AI-Driven Analysis of Air Quality (PM₂.₅/PM₁₀) and Its Societal Impact in the Semi-Arid Urban Landscape of Bagalkot City, Karnataka.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence has rapidly evolved from a technical subfield to a defining force in reshaping social, cultural, and economic life across the globe. This study investigates the monthly variability and inter-relationship of public discourse and policy engagement with artificial intelligence in 2025, focusing on the semi-arid discursive landscape of Bagalkot city, a rapidly digitizing district in Karnataka. Based on continuous monitoring of local news, institutional statements, and community feedback, levels of AI awareness ranged from 29.5 to 39 on a standardized index, while engagement with AI-related societal implications varied between 39.5 and 52, consistently exceeding baseline expectations for regions outside major metropolitan centers. Seasonal patterns showed elevated discourse during pre-monsoon and monsoon-onset months, influenced by academic calendars, policy announcements, local ed-tech activity, and regional technology festivals. The societal-to-technical discourse ratio (1.14–1.47) indicated a dominant presence of socio-ethical concerns, particularly during July–September, reflecting Bagalkot’s characteristic blend of traditional livelihoods and emerging digital economies. Strong co-variation between general AI awareness and specific societal-implications discourse suggests common drivers such as educational initiatives, local media coverage, and grassroots technology interventions. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of AI-related societal discourse in non-metropolitan India and offer evidence to support targeted, seasonally adaptive public engagement strategies for artificial intelligence in semi-arid regions of Karnataka.