Priyank Kharge, the IT-BT Minister, has unveiled KEO, an AI-ready personal computer, aiming to bring computing to the general public at a lower cost. This device, entirely conceived, built, and put together in Karnataka, is known as KEO, signifying Knowledge-driven, Economical, and Open Source. It is intended to provide a complete computing experience without a high price tag.

While withholding details on the cost and appearance, Kharge mentioned that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will formally introduce the device at the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS). The device was created by the Department of Electronics, IT and BT in collaboration with KEONICS (Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited).

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Speaking to journalists at the BTS pre-event, Kharge expressed pride, stating that no other government globally has introduced such a disruptive technology. He positioned KEO as Karnataka's solution to overcoming the digital disparity.

According to him, KEO was developed to grant every student, engineer, creator, innovator, and household access to a potent and smart computer, not just for the elite, but for the broader population. Kharge characterized KEO not as a "luxury device" but as an "inclusion device," emphasizing its role in removing financial and technological obstacles.

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Explaining why the state government jumped into developing KEO, he says, “Less than 10% of Indian households use computers, which is 15 percent in Karnataka. Over 60 percent Indian students are not able to access online learning opportunities due to a lack of devices, and that is directly contributing to higher dropout rates. We intend to take computing to the grassroots and make it affordable now and cheaper in the future.”

“We missed the previous electronic revolution, but through KEO, we will be accelerating the future of Indian IT from Karnataka,” Kharge said.

Kharge announced that those interested can begin pre-booking at keonext.in, with delivery of the product expected within two months. So far, 500 bookings have been made by an organization, which plans to utilize it in primary and high schools. "KEO will be implemented in schools, universities, small businesses, government offices, and residences. It will be presented to the public during the BTS, allowing students, startups, industry leaders, and visitors to comprehend its significance in facilitating mass-affordable, AI-ready computing throughout the state," he states.

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Kharge mentioned that the BTS will convene global leaders, innovators, think tanks, and policymakers from around the world, adding that the theme for the 28th edition of the summit is 'futurise'.

Constructed on an open-source RISC-V processor with a Linux-based operating system, KEO provides a comprehensive computing experience at an affordable price. It is equipped with 4G, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB-A and USB-C ports, HDMI, and audio jack support, and comes fully equipped with educational, programming, and productivity tools. KEO features an on-device AI core, allowing AI to operate locally without the need for internet connectivity. It is preloaded with BUDDH, an AI agent trained on the Karnataka DSERT syllabus, designed to assist students even in areas with low connectivity.