VTU VC underscores urgent need for AI readiness

Mysuru: The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) vice-chancellor, S Vidyashankar, on Thursday underscored the urgent need for being ready for artificial intelligence (AI) while reaffirming the university's commitment to student welfare.Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day cultural festival, Yukti 2026, at VTU's Mysuru campus in Sathagalli, he observed that the global IT landscape is rapidly evolving, with AI set to dominate the sector in the coming years.
Actors Sharan, along with Sonal Monteiro, inaugurated the festival.Citing insights from industry leaders, the VC noted that the software industry could become almost entirely AI-driven by 2030. Emphasising the growing influence of intelligent systems, he pointed out that AI surpassed human capabilities in specialised domains such as chess. He urged students to upgrade their skills continuously and strive to become ‘super-intelligences' capable of adapting to emerging technologies.Highlighting institutional growth, Vidyashankar stated that student enrolment at Mysuru campus increased significantly from around 600 to 2,500.To ensure that financial hardship does not hinder academic aspirations, university launched the Vidyanidhi scheme. The university also allocated Rs 2.5 crore for cultural activities across its four centres to foster holistic development, he said. Additionally, a large-scale internship initiative attracted 83,000 registrations nationwide, reflecting VTU's focus on employability.Yukti Cultural festival came alive with vibrant performances and star-studded moments. Rank-holding students were felicitated, and captivating cultural performances by participants from several prestigious engineering and architecture colleges.