New Delhi, April 1 India's rise as a global leader in artificial intelligence must be based on indigenous capabilities and ethical governance to ensure that technology serves the greater public good, experts said at a discussion in Delhi on Wednesday.
The session took place as part of a book discussion series hosted by Bharat Ki Soch, a city-based think tank, focusing on how ancient Indian wisdom, particularly the Arthashastra, provides a robust framework for navigating the modern geopolitical challenges posed by AI, according to a statement.
Experts said that India's leadership in the digital era cannot be measured solely by speed, reiterating that technological advancement must align with a broader vision of public welfare.
"India has been called upon to become one of the top AI powers globally, but this leadership must be grounded in a vision where technology serves the greater good, not just efficiency," said R K Pachnanda, director of Bharat Ki Soch.
Experts also argued that India's push towards AI development demonstrates a deeper civilizational emphasis on self-reliance, adding that dependence on foreign entities for core elements such as data, compute, and algorithms could constrain strategic autonomy.
"Every century is rewritten by a decisive technology: bronze created empires, gunpowder reshaped states, steam drove industrial power, and today, artificial intelligence is reorganizing the global order," said V Srivatsan, a visiting fellow at the think tank and author of the forthcoming book 'Arthashastra in the AI Age'.
The discussion also examined emerging global dynamics, including the concept of 'Pax Silicata', in which access to technology sets the limits of national power.
Srivatsan outlined a framework for a "sovereign AI state," drawing on Chanakya's 'Saptanga' theory, and spoke about the need to secure digital infrastructure, build technological capacity, and strengthen institutional mechanisms.