India’s Voice Must Resonate in Global AI Conversations

Context: The International Network of AI Safety Institutes was inaugurated in November 2024 in San Francisco, U.S., following the Seoul Statement of Intent, under which nations pledged to collaborate on AI safety.

The International Network of AI Safety Institutes aims to unify global efforts in AI safety research, technical expertise, and policy innovation to establish best practices and harmonized safety standards. However, India has not yet joined this international initiative, despite being a major AI adopter.

Evolving Nature of AI

• AI is a borderless technology, rapidly advancing across sectors like healthcare, finance, agriculture, and cybersecurity.
• With 30% AI adoption in India (higher than the global average of 26%) and 10% of ChatGPT users being Indian, AI has become deeply integrated into India’s economy.
• However, the geopolitical landscape is shifting, with the U.S. imposing export controls on advanced AI to restrict China’s access.
• This could impact India’s access to crucial AI technologies, making global participation in AI governance even more critical.

India’s Stance

• India has not yet joined the International Network of AI Safety Institutes, despite its growing AI ecosystem.
• The absence from this forum risks India losing influence over global AI regulations.
• Engaging in international AI safety initiatives is essential for:
  • Protecting India’s AI ecosystem – Ensuring ethical, secure, and competitive AI development.
  • Strengthening India’s global leadership – Shaping AI governance frameworks and influencing global standards.
  • Navigating geopolitical challenges – Preventing potential restrictions on AI technology access.
  • Fostering innovation & investments – Aligning policies with global norms to attract AI funding and partnerships.
• India’s strengths, like its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and a robust tech talent pool, position it well to lead global AI safety discussions rather than remain a passive observer.
• The need for a national AI safety institution and proactive international engagement is urgent.

What India Needs to Do in the AI Race

Develop Cost-Effective AI Solutions

• India must innovate efficiently, similar to ISRO’s approach, by focusing on low-energy, cost-effective AI models that can scale rapidly.
• This will allow India to do more with less, ensuring AI is accessible and sustainable.

Strengthen Open-Source AI Ecosystem

• Encouraging open-source AI models will foster innovation and democratize AI development.
• Support startups and developers in building domain-specific AI solutions that cater to India’s unique needs (e.g., healthcare, agriculture, education).

Build Sovereign AI Models with Indian Data

• Develop frontier AI models trained on Indian datasets to ensure they are culturally relevant and free from foreign biases.
• Move beyond application-layer AI and develop an end-to-end AI ecosystem, including foundational models and infrastructure.

Invest in AI Hardware & Semiconductor Independence

• GPUs are critical for AI, but US restrictions limit India’s access to advanced chips.
• India must build domestic semiconductor capabilities through investments in chip manufacturing, AI computing power, and energy-efficient hardware.

Develop Multilingual & Multimodal AI Models

• India has 22 official languages and hundreds of dialects—AI models must support multilingual and multimodal capabilities to make AI truly inclusive.
• Initiatives like BHASHINI need to be scaled up for broader reach.

Secure Tier-I Status in Global AI Supply Chains

• As a Quad partner, India must demand Tier-I status in AI diffusion policies to avoid restrictions on high-end GPUs and AI technologies.
• Strengthen diplomatic and trade negotiations to ensure unrestricted access to AI hardware and software.

Adopt a Mission-Driven, Urgent Approach

• AI is a global strategic priority—India must act with urgency and mission-mode execution, similar to its success in UPI, Aadhaar, and digital infrastructure.
• Establish an IndiaAI Mission Task Force to drive policy, funding, and AI research collaboration.

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