In the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), India has set its sights on becoming a global powerhouse. During the NDTV World Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful message on how AI is poised to play a transformative role in India’s future. He highlighted the country’s "double AI power," underscoring India’s rapid strides in artificial intelligence, which promises to not only enhance governance but also catalyze innovation across key sectors of the economy.
The AI Mission: Empowering Every Sector
In his address, PM Modi emphasized that the Artificial Intelligence Mission, initiated in 2023, is central to India’s plans to scale up AI adoption across various domains. The mission, which aims to harness AI’s potential for societal and economic good, reflects India’s strategic focus on leveraging cutting-edge technology to meet national development goals.
"Our goal is to increase the use of artificial intelligence in every sector," PM Modi said, highlighting that AI is set to revolutionize agriculture, healthcare, education, and governance. From precision farming and predictive healthcare to enhancing the quality of education, AI will be the bedrock of India's technology-driven growth strategy.
Doubling AI Power: A Vision for the Future
What does "double AI power" mean? For India, it reflects the twin focus on advancing AI innovation and scaling AI adoption at both the government and industry levels. On the one hand, India is nurturing homegrown AI talent and fostering innovation through initiatives like AI research hubs, incubators, and startup support programs. On the other hand, the government is prioritizing the integration of AI technologies into key sectors like infrastructure, smart cities, and digital governance.
At the core of this vision is the belief that AI can double India's competitive edge in the global arena. The mission will empower India to harness the disruptive power of AI not only for economic growth but also for social upliftment, ensuring that technological advancements reach every corner of the country.
AI for Agriculture: Feeding India’s Future
One of the most impactful areas where AI can drive significant change is agriculture, a sector that employs nearly half of India's population. PM Modi noted that AI applications can enable precision farming, optimize resource use, and improve crop yields. AI-powered analytics and machine learning algorithms are already being deployed to predict weather patterns, monitor soil health, and identify crop diseases, giving farmers the tools to make informed decisions and reduce losses.
AI's role in agriculture aligns with the government’s broader ambition to ensure food security and improve the livelihoods of farmers, thereby contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth.
AI in Healthcare: Saving Lives and Enhancing Care
India’s healthcare system, with its vast rural population and limited access to healthcare in remote areas, stands to gain enormously from AI innovations. PM Modi pointed out that AI can revolutionize diagnostics, personalized treatment, and drug discovery, all while reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes.
For instance, AI-driven platforms can analyze medical images with high accuracy, helping doctors detect diseases like cancer at early stages. In rural areas, telemedicine platforms powered by AI can connect patients to doctors in real-time, ensuring access to quality healthcare services. This is especially crucial in a country like India, where healthcare infrastructure remains unevenly distributed.
AI in Education: Unlocking New Learning Horizons
AI is also set to redefine education by offering personalized learning experiences to students, adapting to their unique learning styles, and helping teachers focus on areas where students need the most help. PM Modi stressed the importance of using AI in education to bridge gaps in India’s diverse and expansive student population.
Through AI-enabled platforms, students in rural and under-resourced areas can access quality education, helping to democratize knowledge. AI is being used to develop smart content, provide real-time feedback, and even simulate immersive learning experiences through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
AI in Governance: Efficiency and Transparency
Another key area that PM Modi highlighted was AI’s potential to improve governance by enhancing efficiency and promoting transparency. AI-powered systems can streamline bureaucratic processes, combat corruption, and deliver government services more effectively.
From simplifying tax processes to optimizing public service delivery, AI-driven tools can enhance the citizen experience. AI in governance also offers new ways to engage with citizens, helping the government better understand and respond to the needs of its people.
India’s AI Journey: Global Leadership and Collaboration
India’s AI ambitions are not just limited to domestic development. As PM Modi pointed out, India is emerging as a global leader in AI by contributing to international research collaborations, shaping ethical AI frameworks, and participating in multilateral initiatives. India’s vast talent pool, with a growing number of engineers, data scientists, and AI researchers, makes it well-positioned to lead in AI innovation.
Moreover, India's participation in global AI collaborations, such as with the G20 AI cooperation and partnerships with countries like the United States, the UK, and Japan, showcases its commitment to fostering a global AI ecosystem.
Ethical AI: A Key Priority
While India is keen to push the boundaries of AI innovation, PM Modi emphasized the need for ethical AI development. He reiterated that AI should be used responsibly, ensuring that its benefits are inclusive and that the technology is developed in ways that respect privacy, data security, and human rights.
To this end, India is taking steps to build robust data protection frameworks and AI governance mechanisms that will safeguard citizens’ privacy while fostering innovation.
PM Modi’s remarks at the NDTV World Summit make it clear that India is not just adopting AI but is setting the stage to lead the global AI revolution. With a strategic focus on boosting AI’s presence across sectors, India’s "double AI power" will play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future.
As AI continues to transform industries, India’s efforts to integrate AI into agriculture, healthcare, education, and governance reflect a forward-thinking approach aimed at inclusive growth. With the Artificial Intelligence Mission in full swing, the next decade promises to be a game-changer for India, leveraging AI to solve some of its most pressing challenges while positioning itself as a global leader in the AI-driven economy.