Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra backs 'AI for all' vision
Washington, May 9
India is pushing for the "democratisation of AI" while expanding technology cooperation with the United States, Ambassador Vinay Kwatra said at the US-India AI and Emerging Technology Forum.
Speaking at an event here, Kwatra said the recent AI summit in India brought together global leaders, scientists and industry to shape a shared vision.
"One of the driving thrust...was eventually the democratisation of AI," he said.
He explained the idea as wider access to AI outcomes. "If the end product of this technology is intelligence... the diffusion of that intelligence has to be democratised for the benefit of people," he said.
Kwatra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach is clear. "AI for all in many ways," he said, adding that the idea was captured in the New Delhi Declaration.
He said the summit showed convergence across global innovation systems. "You saw convergence of the multiple innovation ecosystem," he said.
Kwatra said more than 20 heads of state and government attended, along with global research communities.
He also pointed to growing India-US cooperation. "We could also sign a joint cooperative framework between India and the US in this space," he said.
Kwatra said the partnership spans technology, innovation and manufacturing. These links are shaping supply chains and economic activity.
He said AI is both current and emerging. "Artificial intelligence is both current and naturally emerging at a scale and speed which is very difficult... to fathom," he said.
Kwatra said progress should be seen as a series of gains. "I... would not want to frame it as one single success... I see this in a series," he said.
He cited semiconductor investment as one example linking capital, technology and talent.
He also stressed that AI is not just software. "It's a hardware story... whether it's power, whether it's data centers, whether it's critical minerals," he said.
On future cooperation, Kwatra highlighted areas such as quantum computing, quantum communication and nuclear fusion.
He said research collaboration between universities remains a key driver of innovation.
Kwatra also addressed governance and security. "Security... from any kind of malicious attack is always a priority," he said.
He said India is focused on "safe, secure and trusted AI" to protect infrastructure and maintain social harmony.
India and the United States have expanded cooperation in critical technologies in recent years. This includes semiconductors, AI and supply chains.
Both countries are working to align standards on trusted and secure systems while scaling innovation and deployment across industries.
— IANS
Reader Comments
"AI for all" sounds great on paper, but in practice, the digital divide in rural India is still huge. We need to improve basic internet access and digital literacy first. Otherwise, this democratisation will only benefit urban elites. Still, it's good to see India taking a leadership role globally.
Impressive vision from India. The partnership between US and India on critical technologies like semiconductors and AI is exactly what the world needs—combining American innovation with Indian scale and talent. The emphasis on quantum computing and fusion is forward-looking.
One thing missing here: how will this "AI for all" translate into jobs for our youth? The article talks about manufacturing and supply chains, but what about skilling? We can't just import AI solutions; we need to build our own workforce. Otherwise, we'll end up as consumers, not creators.
Love the focus on "safe and secure AI." With deepfakes and misinformation spreading, we need global standards. India's stance on maintaining social harmony through trusted AI is commendable. Hope the university collaborations lead to real breakthroughs.
Honestly, these high-level forums are fine, but ground-level impact matters more. Will AI help our farmers predict weather better? Will it improve public healthcare in villages? Those are the real tests of democratisation. Let's see concrete plans from the government.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.