Ashwini Vaishnaw Unveils 'AI ka UPI' Plan at India AI Summit
IT Minister calls AI the fifth industrial revolution and outlines India’s plans to become a global AI hub.
On the second day of India’s inaugural AI Impact Summit, Union Minister of Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, termed artificial intelligence (AI) as the fifth industrial revolution, emphasizing its potential to transform sectors ranging from healthcare to education. He highlighted AI’s ability to make services more affordable and learning more personalized, showcasing its cross-sectoral impact on the economy and society.
Vaishnaw shared that India holds a strong position across all five layers of the AI technology stack and expects over $200 billion (≈ ₹18.13 lakh crore) in AI investments over the next two years. He underscored India’s role as a trusted AI partner for the Global South, noting its open, affordable, and culturally sensitive AI solutions.
Addressing regulatory concerns, the Minister called for stricter rules on AI-generated content and deepfakes. He urged global tech companies, including Netflix and Meta, to align their operations with India’s legal framework and cultural context, ensuring AI deployment is safe, inclusive, and aligned with national priorities.
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Highlighting self-reliance, Vaishnaw said India is focusing on “sovereign AI” to avoid dependence on external powers for strategic AI needs. Local AI models are being trained on Indian data to reflect the country’s cultural subtleties, ensuring inclusivity, relevance, and sensitivity in AI applications.
In a major announcement, Vaishnaw unveiled plans for “AI ka UPI,” a UPI-like platform designed to provide developers and enterprises with a suite of AI solutions. The initiative aims to make AI accessible, secure, and scalable across India, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Responding to criticism over logistical issues on the summit’s first day, the Minister apologized to visitors, promising improvements in event arrangements. He reiterated that India aims to host the world’s largest AI summit, providing a platform for global tech leaders and innovators to collaborate on transformative AI solutions.
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