Bengaluru, Feb 27 (PTI) — Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that Artificial Intelligence should serve as a tool to enhance human creativity rather than replace artists. He stressed the ethical use of AI, protection of intellectual property, and fair compensation in the AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics – Extended Reality) sector.
He urged industry leaders to invest in original content, educational institutions to modernize curricula, young creators to dream boldly, and global partners to collaborate with Karnataka.
Speaking at the inauguration of the seventh edition of Bengaluru GAFX (Games, Animation and Visual Effects Conference), themed “Evolution Reloaded,” Siddaramaiah highlighted Karnataka’s longstanding commitment to the AVGC-XR sector. He recalled that in 2017, Karnataka became the first state in India to implement a dedicated AVGC policy, driven by foresight that content creation would become as influential as coding.
“Today, GAFX represents the next great frontier. The Games, Animation and Visual Effects sector is no longer a small creative industry. In the era of digital revolution, immersive media, streaming platforms, e-sports, and extended reality, GAFX is shaping how humanity experiences stories, culture, education, and even governance,” he said.
The CM said the government is implementing its third AVGC-XR Policy for 2024-2029, providing incentives, infrastructure support, skill-building initiatives, incubation systems, and institutional collaboration to nurture the ecosystem.
On Artificial Intelligence, Siddaramaiah said it is transforming content pipelines and boosting productivity, but cautioned that it must remain a tool, not a substitute for human imagination. “Technology should amplify human potential, not erase it. The soul of storytelling is human emotion, something no algorithm can replicate fully,” he said. He emphasized that ethical AI use must respect intellectual property, data privacy, fair compensation, and skill development.
Highlighting expansion beyond Bengaluru, he said digital creative clusters are being promoted in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, and other emerging cities. “We want the next great game designer or VFX innovator to emerge not only from the capital but from every district of Karnataka,” he added.
Siddaramaiah said Karnataka should be recognized not only as the “Silicon Valley of India” but also as the “Creative Capital” of the digital world. The state is reimagining tourism through Augmented Reality, integrating AVGC-XR technologies into education and medical training, and digitally preserving cultural heritage.
He said the sector offers both economic and civilizational opportunities, empowering youth and enabling rural talent to create global content. With the potential to generate 20 lakh jobs over the next five years, employment would span design, coding, storytelling, music, motion capture, AI modeling, and production management.
On education, the CM called for structured skill development and integration of AVGC-XR skills into mainstream curricula. Outlining five strategic priorities, he said Karnataka will focus on building a future-ready talent pipeline, strengthening infrastructure, supporting startups and original IP, expanding opportunities beyond Bengaluru, and forging global partnerships.
While encouraging innovation in animation and gaming, he emphasized responsibility: promoting ethical game design, avoiding glorification of violence, safeguarding children’s mental well-being, and fostering creativity, critical thinking, and positive social values.
The chief minister assured that government policies will protect human creators and users while equipping them with new tools. “We will ensure that progress is inclusive. The digital revolution must not widen inequality; it must democratize opportunity,” he said. (PTI)