Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, engaged in a compelling fireside chat with Mr. Evan Feigenbaum at the Global Technology Summit 2023. The event witnessed discussions about India’s aspirations in harnessing emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to foster innovation, effective governance, and drive the digital economy towards the envisioned $1 trillion milestone set by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
In his dialogue, Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar highlighted AI’s pivotal role in propelling India’s digital economy. He emphasized the country’s intent to make AI a driving force, referring to the upcoming GPAI summit in Delhi and the Korea Safety Summit in May 2024. The Minister stressed the importance of global alignment in establishing a unified framework for AI, foreseeing India’s digital economy reaching 20% of GDP by 2026, a significant leap from 4% in 2014.
Addressing India’s approach towards AI, the Minister outlined its transformative potential across various sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, skilling, and security. He underscored the government’s commitment to bolstering AI capabilities, including building GPU capacity in both public and private sectors, to facilitate innovation and address capacity constraints.
Reflecting on his experience at the Bletchley Summit in the UK, Minister Chandrasekhar highlighted the discussions around AI safety and trust, aligning with India’s stance on emphasizing these aspects since 2021. He clarified that India’s perspective on AI wasn’t about demonizing it but rather recognizing its monumental significance in modern times.
Further, the Minister emphasized India’s transition from abstract self-regulation to holding platforms legally accountable for AI’s safety and trust aspects. He stressed India’s unique approach, aiming to strike a balance between the U.S. model of market regulation and the European model’s focus on citizen rights, creating a hybrid framework to ensure innovation while safeguarding citizens’ rights in cyberspace.
In the concluding segment, Minister Chandrasekhar highlighted India’s strides in the semiconductor industry, acknowledging past missed opportunities spanning 70 years. He outlined India’s renewed focus on semiconductor manufacturing, packaging innovation, talent development, and research, bridging the gaps accumulated over decades in just the last two years.
The Minister’s insights shed light on India’s progressive journey in AI and semiconductor development, signifying the country’s determination to establish itself as a technological powerhouse on the global stage.