Washington, Jan 16 (NationPress) The forthcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, hosted by India, will revolve around three fundamental themes: people, planet, and progress. The goal is to transition global discussions on artificial intelligence from theoretical principles to actionable outcomes, as stated by Namgya Khampa, India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington.

Khampa shared these insights during the event titled “US-India Strategic Cooperation on AI,” organized by Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America), the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), and the Embassy of India at the US Capitol, which convened policymakers and experts to define mutual priorities ahead of the summit.

According to Khampa, artificial intelligence has evolved beyond a niche technology; it now plays a crucial role in shaping economic competitiveness, geopolitical dynamics, and societal impacts.

She emphasized that India’s strategy regarding AI is rooted in its experiences with digital public infrastructure, showcasing how inclusive, interoperable, and cost-effective technology can revolutionize governance for large populations.

Platforms like Aadhaar and the unified payments interface have significantly enhanced access to public services, finance, and identity for over 1.4 billion residents of India.

Khampa articulated that India perceives AI not merely as an isolated solution but as a “force multiplier” that augments its digital public infrastructure, rendering systems “smarter, more responsive, more productive, and more accessible,” thus translating AI from abstraction to everyday utility and from innovation to transformative change.

She highlighted that the AI Impact Summit would mark the first significant global AI gathering led by a nation from the Global South. The summit aims to address disparities in global AI governance by enhancing participation and ownership without compromising standards.

Elaborating on the summit’s framework, she noted that the three themes—people, planet, and progress—mirror India’s vision of “AI for all.” AI should empower individuals rather than exclude them, be resource-efficient and aligned with sustainability goals, and foster equitable economic growth, particularly in sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and public service.

Khampa also pointed out that heightened geopolitical tensions and the weaponization of technology supply chains have rendered technological resilience a vital component of national strategy. She referenced the India-US trust initiative as a platform to advance cooperation from concepts to concrete projects across research, standards, skills development, and next-generation technologies.

She asserted that India’s linguistic diversity and population-scale digital platforms present an unmatched opportunity to develop inclusive, multilingual AI systems, while the United States contributes leading-edge research, funding, and advanced use cases that can be tested in India and scaled globally.

Dhruva Janshankar from ORF America remarked that India is increasingly establishing itself as a mediator in global discussions regarding AI safety and the necessity for large-scale, practical deployment, especially in developing nations.

He noted that earlier global AI dialogues had largely centered around abstract or existential risks, while nations in the Global South are more concerned about whether AI can yield tangible enhancements in healthcare, education, public services, and economic opportunities.

Janshankar mentioned that many developing countries share common challenges, including restricted access to technology, financial limitations, and the risk of being sidelined in global rule-making.

He cautioned that global competition in AI deployment is already underway in emerging markets. If democratic nations do not provide affordable, scalable, and trusted AI solutions, he warned, competing entities may fill that void.

Janshankar argued that deeper collaboration between the US and India could facilitate the creation of interoperable AI platforms that align with democratic values while ensuring that developing nations are not entrapped in technologies that do not serve their interests.

India will host the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next month, uniting governments, industry, and civil society to concentrate on inclusive, development-oriented AI deployment, with a special focus on the priorities of the Global South.