Curated by THEOUTPOST
On Sun, 23 Feb, 12:01 AM UTC
2 Sources
[1]
India leading in AI adoption, shaping how it is governed: Nirmala Sitharaman
KOTTAYAM(KERALA): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said India was not just leading in the adoption of artificial intelligence, but also shaping how AI is governed. Speaking at the 6th convocation of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Kottayam, Sitharaman said that India was not just ready for AI, but the demand for AI-driven solutions was also high in the country. She said this was evident from the fact that the country recorded 3 billion AI-related app downloads in 2024, while the US and China had only 1.5 billion and 1.3 billion downloads, respectively. The Finance Minister also said that India being made the co-chair at the recent AI Action Summit in Paris was a recognition of the country's global position in the sector. She noted that at the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised that AI was not just a matter of national significance but a global responsibility. "What he (Modi) said gives us a very big message -- use AI, but use it responsibly. Do not misuse it, do not use it unethically. "So, it is very important for us to have AI that is ethical, inclusive, and trustworthy," she said. Sitharaman also outlined the steps taken by the central government in the field of AI, starting with the India AI mission, which was announced with a budget outlay of Rs 10,300 crore for building computing infrastructure, developing indigenous AI capabilities, attracting AI talent from around the world, and financing AI startups. "India is not just experimenting with AI. We are not just talking about AI or researching it. We are actually implementing it at scale and across various sectors," Sitharaman said, adding that this has been recognised by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. During her speech, Sitharaman also referred to India's achievements in the field of innovation and patenting. She said that India's ranking in the Global Innovation Index had improved to 39 out of 133 countries in 2024, up from 81 in 2015. Sitharaman also highlighted that India's patents-to-GDP ratio -- which measures the economic impact of patent activity -- had risen to 381 in 2023 from 144 in 2013, indicating significant progress in innovation and patenting. "Besides that, India holds the 7th position in intangible asset intensity, surpassing the growth rate of many high-income economies and matching the intangible investment intensity of Germany and Japan," she said at the event. She added that all these achievements indicated that the country was moving in the right direction, while also needing to further improve its performance. "We are moving towards greater innovation and greater self-reliance," she added. Sitharaman also congratulated the students who graduated from IIIT Kottayam and, at the same time, urged them to ensure that incidents like the recent ragging case at a nursing college in Kerala do not happen at their institute. "We do not need that. We do not want anyone to even playfully harass other students. We need to support one another, be better individuals, and become responsible youngsters so that we can build a bright future for the country," Sitharaman said as she concluded her speech.
[2]
India Shaping AI Governance Policies: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
Just weeks ago, IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the country would build its own foundational AI model in the next 10 months Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman reportedly said that India is moving beyond merely leading the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and is shaping how the technology is governed. As per news agency PTI, Sitharaman made the comments while addressing the convocation ceremony of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Kottayam. "India is not just experimenting with AI. We are not just talking about AI or researching it. We are actually implementing it at scale and across various sectors," Sitharaman said. The FM said that India is ready for AI, adding that the demand for AI-driven solutions is also high in the country. Citing her rationale, the FM said the country clocked 3 Bn AI-related app downloads in 2024, while the US and China recorded 1.5 Bn and 1.3 Bn downloads, respectively. Noting that India's appointment as a co-chair of the recent AI Action Summit in Paris was a recognition of the country's global position in the sector, Sitharaman, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlined that AI is not just a matter of "national significance but a global responsibility". "What he (PM Modi) said gives us a very big message. Use AI, but use it responsibly. Do not misuse it, do not use it unethically... So, it is very important for us to have AI that is ethical, inclusive, and trustworthy," she added. The FM also emphasised the steps taken by the Centre to foster a vibrant AI ecosystem in the country, including the INR 10,300 Cr IndiaAI Mission for building computing infrastructure, developing indigenous AI capabilities, attracting AI talent from across the globe, and financing AI startups. The development comes a day after it was reported that the Centre has received at least 67 proposals for building an indigenous AI foundational model, including applications for building 20 large language models (LLMs) from homegrown AI startups such as Sarvam AI, CoRover and Ola's Krutrim. The electronics and IT ministry (MeitY) is reportedly setting up a "high-level technical committee" to evaluate the said proposals. The panel, once constituted, will take a call on the feasibility of the submitted proposals in a month. The comments also come a month after IndiaAI Mission invited proposals from Indian startups and enterprises for building an India-specific AI foundational model. Just weeks ago, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the country would build its own foundational AI model in the next 10 months.
Share
Share
Copy Link
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasizes the country's leadership in AI adoption and governance, highlighting significant achievements and government initiatives in the field.
India is not just leading in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption but is also shaping how AI is governed globally, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking at the 6th convocation of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Kottayam, Sitharaman emphasized India's readiness for AI and the high demand for AI-driven solutions in the country 1.
The Finance Minister highlighted a significant statistic: India recorded 3 billion AI-related app downloads in 2024, surpassing both the United States (1.5 billion) and China (1.3 billion) 1. This data underscores the rapid adoption of AI technologies in India across various sectors.
India's appointment as co-chair at the recent AI Action Summit in Paris was cited as recognition of the country's global position in the AI sector. Sitharaman referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on AI as not just a matter of national significance but a global responsibility 2.
The Finance Minister stressed the importance of ethical AI use, stating, "It is very important for us to have AI that is ethical, inclusive, and trustworthy" 1. This aligns with the government's vision of responsible AI development and implementation.
Sitharaman outlined key steps taken by the central government to foster AI growth:
The India AI mission, announced with a budget outlay of Rs 10,300 crore, aims to:
The government has received 67 proposals for building an indigenous AI foundational model, including 20 large language models (LLMs) from homegrown AI startups 2.
A "high-level technical committee" is being set up by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) to evaluate these proposals within a month 2.
Sitharaman also highlighted India's achievements in innovation and patenting:
These achievements demonstrate India's commitment to fostering innovation and self-reliance in the technology sector, particularly in AI. As the country continues to implement AI at scale across various sectors, it is poised to play a significant role in shaping the global AI landscape.
Reference
[2]
India's government outlines its ambitious plans for AI development, emphasizing local innovation, national benefit, and global collaboration, while addressing challenges in internet governance and sustainability.
2 Sources
2 Sources
India aims to become a global AI application service provider, focusing on democratizing technology while balancing innovation and regulation. The government's approach emphasizes accessibility, affordability, and responsible development of AI.
2 Sources
2 Sources
India announces plans to launch its own secure and affordable AI model within 10 months, along with the development of indigenous GPUs in 3-5 years. The government aims to provide 18,000 high-end GPU-based compute facilities to boost AI research and development in the country.
4 Sources
4 Sources
India is making significant strides in developing its own AI foundational models, with the government receiving 67 proposals from various entities. This initiative aims to create a secure, cost-effective, and ethically sound AI ecosystem tailored to India's unique needs.
5 Sources
5 Sources
The Indian government, led by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, signals openness to introducing legislation for AI governance, marking a shift from its previous emphasis on self-regulation. This change comes amid growing concerns over AI's societal impact and the need for balanced regulation.
2 Sources
2 Sources
The Outpost is a comprehensive collection of curated artificial intelligence software tools that cater to the needs of small business owners, bloggers, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, marketers, writers, and researchers.
© 2025 TheOutpost.AI All rights reserved