Mumbai, Dec 3 (NationPress) India is gearing up to integrate artificial intelligence into the foundation of its digital public infrastructure. This transition, as described by Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and CEO of the India AI Mission, is becoming increasingly urgent due to the rapid rise in AI usage in the country, outpacing its ability to establish domestic systems.

The initiative arises amidst growing apprehensions that international AI platforms are extensively using Indian data, potentially influencing critical services upon which millions of citizens depend.

At the Mint All About AI Tech4Good Awards, Singh addressed industry leaders and policymakers, asserting that while India's digital public infrastructure has already transformed governance, it now requires an AI layer to extend its reach to every citizen.

“We have demonstrated the positive impact of technology on governance,” he remarked, adding, “The subsequent phase is to ensure AI makes these services available in every Indian language.” The government's initiative is rooted in a voice-driven model.

Singh emphasized that citizens should access public services through straightforward spoken inquiries rather than having to navigate apps or websites. For instance, farmers could obtain crop advice via a toll-free line in their native language. Parents in rural areas could receive essential medical information without having to travel to health facilities. Students lacking qualified teachers could enhance their education with adaptive AI tutors.

Such services necessitate models derived from Indian data, tailored to comprehend India's linguistic and cultural nuances. “Human oversight is crucial,” he stressed. “Models can create inaccuracies or mislead. We need to construct responsibly, with a focus on India.”

A significant concern is India's computing power shortage. While global companies are advancing towards multi-gigawatt GPU clusters, India has access to only a fraction of that capability.

Singh noted that recent initiatives have made thousands of GPUs available to domestic researchers at subsidized rates, yet attracting substantial private and foreign investment remains vital. India is supporting local model developers and expanding AI Kosh, a national repository of datasets and models. Additionally, the government is establishing an AI Safety Institute to evaluate systems for bias, privacy concerns, and reliability, underscoring an increasing focus on responsible AI.

Singh cautioned that the nation's workforce will encounter new challenges as generative AI accelerates automation. India's software and IT services sector, which has long been a global provider of cognitive work, must quickly upskill and develop indigenous code generation tools to avoid complete dependence on foreign systems. An AI Impact Summit is planned for February, expected to gather heads of state, global AI executives, and researchers to discuss AI's implications for emerging market employment, climate resilience, and productivity.

For India, Singh remarked, AI signifies both an opportunity and a strategic challenge. “We need to catch up, and we need to leapfrog,” he emphasized, “And we must ensure that the advantages reach all.”