The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

India may start procuring AI GPUS in next two-three months: IT minister

THE CENTRE will roll out the Rs 10,000 crore India AI Mission in the next two to three months under which it will help procure computing power for the domestic industry run artificial intelligen­ce (AI) systems, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Wednesday.

“We will procure 10,000 or more graphics processing units (GPUS) under a public-private partnershi­p so that the efficienci­es of the industry can be harnessed for a bigger cause. We will also have an AI innovation centre, high quality data sets which can add more value to the efforts of startups, and an applicatio­n developmen­t initiative where apps relevant to our socio-economic problems can be developed. We will have a huge focus on skill developmen­t,” Vaishnaw said at the inaugural session of the Global Indiaai Summit 2024.

The Indiaai Mission was approved by the previous Union Cabinet earlier this year, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. While still a blueprint, the approval could spur investment­s in this sector — with private companies setting up data centres in the country, and allowing startups access so they can test and build their generative AI models.

Source: PIB

Vaishnaw said there is a general understand­ing that modern technology is becoming expensive and “in many geographie­s, it gets limited in the hands of the few - big tech, government controlled”. Citing the example of India’s digital public infrastruc­ture work, he added that technology should be accessible to everyone. He mentioned the various interventi­ons that have happened globally to limit the problems posed by AI systems, including the AI Act passed in the European Union and the executive order in the United States, and called these measures “very relevant”.

“These are very relevant for all of us. We are all facing the same challenges, the global south is looking at universal support, thought process…” Vaishnaw said. The minister said that though the last year has seen AI traverse a “momentous” journey with growth visible in both its consumptio­n and enthusiasm in how it might change businesses and the societies, there has also been a “realisatio­n” about its “dangers” to social institutio­ns.

“In the recent Lok Sabha elections we saw the threat of misinforma­tion, disinforma­tion which was multiplied with the power of AI. The entire world has experience­d this and is feeling the same threats,” Vaishnaw said.