At the recent Global AI Conclave, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasized the importance of nurturing technological talent over focusing solely on chip-led compute power to advance India’s AI industry. He noted that the real challenge lies in developing skilled professionals, particularly at the masters and PhD levels in AI. This shift in focus marks a change from past metrics of academic success, such as employment at major tech companies or international placements.
Chandrasekhar highlighted the urgent need to address talent development, which he considers a more pressing issue than infrastructure, believing that the latter will resolve quickly. Despite the current global competition for AI computing power due to a chip shortage, he is confident that this will soon be overcome.
Speaking to an audience of tech enthusiasts in Bengaluru, Chandrasekhar detailed the government’s continuous efforts to build necessary infrastructure for emerging technologies like AI. This initiative is part of a broader goal to boost India’s tech economy to a trillion dollars by 2026.
The minister also discussed AI regulations at the conclave, underscoring the need for a global, rules-based framework to mitigate risks associated with AI, such as deep fakes and user harm. This conversation aligns with the recent New Delhi Declaration of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), endorsed by 28 countries, which focuses on AI’s risks, including misinformation, data privacy, and threats to human rights and democracy.
This focus on regulation comes in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for international collaboration on a global AI framework, highlighting AI’s significant impact on democracies.