In Paris, An Opportunity

Indian Express Editorial Analysis
11 February 2025

In Paris, An Opportunity

(Source – Indian Express, International Edition – Page No. – 13)

Topic : GS3- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Context

At Paris AI Action Summit, much is riding on how India positions itself in the global AI landscape.

India’s Position in Tech and AI

• UPI: Global fintech success but is limited to payments.
• India never built global companies on the scale of Google or Apple, nor have we seen our tech go global.
• Challenges
  • Lack of indigenous foundational AI models (reliance on OpenAI/Google).
  • Limited long-term R&D investment and ecosystem.
• Missed Opportunities
  • Historically India prioritized app development over core tech innovation.
  • Absence of homegrown AI platforms with global impact.

Strategic Pathways for India in AI

• Immediate Opportunities
  • Geopolitical Advantage
    • Partner with the US/EU for semiconductor access and AI collaboration.
    • Establish joint ventures (JVs) for equal representation in global AI projects.
  • Responsible AI Frameworks: Lead in ethical AI governance to build global trust.
• Long-Term Strategies
  • AI-First Approach
    • Build indigenous AI models (not reliant on foreign tech).
    • Prioritize programming, mathematics, and statistics in education.
  • Research & Talent Development
    • Create AI research labs with PhD talent from IITs/technical institutes.
    • Incentivize retention of skilled professionals through competitive pay.
  • Sector-Specific Goals: Identify priority sectors (e.g. healthcare, agriculture) for AI integration.

Challenges

• Technical and Structural Barriers
  • Resource Constraints: Competing with US/China’s funding and infrastructure.
  • Skill Gap: Need for advanced technical expertise in AI development.
• Global Competition
  • US Dominance: Closed-source models (e.g., OpenAI).
  • China’s Open-Source Push: Lower-cost AI democratization.
  • India’s Opportunity: Leverage open-source AI to build affordable, scalable solutions.
• Policy and Execution Risks
  • Balancing speed with sustainable innovation.
  • Ensuring political will and long-term policy consistency.

Conclusion:

India needs to realise that any nation that manages to scale up AI, democratise it, and generate developer interest is the one that will control the narrative and lead the AI arms race. With China aspiring to be the global leader in open-source AI, it has a better chance to expand AI at a much lower cost. But in tech, anything is possible, and India could jump in if it plays its cards right.