Karnataka Eyes Green AI Model Amid Rising Power Needs
State technology officials say growth in AI and data centers will need to be weighed against rising power use and climate pressures.
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Karnataka will need to balance its push for artificial intelligence and data center investment with the growing energy demands of computing infrastructure, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission Chief Executive Sanjeev Gupta said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the AI for Climate Tech Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, Gupta said the state’s technology industry and access to cleaner energy could provide a base for developing AI infrastructure with a smaller environmental footprint.
The summit, hosted by Climate Collective Foundation, was the flagship event of Bangalore Climate Data Week.
The challenge is becoming more pressing as increasingly powerful AI models require large amounts of electricity for training and operation, while data centers also place demands on cooling and other infrastructure.
Gupta said Karnataka should try to demonstrate a model for what he described as green AI rather than treating the expansion of computing capacity separately from energy and climate policy.
“We are always there to support such global initiatives which not only makes our ecosystem stronger domestically but also on the global innovation map,” Gupta said.
The discussion broadened beyond the environmental cost of AI to examine where the technology could have practical climate applications.
Jui Joshi, part of Climate Collective Foundation’s founding team, pointed to agriculture and water security as areas where AI could strengthen climate resilience. She also said founders require support beyond financing, citing the foundation’s portfolio of 410 women-led startups.
Climate Collective founder Pratap Raju said adoption remained difficult because climate technologies often face lengthy testing, pilot and sales cycles before customers can assess their commercial and environmental value.
The debate comes as Karnataka seeks to expand its digital economy while confronting the physical infrastructure requirements behind AI.
