AI Infrastructure Resilience and Self-Regulation
On January 12, 2026, during a Nasscom pre-summit event leading to the upcoming AI Impact Summit, the chairperson of Trai, Anil Kumar Lahoti, emphasized the need for resilient AI infrastructure and strong self-regulation to proactively mitigate risks associated with artificial intelligence. He highlighted that the design and rollout of AI infrastructure will significantly influence whether the advantages of this technology remain limited to a select few or are distributed broadly across various regions and sectors.
The Importance of Resiliency
Lahoti articulated that maintaining resiliency within AI infrastructure is crucial. This involves establishing safeguards and frameworks that ensure AI systems can adapt to disruptions while remaining reliable, secure, and accountable. He stressed the importance of robust self-regulation in the AI sector, which allows the industry to proactively tackle AI-related risks through voluntary commitments and self-certification.
Energy Consumption and Demand
Referencing projections by the International Energy Agency, Lahoti noted that India’s total energy demand is expected to grow by approximately 3 percent annually until 2035. He emphasized the critical need to optimize AI’s energy demands while simultaneously fostering digital growth. The global energy consumption for AI is projected to more than double by 2030, reaching around 945 TWh.
Government Initiatives
Under the India AI Mission, the government is facilitating affordable access to over 38,000 GPUs, along with a secure 3,000-GPU cluster for strategic use. Lahoti indicated that India is well-positioned to capture 10 to 15 percent of the estimated USD 17-26 trillion market for AI, which is expected to contribute significantly to the global economy over the next decade. He described AI infrastructure as a strategic national asset.
The Role of Telecom
Lahoti also discussed the convergence of AI and the telecom sector, which is forming the backbone of the digital economy. Telecom networks serve as primary carriers for AI, while AI technology provides the smart layer for telecom operations, positioning telecom networks at the heart of India’s AI ecosystem.
Current Deployments and Future Strategies
Citing current AI deployment statistics, Lahoti noted that one service provider has tagged over 48 billion calls and 250 million SMS messages as spam, while blocking nearly 320,000 fraudulent URLs. He concluded that as India progresses towards AI adoption, the manner in which AI infrastructure is designed, governed, and deployed will determine whether the benefits of AI are concentrated or widely shared across various regions, sectors, and institutions.
Accessibility, resiliency, and efficiency must be the core principles of India’s AI infrastructure strategy, according to Lahoti.
Upcoming AI Impact Summit
The India-AI Impact Summit 2026, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the France AI Action Summit, is scheduled for February 19-20 in New Delhi. This summit will mark the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
