India to roll out Rs 10,000 crore plan to procure AI GPUs in 2-3 months: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The IndiaAI Mission was approved by the previous Union Cabinet earlier this year, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. While still a blueprint, the approval could spur investments in this sector — with private companies setting up data centres in the country, and allowing startups access so they can test and build their generative AI models.

Vaishnaw said there is a general understanding that modern technology is becoming expensive and “in many geographies, it gets limited in the hands of the few — big tech, government controlled”. Citing the example of India’s digital public infrastructure work, he added that technology should be accessible to everyone.

He mentioned the various interventions that have happened globally to limit the problems posed by AI systems, including the AI Act passed in the European Union and the executive order in the United States, and called these measures “very relevant”.

“These are very relevant for all of us. We are all facing the same challenges, the global south is looking at universal support, thought process…” Vaishnaw said.

The minister said that though the last year has seen AI traverse a “momentous” journey with growth visible in both its consumption and enthusiasm in how it might change businesses and the societies, there has also been a “realisation” about its “dangers” to social institutions.

“In the recent Lok Sabha elections we saw the threat of misinformation,  disinformation which was multiplied with the power of AI. The entire world has experienced this and is feeling the same threats,” Vaishnaw said.