Symbiosis Launches New AI Institute to Democratize Artificial Intelligence Education

Pune, India — In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), Symbiosis International University has launched a groundbreaking initiative to ensure that AI knowledge is no longer confined to computer science and engineering domains. The newly established Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII- साई) aims to make AI education accessible across disciplines, enabling students from varied academic backgrounds to embrace and innovate with this transformative technology.
The vision for this initiative stems from a simple yet profound question posed by Dr. S. B. Mujumdar, Founder and Chancellor of Symbiosis International University. “Why should knowledge of AI be restricted to engineers?” he asked his daughter, Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, the University's Pro-Chancellor. It was a question that challenged long-standing assumptions—and one that inspired a sweeping educational reform.
“I didn’t have an immediate answer,” Dr. Vidya recalled. “Like many, I too had believed AI was a specialization best suited for computer science students. But the more we explored its applications—from healthcare to agriculture—the more it became clear: AI education must be interdisciplinary.”
The creation of SAII is a strategic step towards that goal. The institute will offer two innovative undergraduate programs designed to bridge AI with other vital sectors:

• Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (BSc-AI), with specializations in Health Sciences, Sports Sciences, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Agriculture.
• Bachelor of Business Administration in Artificial Intelligence (BBA-AI), focusing on the use of AI in Financial Technologies, Marketing Technologies, Global Supply Chain Management, HR Technologies, and the Media & Creative Industries.

These programs aim to equip students not only with technical proficiency in AI but also with domain-specific insights, enabling them to become thought leaders and innovators in their respective fields.
Although AI is often perceived as a modern marvel, its conceptual roots date back nearly a century. The ideas of Alan Turing, the British mathematician and logician who proposed the notion of a "universal machine" capable of simulating any other machine, laid the groundwork in the 1930s. Turing's legacy was built upon by pioneers like John McCarthy, who coined the term "Artificial Intelligence" in 1956, Marvin Minsky, a trailblazer in neural networks and machine learning, and Claude Shannon, the father of Information Theory. Their foundational work paved the way for today’s AI systems, which now perform complex tasks once thought to require human intelligence—reasoning, learning, perception, and even creativity.
Today, AI is embedded in our daily lives—from virtual assistants and recommendation systems to advanced diagnostic tools in medicine and automation in agriculture. Yet, despite its ubiquity, a comprehensive understanding of AI often remains limited to a niche audience. Symbiosis seeks to change that.
“With SAII, we’re not just teaching students how AI works,” said Dr. Vidya. “We’re teaching them how to think about AI—how to use it responsibly, ethically, and creatively in ways that benefit society at large.”
The launch of SAII reflects Symbiosis’s broader mission to cultivate not just skilled professionals, but socially conscious leaders. As Dr. Mujumdar often states, “True education empowers individuals to use their knowledge for the greater good.” This ethos underpins every facet of the new AI institute, from curriculum design to faculty training and industry partnerships.
Moreover, the university plans to collaborate with global tech companies and research institutions to ensure students gain hands-on experience with real-world AI applications. This practical exposure will prepare graduates to navigate the challenges and opportunities of an AI-driven world.
As AI continues to redefine the future of work, communication, healthcare, and more, Symbiosis International University is taking a timely and necessary step. By expanding AI literacy across disciplines, it hopes to spark innovation that is not only technologically advanced but also rooted in human values.
“AI should be a tool for inclusion, not exclusivity,” said Dr. Vidya. “And education is the most powerful way to make that happen.”
To know more about the Institute visit https://saii.edu.in/