Lokesh Promises Efforts to Give AI Tools to AP Students for Free

Rajamahendravaram:Education, IT and Electronics minister N. Lokesh has assured that efforts will be made to ensure that tech giants provide artificial intelligence (AI) tools to students of Andhra Pradesh free of cost.

Attending a programme titled Hello Lokesh organised for students pursuing under-graduation courses at the Government Arts College (Autonomous) on Friday, a student Dhanush asked the AP minister whether students could get AI tools for free in the state in view of digital marketing gaining momentum everywhere.

Lokesh responded positively. In this regard, he even assured the students to hold talks with global tech major Google to offer Gemini AI model tools to students. He maintained that even Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is thinking along the same lines on provision of AI tools for students in AP.

In reply to a query on availability of employment after education, the minister asked industry and academia to connect for using resources in each district, like aquaculture, so that decentralised development could lead to employment.

He offered to come up with a legislation to protect women in films, TV shows and on social media platforms when a student Sridevi brought up the issue of women facing insults. He recalled how his mother Bhuvaneswari had been subject to humiliation. He proposed a ban on expressions, such as wearing bangles like women or crying like women, as they demean the dignity and respect of women.

A student Satvish sought a provision for part-time jobs while pursuing degree courses. Lokesh assured career counselling in the matter. Another student Kishore sought notifications for Group I and Group II and other jobs, as the state government has promised to generate 20 lakh jobs in five years. The minister assured to release a job calendar.

When a student Kiran expressed his intent to join politics, Lokesh welcomed him and vowed to mentor him. Student Sandeep asked for advancing the dates for Eamcet in AP, as several students from the state are going to other states to pursue engineering courses. Another student Sirisha asked for providing an indoor complex for sports and games as also labs and library. The minister assured that these will be granted.

On suicidal tendencies among students over various issues, the minister exhorted students not to feel depressed over any issue and resort to the extreme step. He advised them to talk to their parents, friends and faculty members, so that they get proper counselling. He assured a mechanism to address this issue.

Lokesh took some personal questions like how did he face trolling against him on social media platforms. He responded saying, “Life is a challenge. I take criticism as a challenge.” He pointed out that on remarks that he is obese, he opted for strict diet control.

Student Harsha Vardhini asked Lokesh when he got beat by his mother for the first time. He maintained that his mother disciplined him only out of love for his good.

Bharath asked him about his first crush and whether he had faced ragging while studying. He said his wife Brahmani has been his only crush. He maintained that he did not face any ragging as he kept developing friendship.

On corruption among politicians and bureaucrats, the minister advocated zero tolerance. He said online platforms would eliminate corruption, which will be part of the next generation reforms in AP.