At IIT Kanpur, a team of researchers is training drones to navigate without GPS or satellite signals — relying only on onboard visual cues to find their way through hostile environments. In parallel, faculty in biosciences and cognitive science are building AI tools to detect signs of psychological distress among students before symptoms escalate. These aren’t isolated experiments, but part of a sweeping institutional push to make IIT Kanpur an “AI-first” campus — a superhub where artificial intelligence is embedded into governance, pedagogy, research, and student well-being.
In a wide-ranging conversation with The Indian Express, Director Manindra Agrawal talks about the institute’s flagship initiatives using AI, how IIT Kanpur is navigating the ethics of AI in classrooms, and why the mental health of students needs both data and empathy. Edited excerpts:
IIT Kanpur has announced major initiatives in the AI space. Can you walk us through some of the flagship programs currently underway?
We’ve recently launched the Wadhwani School of AI and Intelligent Systems, supported by the Wadhwani Foundation. The goal is to establish IIT Kanpur as a superhub for AI research and education. Through this school, we’re focusing on GovTech, healthcare, and sustainable cities — essentially, AI for nation-building.
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For example, we’re building the health stack for the state of Uttar Pradesh, integrating patient, hospital, and doctor data through AI. We’ve also developed and deployed an intelligent grievance redressal system, which is already operational in several government offices including the Prime Minister’s Office. Additionally, we’re leading the AI Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cities, where AI tools are being used for electricity usage optimization, traffic management, and pollution control.
Are there any upcoming AI projects in the pipeline that you’re excited about?
Yes, quite a few. One of the most promising projects is about enabling drone navigation in hostile environments — where there’s no satellite or remote signal. The drone will use only its onboard camera and visual feedback to determine navigation. It’s a joint effort by faculty from the electrical and computer science departments, now operating under the Wadhwani School. We’re working closely with defence agencies and industry on this.
Another area we’re exploring is AI for early detection of natural disasters — systems that can predict incoming hazards early enough for preventive action.
What about AI applications for mental health on campus?
Two departments — Biosciences and Cognitive Science — are working on AI tools for early detection of mental health concerns through online interaction. These tools will assess whether a person might need help based on subtle behavioural patterns. We hope to roll these out by the end of the year.
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We’re also exploring more sensitive ways to track student well-being using movement data — for instance, identifying if a student hasn’t left their room in days. But we’re moving cautiously due to privacy concerns. IIT Kanpur is an open campus with no movement restrictions — even for women — so maintaining that freedom while ensuring safety is a delicate balance.
Is there a standard process to include student feedback in such sensitive projects?
Absolutely. Whenever there’s any initiative related to student well-being, students are part of the committee that discusses and frames the approach. Their involvement ensures we strike the right balance between innovation and comfort.
What do you see as the biggest challenge AI poses on campus?
Misuse. Increasingly, students are using AI to write assignments or theses — which impacts genuine learning. The line between “help” and “cheating” has blurred. For instance, if a student feeds their own ideas to an AI and uses it for language refinement or structure, that’s acceptable. But when ideas themselves are generated by the tool, it becomes plagiarism.
Detection is tough. Tools exist to detect whether something is AI-written, but they don’t assess originality of thought. Ideally, we need better mechanisms to help faculty distinguish between assisted writing and dishonest use.
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Does that mean curriculum and pedagogy need to evolve quickly?
Definitely. We’re contemplating a core course on AI tool usage for all students — not to make them developers, but to help them responsibly apply AI in their domains. This includes hands-on tools for simulation, modelling, or design — even in humanities or social sciences.
We typically revise our curriculum every 10 years, but the last revision was 5 years ago. We don’t want to wait another 5 — the pace of change is too fast. So, we’re setting up a curriculum review committee by next month.
How can AI be infused into disciplines like humanities or psychology?
There are two ways. One is studying how AI is affecting society, psychology, and behaviour — that’s already part of several research projects. The other is using AI tools to model and analyse social phenomena, which were earlier too complex to study in detail. AI is a valuable tool for both critical reflection and practical modelling in these fields.
Do you personally use AI to make your administrative tasks easier?
Not yet, but we’re working on it. We aim to become an AI-first campus in administration, too. For example, imagine a faculty member applying to purchase equipment — an AI assistant could autofill forms, track approvals, and flag delays. This would save time and make our bureaucratic processes more transparent and efficient.
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Finally, what is one thing about IIT Kanpur that even AI can never replace?
The openness and lack of hierarchy. IIT Kanpur is known for its flat structure and freedom — students have access, voice, and autonomy. No matter how much technology we adopt, this core culture must remain intact.
Shifting gears a bit — we noticed a rise in mental health interventions at IIT Kanpur post-COVID. What’s driving that?
There has been a clear uptick in mental health concerns among students — some due to COVID isolation, some due to the sheer increase in student numbers. We’ve made a conscious decision to invest more in mental wellness, including setting up a Centre for Mental Wellness, led by a full-time psychiatrist. We already have 9 full-time counsellors and 3 part-time psychiatrists, and we may add more depending on need.
We are also setting up an external mechanism, this will have a committee of experts who will directly report the issues shared by the students to the Director with no interference of any faculty member on campus to make sure that the student feels safe to open up and speak about their issues.
