Devendra Fadnavis Meets Bill Gates; Use of AI for Maharashtra's Development Discussed

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates on Thursday at the state government’s guest house ‘Sahyadri’ in Mumbai, where the two explored the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in governance.

The meeting, detailed in a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), focused on integrating AI into healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure to address pressing challenges in Maharashtra, India’s economic powerhouse. Senior CMO officials and Gates Foundation representatives joined the discussion, highlighting a collaborative push for technology-driven solutions.

Gates’ visit to Mumbai follows a series of high-profile engagements in Delhi earlier this week, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers to discuss India’s advancements in digital infrastructure, health, and climate resilience. His trip, part of a broader tour of India in 2025, reflects his ongoing commitment to the country, a key focus for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation since its inception in 2000. India, with its vast population and complex socio-economic landscape, has long been a priority for Gates’ philanthropy, which has invested heavily in immunization, maternal health, and sanitation initiatives.

The Mumbai meeting aligns with Gates’ recent emphasis on AI as a tool for public good, a theme he explored during his 2024 India visit when he praised the nation’s digital payment systems and agricultural innovations. Maharashtra, home to over 120 million people and a hub for tech and industry, offers a fertile ground for such discussions. Fadnavis, known for his tech-forward governance approach, likely saw the talks as an opportunity to bolster the state’s ambitions in smart infrastructure and rural development.

Gates’ itinerary also underscores his foundation’s partnerships with Indian states and the central government, building on past successes like supporting India’s Co-WIN platform, which facilitated billions of COVID-19 vaccine appointments. As he engages with leaders across India, Gates continues to champion scalable solutions, with Maharashtra poised to potentially pilot AI-driven projects in this latest chapter of his enduring connection to the nation.