IIM Ahmedabad Launches Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI with ₹100 Crore Endowment

Major boost to India’s education and technology ecosystem the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has launched the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence in the campus. This school initiative was announced on March 27, 2026 and it is is backed by a generous ₹100 crore endowment from Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and her husband Ranjan Tandon. This new school aims to bridge the gap between rapid advancements in AI and their practical application in various fields.

Vision Behind the AI School

The Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI is designed for the global platform that combines the cutting-edge artificial intelligence research with IIMA’s strong foundation in management education.

Primary goal is to transform the AI innovations into real-world solutions.

With this it will improve decision-making, enhance productivity and address complex challenges across sectors.

The school will also focus on the translational research and it means that research that directly translates into practical applications.

Leadership Insights and Industry Collaboration

At the launch event IIMA Director Professor Bharat Bhasker highlighted that the initiative will help the organizations effectively to adopt AI technologies.

He emphasized the need to align technological advancements with real business outcomes.

As per thee Chandrika Tandon the initiative is both ‘exciting’ and ‘essential’ underlining the transformative potential of AI in shaping the future.

Meanwhile IIMA Board Chairman Pankaj Patel stressed out that AI is rapidly redefining industries and economies worldwide.

Key Focus Areas: Responsible and Strategic AI Adoption

The school will focus on the multiple critical areas to ensure holistic AI development,

• AI adoption in organizations and public systems
• Governance and ethical use of AI
• Workforce readiness and skill development
• Integration of AI with business strategy

AI Value Compass: A New Framework for Businesses

Alongside the with the launch the school also has released a research report titled ‘Navigating the Future Trap with AI Value Compass’ it is developed in collaboration with Persistent Systems.

The study which is based on insights from nearly 100 enterprises. And it reveals that while companies are investing heavily in AI many focus only on short-term efficiency rather than long-term transformation.

Key gaps identified in report are,

• Lack of clear AI vision and leadership
• Weak governance frameworks
• Poorly defined performance metrics
• Limited workforce preparedness