India’s IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, pushed back against claims that India is only a “second-tier” AI power during discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He argued that such rankings fail to reflect India’s real progress in AI development and deployment. According to Vaishnaw, India’s AI growth is not limited to model development but spans across infrastructure, applications, and broad-based adoption.
Vaishnaw emphasized that India’s strength lies in practical implementation rather than only theoretical research. He noted that Indian companies are actively deploying AI solutions across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance. This real-world usage, he argued, is more meaningful than merely focusing on the size of AI models or isolated benchmarks.
He also highlighted India’s AI ecosystem as being more inclusive and diverse, driven by its large population, tech talent, and cost-effective innovation. Vaishnaw said that India’s AI journey is about building systems that solve real problems for millions of people, not just developing advanced models for prestige or competition.
Finally, Vaishnaw stressed that India is prepared to play a major role in the global AI landscape, and it is moving toward becoming a leading AI power. He insisted that India’s approach to AI is balanced, emphasizing responsible growth, ethical standards, and broad access — all of which are key to shaping the future of AI globally.
