Rishi Sunak Lauds India's AI Position: Deep Talent, Digital Infrastructure, Mass Adoption Focus

India is well positioned to emerge as a global leader in artificial intelligence, backed by its deep talent pool and robust digital public infrastructure, former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday. Speaking at the ongoing AI Impact Summit, Sunak expressed strong confidence in India’s ability to drive large-scale AI adoption and deployment across society.

During an interactive session titled “AI for All: Reimagining Global Cooperation", Sunak noted that public sentiment toward AI varies globally. He observed that India shows “incredible optimism and trust” toward the technology, while many Western nations currently view AI with greater anxiety. The session was hosted by Carnegie India in association with the Observer Research Foundation and other partners.

Reflecting on the AI Safety Summit held in the UK in November 2023, Sunak said one key outcome was the creation of AI security institutes aimed at managing technological risks and reassuring the public. He emphasized that the global conversation around AI has evolved significantly. “The AI debate has shifted from technology to strategy—from what these tools could do to what countries are choosing to do with them,” he said.

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Sunak stressed that AI must become a central responsibility of governments rather than a niche policy area. He pointed to India’s focus on mass adoption, supported by strong infrastructure and public backing, as a major advantage. Citing global assessments such as Stanford’s AI Vibrancy rankings — where India placed third — he said the country’s approach to deployment and scale is already yielding results.

He added that the “battle for trust in AI” will largely be decided in the public sector, where citizens directly experience improvements in healthcare, governance, and service delivery. While acknowledging concerns about job disruption, Sunak said governments should not slow innovation but instead help workers transition into new roles. He described AI as ultimately "uplifting", with the potential to expand access to education and healthcare worldwide if implemented responsibly.

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