IIT Ropar white paper draws on Shiva Sutras to test 'wisdom' in AI
By Devansh TiwariKnowledge Systems Writer, Peepals Sanskriti
File photo: Awadh2020 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
A white paper launched at IIT Ropar on November 2, 2026 proposes HEED, a way to measure 'wisdom' in AI that draws on classical Indian texts on the mind.
What Happened
A white paper that proposes measuring "wisdom", not just intelligence, in artificial intelligence (AI) systems was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar in Punjab on Monday, November 2, 2026. Titled "Beyond Intelligence: Defining and Measuring Wisdom for AI", it was presented by Dr Ishan Shivanand, a research director at Stanford and founder of Compassion Unites, with Dr Anjali Samani as co-author. The paper sets out a framework called HEED and says it draws on Shivanand's reading of the Shiva Sutras and other classical Indian texts on the mind. IIT Ropar director Prof Rajeev Ahuja attended the launch, at an event titled "Shaping the AI Mind". The same event inaugurated a centre for yogic sciences at the institute, funded by Shivanand.
Key Facts
- Paper: "Beyond Intelligence: Defining and Measuring Wisdom for AI", by Dr Ishan Shivanand and Dr Anjali Samani.
- Launched at IIT Ropar on November 2, 2026, at the "Shaping the AI Mind" event, with director Prof Rajeev Ahuja present.
- The authors argue that AI systems are strong on intelligence but weak on wisdom, pointing to "sycophancy": telling users what pleases them rather than what is true.
- The paper cites a study in the journal Science that found leading AI systems sided with users about 49% more often than humans did when giving everyday advice.
- Under the proposed HEED framework, an AI scores higher when it uses sound judgement that combines knowledge and values, and lower when a wish to please the user gets in the way.
- Shivanand is funding an open call for independent researchers to test the framework, and a committee will pick teams to build "HEED Bench", an open benchmark for AI developers.
- The event also opened the Dr Ishan Avdhoot Shivanand Centre for Yogic Sciences and Holistic Development at IIT Ropar.
Why It Matters
The paper sits at a meeting point that Sanskriti readers follow closely: the use of India's classical texts on the mind in modern academic and technical work. Bringing texts such as the Shiva Sutras into a discussion of how AI should behave is an attempt to show that Indian philosophical traditions have something to say about present-day problems, not only historical ones.
The problem the paper targets is real and widely discussed in AI research. Chatbots that agree too readily with users can reinforce mistaken beliefs, give poor advice or flatter rather than inform. A measurable test for good judgement, if it worked, would give developers a way to compare systems on something other than raw knowledge or speed.
At the same time, the framework is a proposal, not a proven method. Reports on the launch did not include any independent expert assessment of HEED, and its value will depend on whether outside researchers can turn ideas drawn from philosophy into tests that give consistent, repeatable results. The authors appear to recognise this, since they are funding an open call for independent teams to test it. Readers should keep apart two things: the philosophical inspiration, which is a matter of interpretation, and any claim about measurement, which will need evidence from the planned benchmark.
Peepals timeline: November 2, 2026, the white paper is launched and the yogic sciences centre inaugurated at IIT Ropar; next, an open call for independent researchers is to be issued, with a committee choosing teams; after that, the selected teams are to evaluate HEED and build HEED Bench as an open benchmark for AI developers. No dates for these later steps were given.
| Element | What the authors propose |
|---|---|
| Problem | AI "sycophancy": pleasing users instead of telling the truth |
| Framework | HEED, rewarding sound judgement that combines knowledge and values |
| Inspiration | The Shiva Sutras and classical Indian texts on the mind |
| Testing | Open call for independent researchers; HEED Bench as an open benchmark |
Impact
Short-term: The launch gives IIT Ropar a new research link between AI and Indian philosophy, alongside its new centre for yogic sciences. Researchers interested in the open call will be watching for its terms.
Long-term: If independent teams can build a reliable benchmark from the framework, it could add a new kind of test to the many used to compare AI systems. If not, it will remain one of several proposals on AI behaviour.
Who is affected: AI researchers and developers, students and faculty at IIT Ropar, scholars of Indian philosophy, and users of AI chatbots who rely on their advice.
Key Takeaway
A white paper launched at IIT Ropar on November 2, 2026 proposes HEED, a way to measure wisdom in AI inspired by the Shiva Sutras, which its authors want independent researchers to test.
Questions and Answers
What is the HEED framework launched at IIT Ropar?
HEED is a proposed way to measure "wisdom" in AI. Under it, a system scores higher when it uses sound judgement combining knowledge and values, and lower when a wish to please the user interferes.
Who wrote the IIT Ropar white paper on wisdom in AI?
Dr Ishan Shivanand, a Stanford research director and founder of Compassion Unites, with co-author Dr Anjali Samani. It was launched on November 2, 2026.
How do the Shiva Sutras relate to AI in this paper?
The authors say the framework draws on Shivanand's reading of the Shiva Sutras and other classical Indian texts on the mind. This is a philosophical inspiration; whether the framework measures wisdom reliably has yet to be tested.
Has the HEED framework been independently tested?
Not yet. Shivanand is funding an open call for independent researchers, and a committee will select teams to evaluate it and build an open benchmark called HEED Bench.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Devansh Tiwari, Knowledge Systems WriterCovers Knowledge Systems and more for Peepals Sanskriti. All stories by Devansh Tiwari
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Devansh Tiwari is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
