New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday outlined a vision for India to grow a leading global power in artificial intelligence, declaring the nation’s ambition to rank among the top three AI superpowers worldwide. The announcement came on the second day of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, signaling a significant push for both AI development and deployment within India.
Modi emphasized India’s intent to not merely consume AI technologies, but to actively contribute to their creation and innovation. “India is building the future from the ground up,” he stated, according to the Prime Minister’s Office website. The government anticipates attracting $200 billion in AI investments and $17 billion in deep tech funding, resources intended to fuel this ambitious undertaking.
The push for AI leadership comes as Modi approaches a quarter-century in public service. He first took office as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001, a position he held for over twelve years before becoming Prime Minister in 2014. His tenure as Prime Minister has already surpassed those of several predecessors, including Dr. Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, making him the third longest-serving Prime Minister in India’s history, trailing only Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
The AI Impact Summit follows recent recognition of India’s growing influence in the field, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić acknowledging India’s leadership in artificial intelligence, as reported by the Prime Minister’s Office on February 17th. This international acknowledgement underscores the increasing global attention on India’s technological advancements.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), under Modi’s leadership, has experienced substantial growth since he first assumed the role of Gujarat’s Chief Minister. In 2014, the BJP secured its first solo majority in the Lok Sabha, ending decades of coalition governments. This victory solidified the party’s position as a dominant force in Indian politics.
The Prime Minister’s address at the summit also included a sharing of a Sanskrit verse, highlighting the importance of comprehensive and scientifically grounded knowledge, a sentiment he connected to the development of AI. Further details regarding specific initiatives and policy frameworks to support the AI vision are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The India-France Innovation Forum was inaugurated in Mumbai on February 18th, with Prime Minister Modi highlighting the strong relationship between the two countries, describing it as one built on innovation, trust and shared values.
