New Delhi, Jul 1 (INB) Ashoka University’s Centre for Social and Behaviour Change (CSBC) has launched an AI, behaviour, and impact accelerator to advance research and develop AI-driven solutions for public policy, education, healthcare and governance, the institute said on Wednesday.
The announcement was made during the second edition of the Behaviour Change Conclave 2026, which brought together policymakers, academicians, technology experts, philanthropists and civil society leaders to discuss the theme “Behaviour in the Age of Human and Machine Intelligence.”
The newly launched Accelerator will collaborate with governments, researchers, philanthropic organisations and technology partners to design, test and scale artificial intelligence-enabled solutions across sectors including health, education, livelihoods, climate resilience, digital governance and public service delivery. It will also generate evidence on trust, adoption, accountability and human-AI interaction.
Addressing the inaugural session, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Advisor Awanish Kumar Awasthi highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in improving public service delivery across healthcare, education, agriculture, public health and women empowerment.
He called for developing stronger collaboration among governments, research institutions and organisations to translate technological innovations into scalable solutions.
Gates Foundation India Director Archna Vyas emphasised that advances in artificial intelligence should promote equitable and inclusive development, while CSBC Director Pavan Mamidi said AI presents significant opportunities but also raises ethical, philosophical and policy challenges that require responsible innovation.
The conclave featured discussions on AI ethics, privacy, predictive technologies, public health, climate resilience, education and the future of work. Experts highlighted the need for critical thinking, responsible AI deployment and behavioural insights to maximise the societal benefits of emerging technologies.
Delivering the keynote address, Member of Parliament Shashank Mani Tripathi called for a human-centric approach to artificial intelligence, saying technological advancement should remain aligned with India’s cultural values and contribute to human development.
The event concluded with a leadership discussion featuring Ashoka University Founder and Chairperson Pramath Raj Sinha, who said artificial intelligence has the potential to transform personalised learning and compel educational institutions to rethink teaching methods and learning experiences.
The university said the launch of the Accelerator reinforces its commitment to interdisciplinary research at the intersection of behavioural science and artificial intelligence to address emerging societal challenges. Tags: Ashoka University, Artificial intelligence, Machine intelligence, Behaviour studies, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Pramath Raj Sinha, public policy education
