AI should enhance creativity, not replace artists: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah at Bengaluru GAFX
At the seventh Bengaluru GAFX - Games, Animation and Visual Effects Conference - Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah put it plainly: AI is a tool to extend human creativity, not a substitute for artists. He called for ethical use, protection of intellectual property, and fair compensation across the AVGC-XR ecosystem.
Yes, AI can accelerate workflows and boost productivity. But the core stays human. "The soul of storytelling is human emotion, something no algorithm can replicate in its fullness," he said.
What this means for working creatives
If you build stories, worlds, or experiences, the message is clear: use AI to speed previsualization, iterate concepts, and automate repetitive tasks - while you keep vision, taste, and narrative control. Your edge is direction, not data throughput.
- Prioritize IP: track licensing, credit contributors, and negotiate terms that protect your rights and revenue.
- Level up your stack: learn AI-assisted tools for concept art, motion design, layout, and editorial without outsourcing your style.
- Build original IP: long-term leverage sits in characters, worlds, and story formats you own.
- Design responsibly: avoid content that glorifies violence, and consider the mental well-being of younger audiences.
For focused skill growth, explore AI for Creatives and keep an eye on production breakthroughs in Generative Video.
Karnataka's AVGC-XR push
Siddaramaiah reiterated the state's long-term bet on this sector. Karnataka launched India's first dedicated AVGC policy in 2017 and is now rolling out its third AVGC-XR Policy (2024-29) with incentives, infrastructure support, skill programs, incubation, and institutional collaboration.
The sector isn't a niche corner anymore; it drives storytelling, culture, education, and aspects of governance. The mandate: amplify human potential with technology, not erase it.
Five strategic priorities announced
- Build a future-ready talent pipeline
- Strengthen infrastructure (labs, studios, testbeds)
- Support startups and original IP
- Expand opportunities beyond Bengaluru
- Forge global partnerships
Growth beyond Bengaluru
Expect more digital creative clusters in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Kalaburagi. The intent is clear: every district producing standout game designers, animators, and VFX innovators - with access to training, mentorship, and market linkages.
Where the work is heading
The state projects 20 lakh jobs over the next five years. That demand spans craft, code, and production.
- Design, character and world-building
- Story, writing, and music
- Animation, VFX, and motion capture
- Coding, tools, and pipeline engineering
- AI modeling and data prep
- Production management and QA
Applied across sectors
AVGC-XR is being plugged into tourism with augmented reality, into classrooms and medical training via simulations, and into cultural heritage with high-fidelity digital preservation. For creatives, this means new briefs, new budgets, and new formats to own.
Bottom line for creatives
Use AI to move faster, explore more, and refine quality - without handing it the pen. Protect your rights, price your value, and keep your ethics tight. As the state pushes to become a "Creative Capital," the opportunity is broad - and it should be shared, not concentrated.
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