Prisita Das 
BHUBANESWAR — In a significant move to modernize state administration, the Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the University of Chicago Trust’s Data, Policy and Innovation Centre (DPIC), hosted the “Ideas Forum on Personalizing Policy – Putting AI to Work” today at the Lok Seva Bhawan. Held on December 12, 2025, the forum brought together senior officials, academics, and researchers to explore how data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can power the future of evidence-driven governance in the state.
The event was attended by high-ranking state officials, including Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Smt. Anu Garg, Principal Secretary of the E&IT Department Shri Vishal Kumar Dev, and Principal Secretary of Urban Development Smt. Usha Padhee. The gathering focused on how the integration of data science and behavioral insights—central pillars of Odisha’s AI Mission—can strengthen institutional capabilities. Discussions highlighted the potential of these technologies to accelerate innovation in public service delivery, welfare targeting, disaster preparedness, and administrative efficiency.
A key feature of the event was the keynote address delivered by Professor Sanjog Misra, Charles H. Kellstadt Distinguished Service Professor of Marketing and Applied AI at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Framing AI as a transformative tool for governance, Professor Misra emphasized that the technology’s true value extends beyond simple automation. He argued that AI enables governments to move toward more personalized, citizen-centric services by understanding diverse needs, predicting challenges early, and designing targeted, inclusive interventions.
Dr. Urmila Chatterjee, Executive Director of DPIC, reinforced this sentiment, stating, “High-quality datasets and the thoughtful use of AI are key to driving effective governance in the coming decades. With large and high-quality datasets and cutting-edge research, DPIC is well placed to support more targeted and impactful public policy.”
The Data, Policy, and Innovation Centre (DPIC) represents a unique partnership between the University of Chicago and the Odisha state government. Functioning as a modern research hub in Bhubaneswar, the centre aims to institutionalize evidence-driven decision-making. By transforming complex government data into actionable insights, DPIC supports live policy projects across public health, skilling, grievance redressal, and agriculture, while also training government teams to use data tools for better decision-making. The forum concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where participants exchanged insights on the future of AI-enabled governance in Odisha.
