Prime Highlights
- SAII is India’s first standalone AI institute open to students from all streams; Science, Commerce, and Arts.
- Director Dr. Shruti Patil ranks in the top 2% of AI researchers globally, per Stanford University.
Key Facts
- SAII is located in Lavale, Pune, under Symbiosis International (Deemed University).
- Both programmes, B.Sc. and B.B.A. in AI, are UGC-recognised and AICTE-approved.
Background
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) has set up the Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII) in Lavale, Pune, thus marking itself as the first university institute to focus entirely on Artificial Intelligence education in India. While existing AI programs in engineering institutes are different, SAII is a self-governing institute.
The admission requirements for SAII include science, commerce, and art streams, without the condition that AI studies were restricted to engineering students only. Students need only a Class 12 board qualification to apply; prior coding experience is not required.
SAII currently offers two full-time undergraduate programmes: a B.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence and a B.B.A. in Artificial Intelligence. Both align with the National Education Policy 2020 and carry recognition from UGC and AICTE. Admissions run through the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET). The B.Sc course takes up Machine Learning,
Deep Learning, Data Science, and research in healthcare and cybersecurity. While the B.B.A. uses these as bases, along with management studies, to develop AI strategists and product leaders in the future.
The institute operates AI-powered labs, runs curriculum developed in collaboration with industry, and offers international experiential programmes with partner universities abroad.
Dr Shruti Patil, Director of SAII, leads the institute. She holds an H-index of 34, has authored more than 115 Scopus-indexed papers, and Stanford University’s global researcher rankings place her among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in AI. She said the institute aims to build a future-ready ecosystem where students learn to lead with purpose, not just acquire technical skills.
