By Vikas Kanungo, May 16, 2025
Digital Governance Gets a New Face
In a first for India’s public communication landscape, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has introduced ‘Ankita’, an AI-powered anchor designed to present cabinet meeting decisions directly to citizens — and that too, in fluent Assamese. Ankita is more than just a virtual spokesperson. She’s a blend of advanced generative AI, natural language processing, and facial rendering technologies, tailored to bring transparency, accessibility, and trust to how governments talk to people.
What Makes Ankita Unique?
Humanlike Communication: Using synthetic voice modulation and dynamic facial expressions, Ankita delivers updates just like a live news anchor — with emotional nuance, voice clarity, and cultural fluency. Her debut included major updates like the renaming of Dibrugarh Airport after Bhupen Hazarika and the approval of a one-time financial grant for tea garden workers, both of which carry deep cultural and economic relevance for Assam. By speaking in Assamese, Ankita reflects a design focus on linguistic inclusion — a critical necessity in India’s multilingual democracy.
A Pattern Emerges: AI in Indian Public Services
Assam is not new to AI-first deployments. Guwahati’s Royal Global School had earlier introduced ‘Iris’, an AI teacher. Meanwhile, Doordarshan Kisan’s AI anchors ‘Krish’ and ‘Bhoomi’ are already providing 24×7 agriculture updates. But what distinguishes Ankita is her institutional role within the state’s cabinet communications — a highly strategic, politically sensitive domain that has been historically human-led.
Implications for Governance and Communication
With Ankita, we’re witnessing the institutionalization of generative AI in public sector workflows. Her launch signals three key trends:
Scalability of official communications in native languages
Efficiency in dissemination of real-time information
Digital-first citizen engagement models
But such advancements also raise ethical and operational questions — from job displacement risks to the authenticity of AI-generated messaging. Governments must now balance innovation with accountability.
Author’s View: When AI Becomes the Voice of Governance
Ankita is not merely an innovation — she’s a symbol of what India’s next-gen governance could look like. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded into how governments inform, educate, and engage their citizens, the rules of communication are being rewritten. But in this transition, human accountability, empathy, and public trust must remain sacrosanct. Assam’s leap shows that digital transformation is not about replacing people — it’s about amplifying public service with intelligence, inclusion, and integrity. The baton has been passed — it’s time other states follow suit, responsibly.
