As AI continues to transform economies worldwide, India is actively contributing to the development of policies and governance frameworks that will shape its future. Recognizing the transformative power of AI, India is making significant strides to ensure that the Global South benefits from equitable AI development and data-driven innovations.
At the AI Action Summit Paris 2025, AI4India and the Center for Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) will co-host a crucial panel discussion titled "Data for Development: Building AI in the Global South." This event will gather leading experts and policymakers to deliberate on AI’s impact on emerging economies and the future of AI governance.
In a major recognition of India’s efforts in AI innovation, AI4India and CPRG are the only non-governmental organizations from India to host an official side event at the AI Summit. These organizations have unveiled an impressive lineup of speakers who will bring their expertise and insights into AI-driven transformation in various sectors.
The session will feature key stakeholders from India’s AI and policy ecosystem, including:
Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati and Alok Agrawal, Co-Founders of AI4India.
Ramanand, Director of CPRG, a leading expert in AI governance and ethical AI adoption.
Sean Dougherty, Senior Advisor at OECD, who has been instrumental in shaping global AI governance frameworks.
Gunjan Bhardwaj, Co-Founder & CEO of Partex NV, a pioneer in AI-driven decision-making in healthcare and industrial transformation.
Data Sovereignty and the Global South: Exploring data control and how emerging economies can ensure fair AI development.
Redefining Economics: Examining AI’s influence on global trade, economic stability, and the evolution of digital industries.
Transforming the Future Workforce: Exploring AI’s effect on job markets and the strategies needed for workforce adaptation in an AI-driven era.
Adding to the depth of discussions, prominent AI experts will provide insights into the evolving AI landscape:
Joel Ruet, Researcher at CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CRG-i3, will discuss AI’s economic transformation.
Ravi Kaushik, Executive Director at the Center for Indo-European Cooperation, will examine India-Europe AI collaborations.
Sriram Subramanian, Founder of CloudDon, will highlight AI-led innovation and cloud computing.
Chetan Aggarwal, Visiting Fellow at CPRG, and Parikshit Dhume, an AI innovation expert, will discuss AI policy-making in India.
In a curtain-raiser podcast ahead of the Paris AI Action Summit, AI4India.org co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati engaged in a discussion with noted Indian journalist Milind Khandekar, Managing Editor of Tak Channels. During the discussion, Vempati highlighted the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chairing the Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
Elaborating on the ‘Data for Development’ theme, Vempati highlighted AI4India.Org’s "Data Daan" initiative, which is emerging as a movement to create open and publicly accessible datasets for AI model development in India. This initiative aims to provide critical datasets that can be leveraged for innovation, enhancing AI-driven solutions across various sectors.
The official side event hosted by AI4India and CPRG in Paris will serve as a platform for fostering global collaboration in AI. By bringing together policymakers, researchers, and industry experts, this discussion will play a crucial role in:
Coordinating policy actions between nations.
Bridging the technology gap between developed and developing countries.
Promoting AI-driven solutions for universal global good.
India's increasing role in AI governance and policy-making is a testament to its commitment to leveraging AI for inclusive development. As the country continues to advance its AI ecosystem, its contributions at the AI Action Summit Paris 2025 will be instrumental in shaping AI policies that benefit the Global South. By championing initiatives like ‘Data Daan’, India is reinforcing its vision of using AI as a force for equitable development, ensuring that emerging economies are not left behind in the AI revolution.