New Delhi [India]: India aims to not just harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) for its own development but also to lead AI deployment across the Global South, said S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), during the Carnegie Global Technology Summit in New Delhi on Saturday.
“India wants to take a leadership position on behalf of the Global South and ensure AI is deployed across the world,” Krishnan emphasized.
IndiaAI Mission: Democratizing AI for All
India’s commitment to responsible and impactful AI was formalized with the launch of the IndiaAI Mission on March 7, 2024. The mission seeks to boost India’s leadership in AI while ensuring that the benefits of the technology reach all sections of society.
“Right from the beginning, we decided not to be doctrinaire. We view AI as an opportunity, not something to be overregulated from the outset,” Krishnan said.
From Safety to Impact: Evolving Global Discourse
With India co-chairing the Paris AI Summit earlier this year and hosting the next edition in 2025, Krishnan noted a shift in global conversations.
“We’ve talked about safety and governance. Now, it’s time to talk about impact—how AI can truly transform economies, governance, and lives,” he added.
He emphasized AI’s potential to raise productivity, improve governance efficiency, and boost economic growth across developing nations.
Building AI Infrastructure and DPI Integration
India is ramping up its infrastructure with 15,000 GPUs currently available and more on the way. Krishnan also highlighted the synergy between AI and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a key growth strategy.
“By linking AI with DPI layers, we can drive innovation at not just the application level but also the agentic level,” he explained.
Data Centers & Global Collaboration
India also aims to become a global hub for data centers and compute power, which Krishnan said would benefit not only the country but other parts of the Global South as well.
“We’re already in talks with the United Nations on how India’s compute capacity can serve regions where infrastructure is lacking,” he added.
Conclusion
Krishnan concluded by reiterating that India’s AI strategy is inclusive, flexible, and globally minded, with a strong focus on making real-world impact in both India and beyond.