AI Governance Conference in Chennai: Overview
The conference titled “AI Governance: Ethics, Data Protection and Legal Framework” was jointly organized by the Deccan Centre for International Relations (DCIR) in Chennai, Dhirubhai Ambani University – School of Law in Gandhinagar, and IITM Pravartak in Chennai. It received support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and was held on April 28, 2026, at the Pullman Hotel in Chennai.
Purpose and Vision
The event served as a focused platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue among policymakers, technologists, legal experts, industry leaders, and academics from South India. Its primary aim was to translate the outcomes of the India AI Impact Summit 2026—including the MANAV Vision, the Three Sutras, “People, Planet, Progress,” and the Seven Chakras—into actionable regional roadmaps.
Key Themes and Sessions
1. Sovereign AI & Opportunities
Organized by IITM Pravartak, this session featured speakers Dr. Gaurav Raina and Lt. Gen. Karanbir Singh Brar (Retd.). Discussions centered on the development of a sovereign AI ecosystem and the opportunities it presents for the Indian subcontinent.
2. Legal & Regulatory Frameworks for Responsible AI
Led by Dhirubhai Ambani University – School of Law, the session included speakers Sudha Hooda, Anirudh Rastogi, Akshaya Suresh, and Parishrut Jassal, with moderation by Dr. Vini Singh. The dialogue explored legal structures, liability issues, and regulatory pathways essential for responsible AI deployment.
3. Towards an Inclusive Indian Model for Global AI Governance
Organized by DCIR, this session featured Vibhav Mithal, Deepa Karthykeyan, Jagan Nathan Vaman, and Shreeppriya Gopalakrishnan. It emphasized the creation of an inclusive, human-centric model of AI governance that aligns with global standards while reflecting Indian values.
Highlights and Notable Addresses
The inaugural session began with a virtual address by Chief Guest S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, followed by a keynote from Prof. B. Ravindran, Head of the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras. A special address was delivered by Vanitha Venugopal, CEO of Tamil Nadu Technology Hub (iTNT).
Key Challenges Discussed
Participants examined critical challenges such as AI ethics, data protection, liability, bias, and sovereign AI. The conference underscored the necessity of an inclusive, human-centric Indian model of AI governance to address these issues.
Impact and Significance
The event highlighted active participation from foreign missions, media representatives, academics, industry professionals, legal experts, and strategic thinkers. It marked a significant step in strengthening South India’s voice in global AI governance discourse and building regional capacity for responsible AI development.
