Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday led a significant roundtable discussion with Indian artificial intelligence start-ups, engaging with CEOs and experts from the AI sector at his official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. The meeting underscored the government's commitment to fostering innovation while maintaining ethical standards in technological advancement.
Emphasis on Ethical AI and Indigenous Development
During the interaction, Prime Minister Modi firmly asserted that there should be no compromise on the ethical use of AI. He articulated a vision for an AI ecosystem that is transparent, impartial, and secure, reflecting India's core values and character. The Prime Minister called for widespread adoption of new technologies across various sectors to accelerate national growth, with a particular focus on utilizing indigenous solutions.
"We should work towards an AI ecosystem which is transparent, impartial and secure. There should be no compromise on ethical use of AI," Modi stated, while also highlighting the critical need to focus on AI skilling and talent building initiatives across the country.
India's Digital Advantage and Global Inspiration
Prime Minister Modi pointed to India's remarkable digital achievements, particularly citing the success of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a demonstration of the nation's technical prowess. He suggested that similar innovation could be replicated in the AI domain, leveraging India's unique advantages.
"Through Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India has demonstrated its technical prowess and the same can be replicated in the field of AI as well," the Prime Minister remarked, emphasizing India's scale, diversity, and democratic values that have helped build global trust in its digital infrastructure.
In alignment with his vision of 'AI for All', Modi stressed the importance of developing technology that creates tangible impact while inspiring the world. He urged companies and experts to position India as a key destination for global AI efforts, noting that "India's AI ecosystem should reflect the character and values of the nation."
Industry Participation and Government Collaboration
The roundtable featured participation from prominent industry leaders and academic experts, including:
- CEOs from major AI-driven companies such as Wipro, TCS, HCL Tech, Zoho Corporation, LTI Mindtree, Jio Platforms Ltd, AdaniConnex, Nxtra Data, and Netweb Technologies
- Experts from premier educational institutions including IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Madras, and IIT Bombay
- Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State Jitin Prasada
The discussion was strategically aligned with the upcoming IndiaAI Impact Summit scheduled for February, focusing on fostering strategic collaborations, showcasing AI innovations, and accelerating India's AI mission. Industry leaders expressed strong support for India's goal of achieving self-reliance in AI technology and acknowledged government efforts to establish India as a global leader in artificial intelligence.
Parallel Energy Sector Engagement
In a related development, Prime Minister Modi had earlier interacted with chief executives of leading global and Indian energy companies on Wednesday. During that meeting, industry leaders expressed strong confidence in India's growth outlook and interest in expanding their presence in the country.
CEOs cited policy stability, reform momentum, and long-term demand visibility as key drivers for investment in India's energy sector. Modi highlighted that such roundtables have emerged as crucial platforms for industry-government alignment, allowing direct feedback from global leaders to refine policy frameworks and address sectoral challenges.
The Prime Minister emphasized India's economic momentum, noting that the country is rapidly progressing toward becoming the world's third-largest economy and will play a decisive role in shaping global energy demand and supply. The energy roundtable was attended by 27 CEOs and senior executives from companies including TotalEnergies, BP, Vitol, HD Hyundai, Aker, LanzaTech, Vedanta, and others, with Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi also present.
These consecutive engagements demonstrate the government's comprehensive approach to sectoral development, combining technological innovation with energy security to propel India's growth trajectory on the global stage.
