Washington, January 31: India’s Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood has outlined a forward-thinking approach to AI governance, emphasizing trust over rigid regulations. Speaking virtually from New Delhi at a CSIS conference, Sood highlighted how India is prioritizing inclusion, innovation, and security in its AI strategy.
AI has evolved from niche experiments to the backbone of India’s digital economy, integral to economic and strategic policies. ‘AI is no longer confined to a few companies; it’s permeating every sector,’ Sood noted, pointing to global surges in generative AI investments and escalating data center energy demands.
This shift underscores AI governance as a cornerstone of economic strategy, public trust, and sustainable development. India’s policy framework focuses on safety, accountability, transparency, and inclusivity, while maintaining flexibility to foster innovation.
Launched under the 2024 IndiaAI Mission, key initiatives include shared computing infrastructure, integrated data platforms, indigenous AI model development, and skill-building programs. Startups, researchers, and universities access high-performance computing at subsidized rates, slashing costs and spurring innovation.
The National AI Data Platform hosts thousands of datasets and models across sectors, democratizing access. India is also investing in AI education and shaping global standards through active participation in international forums. Recently released, the National AI Governance Report blends legal oversight with technical measures to mitigate risks while enabling scaled innovation.
Looking ahead to the AI Impact Summit, Sood advocated for a shared global vision where compute, data, and foundational models become universal enablers. ‘The goal is to democratize access, preventing concentration in few hands, so nations can craft context-specific solutions for their societies, languages, and public systems,’ he said.
Success, Sood emphasized, will be measured not by AI’s raw power, but by its transformation into widespread societal benefits and public good.