Indian govt plans to support and fund AI startups, says MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Minister of State for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced the Indian government's plan to fund and support artificial intelligence (AI) startups. 

The initiative, inspired by the framework used for the semiconductor industry, aims to scale the AI ecosystem in India. Chandrasekhar emphasized the dual approach involving both private sector-led and public sector-led AI compute segments.

He said the government's will deploying financial resources for foundational AI models, large language models (LLMs), and various AI use cases.

“AI compute (part of India AI Mission) will have two segments – one led by the private sector, similar to the design of the semiconductor ecosystem with incentivised investments. The other segment involves indigenously developed public sector capacity for AI emerging from C-DAC, which will be available to the Indian ecosystem,” Chandrasekhar said while speaking at an event in Bengaluru.

Building a robust AI ecosystem

Chandrasekhar highlighted the importance of creating a close-knit ecosystem comprising academia, industry, and startups to advance AI in India. He stressed the need for nurturing AI talent to meet the growing demands of this booming sector. The minister also mentioned the intersection of AI and semiconductor industries, particularly in the development of AI chips, as a key area of focus.

Global framework for AI regulation

The minister called for the urgent establishment of a global framework to regulate AI. He warned that AI might evolve in unexpected ways in the next six to nine months, necessitating a set of principles and rules for global adherence.

Chandrasekhar's remarks came during his participation in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) summit, where he discussed the need for an agreement among nations on AI's basic principles and ground rules.

Addressing challenges: deep fakes and misinformation

Chandrasekhar expressed concerns about the rise of GenAI-powered deepfakes, misinformation, and disinformation. He reiterated the government's proactive steps to address these challenges, emphasizing the need for a global framework that transcends American or European models. The minister pointed out the ubiquitous nature of the internet and the extra-jurisdictional nature of cybercrimes, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive approach to tackle these issues.

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