“I learned how machines can think like humans — but they only do what we teach them,” said Ankita, from Sambalpur.
On a bright Saturday morning, something extraordinary happened in the classrooms of rural Odisha. Over 500 students and 17 teachers from 8 schools gathered around their screens — not to passively watch, but to learn, question, and explore the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This was the first session of AI Guru, a pioneering initiative by Aveti Learning, in collaboration with Avanti Foundation, designed to introduce AI education to high school students in Tier-2 and rural regions of India. The session marked the beginning of a movement — a movement to make AI learning accessible, engaging, and meaningful for every student, regardless of geography.
A New Chapter Begins
The AI Guru program was launched in October 2025 with a simple yet powerful goal — to make young learners AI-ready. In a world rapidly shaped by intelligent systems, automation, and data-driven decisions, the ability to understand how AI works is no longer a luxury; it is a foundational skill.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has already emphasized integrating emerging technologies like AI, coding, and data science into school curricula. AI Guru takes this vision from policy to practice — reaching rural classrooms, guiding teachers, and helping students learn through hands-on, project-based activities.
The first session brought together AI experts from Silicon Valley — Prasanta Behera and Debu Panda, co-authors of the popular book “AI for Kids.” They joined live from California, leading an interactive two-hour session that introduced students to the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence — what AI is, how neural networks make decisions, and where AI shows up in everyday life.
“We wanted to show students that AI is not magic — it’s logic, creativity, and curiosity working together,” said Debu Panda, during the live session.
“Once they see that, they begin to imagine how they can use it to solve real problems.”
A Hybrid Learning Experience
AI Guru is designed as a hybrid learning program, combining virtual live classes with hands-on learning through school computer labs and mobile apps. Students not only attend interactive sessions with global AI practitioners but also continue their learning journey through guided AI lessons, small group projects, and mentorship.
Before the first session, the Aveti Learning team worked meticulously behind the scenes — coordinating with schools, testing equipment, ensuring stable connectivity, and training teachers to facilitate hybrid participation. From ensuring microphones worked to verifying screen-sharing on projectors, the groundwork made the virtual connection seamless.
“Our school is in a rural area, and students rarely get to meet experts from abroad,” said Ms. Sweta Mohanty, a teacher from Nayagarh. ““This session opened their minds to the world of Artificial Intelligence — they were curious, engaged, and excited to learn how machines can think and make decisions.!”\
Learning Beyond Textbooks
The two-hour session was more than a class; it was a spark. Students explored how AI recognizes patterns, learns from examples, and supports decision-making in everything from voice assistants to healthcare, agriculture, and education.
“Before this class, I thought AI was something only big tech companies used,” said Sunita Majhi, a Class 9 student from Rayagada.
“Now I understand that even simple ideas can use AI — like a chatbot to help students learn or an app to guide farmers. I want to create something like that someday!”
To support continued learning, all participating schools will soon receive copies of the book “AI for Kids” by Behera and Panda — a child-friendly introduction to AI concepts with practical experiments and fun projects.
Scaling the Vision
Following the success of this first session, the AI Guru program is gearing up to expand beyond Odisha, with plans to reach schools in Jammu and other states in the coming months. The vision is to build an AI-ready generation of learners — confident, creative, and capable of using AI to solve local and global challenges.
Aveti Learning and Avanti Foundation are also working on establishing AI Clubs in schools, where students will experiment with real-world AI applications — from chatbots to data visualization to local problem-solving using open-source tools.
“The future belongs to those who understand technology — and use it responsibly to uplift others,” said Prasanta Behera, reflecting on the session’s energy and enthusiasm.
Join the Movement
The success of the AI Guru program’s first class demonstrates what’s possible when vision, technology, and purpose come together. As AI reshapes our future, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every child, not just those in urban centers, is prepared for the opportunities it brings.
Aveti Learning invites educators, philanthropies, corporate CSR partners, and technology enthusiasts to join this mission — to take AI learning to every corner of India and empower students to become creators of the future.
