Anyone familiar with the latest trends in the field of Technology can recognize that we are currently experiencing a rapid expansion of technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT and Google Bard are bringing unprecedented changes to the world of Technology as a whole, particularly in computing. As a result, there is a growing interest among students to learn computer science. In recent years, it has become evident in the academic realm that students all across India are pursuing undergraduate degrees in computer science. While there will always be a need for mechanical engineers, electronic engineers, electrical engineers, civil engineers, and so on, students are increasingly choosing computer science engineering over many of these traditional engineering disciplines. The impact of this preference for computer science over traditional engineering courses has yet to be fully felt by societies. However, more recently, students are even favoring specialized courses such as B.Tech in artificial intelligence and B.Tech in data science. This sudden enthusiasm for courses in artificial intelligence and data science can be attributed to the growing influence of artificial intelligence on society as a whole. The recent attention generated by ChatGPT itself indicates that these emerging fields will be highly sought after by students in the years to come.

Now let us explore the different BTech courses available that allow students to learn about artificial intelligence and data science. By examining the curriculum offered by various Indian Institute of Technologies, we can observe that in recent years, BTech in artificial intelligence, BTech in data science, and BTech in artificial intelligence and data science have become preferred choices among students, even in the immediate future. These courses differ from traditional computer science BTech programs in that they place greater emphasis on mathematical fields of study, such as probability, statistics, and linear algebra, which are crucial for mastering AI and data science techniques. Moreover, these BTech courses also focus on programming languages like Python and other tools commonly used in the development of AI and data science applications. As a result, students who pursue these courses gain an immediate advantage over those in traditional computer science engineering programs.

Let us now delve into the B.Tech programs in artificial intelligence and data science offered by various IITs in India. Currently, there are 23 IITs in India. Among the first-generation IITs, none of them offer a B.Tech program specifically in artificial intelligence or data science. However, among the second-generation IITs, both IIT Roorkee and IIT Guwahati offer a B.Tech in data science and artificial intelligence.

When it comes to these new-generation B.Tech courses, the new IITs are taking the lead. Among the 14 new IITs established in the past two decades, 8 of them have introduced B.Tech courses in artificial intelligence, data science, or a combination of both. The following is a list of 8 new-generation IITs offering B.Tech courses in artificial intelligence or data science: IIT Palakkad, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Patna, IIT Mandi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bhilai, IIT Ropar, and IIT Jodhpur. It wouldn’t be surprising if the remaining IITs also introduce B.Tech courses in artificial intelligence or data science in the near future.

To summarize, if you intend to align yourself with the current trend and pursue computer science with a specific focus on artificial intelligence or data science, exploring the new-generation B.Tech courses would be worthwhile. Furthermore, if we were to recommend one institute offering such a new-gen B.Tech course, we would choose IIT Palakkad, an upcoming and influential institution in Kerala.