PM Modi Pushes for Indigenous, Ethical AI Under IndiaAI Mission
In a significant move to bolster India’s position in the global AI landscape, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the necessity for the country to develop a unique AI model that represents the ethos of “Made in India, Made for the World”. This initiative is part of the Centre’s ongoing efforts to enhance India’s AI readiness.
Roundtable Discussion with AI Startups
During a recent roundtable discussion, PM Modi engaged with the founders of 12 homegrown AI startups. This meeting was not only a platform for dialogue but also a demonstration of the government’s commitment to advancing the domestic AI ecosystem. Key participants included leaders from notable startups such as Avataar, BharatGen, Fractal, and Intellihealth, among others, alongside Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw.
AI’s Transformative Potential
PM Modi highlighted the transformative potential of AI across various sectors of society, referring to the participating startups as co-architects of India’s future. He stressed that AI models developed within India must adhere to principles of ethics, unbiasedness, transparency, and robust data privacy.
Global Adoption of Indian AI Products
To enhance the global acceptance of Indian AI products, the Prime Minister called for these technologies to be marketed as affordable, inclusive, and frugal, while promoting indigenous content and local languages.
IndiaAI Mission and Its Pillars
The startups invited to the roundtable were selected under the foundation models pillar of the IndiaAI Mission. This initiative aims to develop large language models (LLMs) using Indic data and languages, ensuring both domestic capabilities and global competitiveness in the field of generative AI.
In addition to LLM development, these startups are pioneering various AI applications, including:
- Speech-to-text technologies
- Text-to-audio and text-to-video solutions
- Generative 3D content for ecommerce and marketing
- Engineering simulations
- Material research
- Advanced analytics for data-driven decision-making
- AI-led healthcare diagnostics and medical research
Upcoming Events and Initiatives
Looking ahead, the India AI Impact Summit is set to take place in New Delhi on February 19 and 20. This summit is being positioned as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
The IndiaAI Mission comprises seven essential pillars, including:
- Foundation models initiative
- Subsidized access to high-end GPUs
- App development for India-specific use cases
- National AI dataset platform (AIKosh)
- AI-focused skilling programs
- Accelerated funding for AI-native startups
- Promotion of responsible AI adoption through robust governance frameworks
