Vinod Gupta family, an anonymous alumnus, and IIT Kharagpur.
- Academic programs will begin in 2027 after approvals.
- The school will support interdisciplinary research and education in AI and related fields.
- It aims to develop reliable, explainable, and responsible AI for safety-critical applications.
What is physical artificial intelligence?
Physical AI differs from conventional AI by focusing on intelligent systems that understand and interact with the physical environment. It combines data, algorithms, and digital applications with scientific knowledge, real-world sensing, and intelligent control. This approach enables AI to work effectively in real-world scenarios requiring physical accuracy and robustness.
Who is funding the new school at IIT Kharagpur?
The Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI will be funded through a combined investment of Rs 35 crore. The Vinod Gupta family is contributing Rs 12.5 crore, an anonymous IIT Kharagpur alumnus is providing Rs 10 crore, and the institute itself will fund the remaining amount. The school is named in memory of Benjamin Gupta, the late son of Vinod Gupta.
What academic programs will the school offer?
The school plans to admit students, researchers, and working professionals from engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, and medicine. The programs will emphasize combining domain expertise with modern AI capabilities. The focus areas include physics-informed machine learning, scientific AI, digital twins, intelligent robotics, autonomous systems, advanced sensing, and AI-enabled experimentation.
When will the school begin its academic activities?
The academic programs at the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI are expected to start in the 2027 academic year, following necessary approvals from relevant authorities.
What are the goals of the school?
The school aims to develop AI technologies that are reliable, explainable, and responsible, especially for safety-critical applications where physical accuracy and accountability are crucial. It seeks to move beyond treating AI as a black-box solution by encouraging integration of algorithmic skills with scientific and domain-specific knowledge.
How will the school collaborate with other sectors?
The initiative plans to bring together academia, industry, healthcare institutions, research laboratories, startups, and international partners. This collaboration will help accelerate research, technology development, and professional reskilling in the field of physical AI.
What has IIT Kharagpur's director said about the school?
IIT Kharagpur director Suman Chakraborty stated, "AI has transformed the way we process information. Its next great leap will be in transforming the way we understand, engineer and interact with the physical world. IIT-Kharagpur aspires to lead this transition in India through the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI." He also emphasized the importance of combining algorithmic capabilities with fundamental scientific knowledge to advance AI technology.
