New Delhi, February 18 – With a strong talent pool and robust digital infrastructure, India is well-positioned to lead in AI and demonstrate its widespread adoption and deployment, former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday.
Speaking at an interactive session at the ongoing AI Impact Summit, Sunak also noted that attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI) vary globally. He said that while India exhibits “incredible optimism and trust,” the prevailing sentiment in the West is one of “anxiety.”
The session, titled 'AI for All: Reimagining Global Cooperation', was organized by Carnegie India in association with the Observer Research Foundation, among other partners.
During the session, Sunak was asked about the lessons learned from the AI Safety Summit, a global event held in November 2023 at Buckinghamshire in the UK, during his tenure as prime minister.
Sunak recalled that there was initial skepticism about whether politicians, leaders, and entrepreneurs could effectively collaborate and understand each other.
A positive outcome of the summit was the creation of "AI security institutes" to manage the risks posed by technology and reassure people, Sunak said.
The former British prime minister asserted that the debate around AI has shifted over time.
"I believe the AI debate has moved from technology to strategy. From what these tools can do, to what countries are choosing to do with them," Sunak said.
He emphasized that for political leaders, "AI cannot be just a specialist subject," but rather a central responsibility of the government.
"And that's what we are seeing at this Summit, with its focus rightly on impact," Sunak said. India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16-20, which will see participation from numerous world leaders, technology experts, and innovators.
Sunak said that when he left office, someone gave him a copy of the book 'Technology and Great Powers', which explores the history of technological revolutions and argues that even if a country doesn't invent a technology, it can still benefit significantly from it, citing the example of the printing press.
"I think India has recognized that leadership in technology doesn't just depend on inventing technology, it's about how you deploy it," he said.
"So, by focusing on mass adoption here, obviously backed by a strong talent pool, robust digital infrastructure, and a supportive public, I believe India is well-positioned to lead in AI and demonstrate its widespread adoption and deployment in society," Sunak said.
Sunak stated that this is reflected in how other countries view India. "If you look at Stanford's ranking of global superpowers, India has moved into third place."
In the Stanford Global AI Vibrancy 2025 report, India was ranked third for AI competitiveness and ecosystem vibrancy.
Sunak said that this demonstrates that focusing on adoption and deployment is working in India, and "I certainly think that is the way to achieve the most impact on the most people."
He also noted that attitudes towards AI vary globally. "In India, there is incredible optimism and trust, whereas in the West, the prevailing feeling is actually one of anxiety at the moment... And closing that confidence gap is a policy task, not just technology," he added.
Sunak emphasized that the "battle for trust in AI" will be won or lost in the public sector.
"When citizens start to experience better healthcare, effective government services, and faster response times from the state, this debate on AI trust moves from abstract to real," he said.
Urging policymakers and leaders to focus on this aspect, Sunak said, "If you can adopt this in your public sectors, which ultimately are a big part of our economies, and demonstrate to citizens that it will make their lives better on a day-to-day basis, I think it becomes a necessary precondition to winning people's trust and actually benefiting from it."
The event, held at a luxury hotel in Delhi, was attended by AI experts, policymakers, technology industry representatives, university students, and scholars.
Sunak said that AI is "uplifting."
"And, for me it's not just about raising the ceiling, but also lifting the floor," he said.
He said the world is on the "cusp of a moment" where access to the best education and healthcare could be made available to people through AI.
"The flip side is the anxiety many in the West feel, and a lot of it is around jobs. And, I think we have to be clear that AI is going to change the labour market. Some jobs will go. Many more will be redesigned," he underlined.
However, he said, the role of government is "not to stop the innovation," but it's to support people to take on these new tasks and roles with "confidence and security."
Sunak said he wants to also ensure that his two daughters are "equipped to succeed in this AI world."
"AI will have an enormous amount of knowledge, but we should never forget knowledge is not the same as wisdom," he said, adding, "as long as we remember that we will be in good shape to face the future."
