India’s role in shaping inclusive AI governance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired the AI Action Summit in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron on February 10 and 11, a milestone in shaping the global dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI). India was among 57 countries to sign a joint statement in support of inclusive and sustainable AI for humanity and the world. The summit witnessed India’s expanding role in global AI governance. The country has an important role to play in advancing the interests of the Global South and promoting equitable access to transformative technologies.

Challenges and Opportunities

India’s place in the AI world is yet to be firmly established, particularly when compared to other leading nations in this area, specifically the US and China. AI will be enhancing human capabilities, not substituting them. AI will be revolutionising industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and education. With the world standing at the threshold of an AI revolution, India must get ready to adopt this technology to reshape the country and the world.

The US and China are currently in the driver’s seat of AI development, setting the stage for the rest of the world. OpenAI in the US and DeepSeek in China are a pointer to their technological strength. The time has come for India to participate in this great race. Indian institutional and investment interest in AI is limited by comparison, pointing to a pressing need to catch up. The significance of open-source AI in the US-dominated AI landscape and its potential to democratising technology and enhance accessibility to a diverse audience is more pertinent than ever. India’s success in spaces of uniqueness cannot be ignored. The Development of a Digital Public Infrastructure for 1.4 billion citizens speaks volumes about its potential. The development of a Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) and working on a large language model to tackle linguistic diversity are attempts to build a healthy AI ecosystem in India. But to compete on a global stage, India needs to increase investments in AI research, innovation, and green systems. AI can contribute nearly $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, indicating its transformative impact on the nation’s economy. AI adoption in India increased from 63 per cent in 2023 to 72 per cent in 2024, indicating a significant growth in the adoption of AI across sectors. India’s 2025-26 Union Budget indicates a lack of proper provision of funds to nurture AI innovations. Though the Budget has allocated Rs 500 crore for the AI Centre of Excellence in education, the Budget proposes Rs 20,000 crore to fund the next-generation startups, which include AI. On March 2024, India approved an investment in AI projects, including the fund to develop large language models—at a time when India’s artificial intelligence market is anticipated to grow to $17 billion by 2027—this translates to about a 25-35 per cent growth rate in the coming years. India’s current investment amount is a notch below expectations. The US and China have already invested billions of dollars in AI research. Currently, India’s efforts remain modest.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently said France will spend €109 billion (approximately $112 billion) on artificial intelligence initiatives in the coming years. Europe is also competing to stave off US domination of AI. To compete with the likes of China, the US and also Europe, India must prioritise and step up its focus on investments in AI research, innovation, and infrastructure. India’s AI revolution needs a sudden burst of acceleration to be on the same page as China and the US.

Strengthening AI diplomacy is essential to facilitate India’s leadership role in AI governance on the global front. The joint statement highlighted that trust and transparency needed to be built to resolve AI concern areas. Indian involvement in the Public Interest AI Platform is an opportunity to lead capacity-building efforts for the Global South. India can promote inclusive AI governance based on collective values and action through platforms such as G20 and BRICS.

Paving the Way for Equitable and Responsible AI

Data is India’s most valuable resource in the AI era, especially when it is the world’s second-most populous country. There is a worry though that AI systems owned by foreigners would monopolise data processing. The joint statement on data governance speaks of the need to develop standards for processing data legally and openly to assure privacy and fundamental rights. India’s DEPA is a fine example of how efficient governance of data can be used to promote innovation without compromising security. India needs to develop sandboxes in the future to foster innovative solutions and become the world leader in data sovereignty.

In the second place, the difficulty lies in data governance. AI processing of data is very sophisticated, handling enormous amounts of data in fields such as health, education, and public security. This requires open structures and principles of privacy by design, as the joint statement on data governance repeats. AI’s high consumption of energy raises sustainability concerns too. India needs to surmount these obstacles with firm governance and green, innovative technologies to be an AI leader.

India’s upcoming role as the host of the next AI Action Summit may strengthen its global leadership in international cooperation on responsible AI development. The joint statement made a firm commitment to bridging digital divides, trust in AI systems, and addressing developing world priorities. Fair access to AI resources such as computer processing power, human capital, and investment is on the agenda of the Global South. Through its participation in initiatives such as the Public Interest AI Platform and hosting the next AI summit, India can provide leadership in fair data-sharing practices and responsible AI governance.

As the AI era breaks, India must take its leadership role in the world. That requires investment in human capital upgradation to deal with AI-led disruptions. They need more investments and collaboration to create open-source AI platforms that bridge digital divides. India must transition towards sustainability, data security, and improving equitable AI governance. This must be India’s vision in sculpting a human-centric AI ecosystem for the world. Data security is a prime concern area for India given that it is the world’s second-most populous nation. With a vast amount of data being created every day, India’s digital capital is of strategic significance. The ownership of AI platforms by the US and China also raises questions about the loss of control over data and exploitation. India’s leadership in AI can be a guiding force of equitable growth, ensuring there is fair access to technology for middle and low-income countries.

With platforms such as the G20, BRICS, and the upcoming AI summit, India must take leadership in creating a global AI ethics framework for the equitable sharing of data.

AI diplomacy must be strengthened to facilitate India to host the next AI summit. The platform is an excellent opportunity to push the cause of equitable AI development, fair sharing of data frameworks, and collaborations around the world. India can set the pace in making equitable access to AI technologies a reality for developing and underdeveloped nations.

AI governanceAI Summitartificial intelligenceEmmanuel MacronNarendra ModitechnologyWeb Exclusive