In a historic move that has stunned the global tech world, Karnataka on Monday unveiled KEO (Knowledge-driven, Economical, Open-source), a fully indigenous, AI-ready personal computer designed, engineered, and manufactured entirely within the state by local startups and KEONICS, marking the first time any state government anywhere has built and launched its own mass-market PC to smash the digital divide once and for all.

Powered by an open-source RISC-V processor and running a custom Linux-based OS, the compact KEO comes loaded with 4G SIM slot, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI, USB-C, audio ports, and most crucially a dedicated on-device AI core that runs BUDDH, a multilingual AI tutor trained exclusively on Karnataka’s DSERT syllabus, meaning students in remote villages with zero internet can still get personalised coaching in Kannada or any local language.

Speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 curtain-raiser, IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge threw down the gauntlet: “Only 15% of Karnataka homes and less than 10% of Indian homes own a computer today; millions of children dropped out during the pandemic because they only had phones. KEO changes that forever. This is not a rich-kid gadget; this is Karnataka’s weapon to put powerful, intelligent computing in every hut, every school, every small shop.”

Also Read: Mohsin Naqvi’s Unexpected Post After Pakistan Shaheens Defeat India A in Asia Cup Rising Stars

Set to be formally launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on November 18 and priced (rumoured under ₹10,000) to flood government schools, anganwadis, rural libraries and households, KEO deliberately uses zero-licence-fee RISC-V architecture to keep costs rock-bottom while giving Karnataka complete control over future upgrades, security patches and local AI models, bypassing dependence on American or Chinese chip giants.

With pre-installed coding platforms, offline office suite, and the ability to run large language models locally, Karnataka is betting KEO will not only rescue millions from digital exclusion but spark a new generation of village-level innovators, proving that when a state decides to own its tech stack, it can deliver world-class solutions cheaper and faster than any multinational corporation ever could.

Also Read: Global Markets Chase AI Boom, India Sits It Out — And That May Be Its Smartest Bet Yet