India might not yet have an foundational AI model, or any prominent AI companies within its shores, but PM Narendra Modi is confident it’ll play a big part in the AI revolution.
Indian PM Narendra Modi has said that no matter what the world does it AI, it’ll remain incomplete without India. Modi was responding to a question posed by AI researcher and podcaster Lex Fridman in an interview. “What does it take for India to start willing and leading the world in AI?” Fridman asked him.
“One thing I want to say — it might sound strong and might even upset some people — but since you’ve asked, I’ll speak openly from my heart,” PM Modi replied. “No matter what the world does with AI, it will remain incomplete without India. I’m making this statement very responsibly. You’ve heard my speech at the World AI Summit in Paris. Can anyone develop AI entirely on their own?” he asked Fridman.
Fridman then recalled Modi’s speech, in which he’d given an example of how asking current AI systems to create a picture of a man drawing with the left hand consistently generated images of a man drawing with his right hand instead.
“I believe AI development is fundamentally a collaboration,” Modi continued. “Everyone involved supports one another through shared experiences and learning. India isn’t just developing theoretical AI models. It is actively working on and bringing to life AI-driven applications for very specific use-cases. To ensure that GPU access is available to every section of society, we have already created a unique marketplace-based model to ensure its broad accessibility,” he added. Modi was referring to the IndiaAI GPU cluster, which has made 18,693 GPUs available to Indian entrepreneurs and researchers.
“A significant mindset shift is taking place in India. Through historical influences, traditional government procedures, or the lack of strong support infrastructure we were at one point lagging behind others. Take 5G for example. The world initially believed we were far behind. But once we started, we became the fastest nation globally to roll out comprehensive 5G networks,” he explained.
“Recently an American company executive visited me and shared his experiences about this very fact. He told me that if I were to advertise in the US for engineers, I would receive only enough applicants to fill a single room, at best. But if i do the same in India, even a football field wouldn’t be enough to hold them. This means India has access to a wide pool of talent, and that’s our greatest strength. After all AI is fundamentally powered, shaped and guided by human intelligence. Without genuine human intelligence, AI can’t thrive or progress globally. And that real intelligence exists abundantly in India’s youth and talent pool, and I believe that’s our greatest asset,” Modi added.