AI Summit in Delhi: Navigating National Interests and Global Cooperation

The AI Summit in Delhi highlights the tension between the aspiration for collective solutions in AI development and the protection of national interests amidst geopolitical rivalry. This dynamic is not new but is heightened by AI's potential to transform economies, militaries, and political systems. Nations find it challenging to treat AI purely as a public good, balancing international cooperation with national interests.

Historical Context and Lessons

• In 1955, Dr. Homi J Bhabha, head of India's atomic energy program, led the first UN Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, advocating for developing countries' access to advanced technologies.
• India positioned itself as a bridge-builder, promoting peaceful uses, global norms, and indigenous capability building.
• Bhabha's international collaborations laid the foundation for India's atomic program.

The parallels with today's AI landscape are significant. India is building domestic AI capabilities while collaborating with advanced economies, particularly the United States. The cautionary tale of India’s nuclear history illustrates the importance of aligning national capacity with global responsibility.

Current Imperatives for India

• Accelerate National Capability: Enhance compute capacity, strengthen research ecosystems, train skilled manpower, and provide regulatory clarity.
• Deepen International Partnerships: Focus on collaborations with the U.S. and advanced economies while maintaining broad engagement.
• Contribute to Global Governance: Engage in meaningful debates on AI governance based on practical experience rather than rhetoric.

The anticipated intensification of the U.S.-China contest over AI will lead to more export controls and industrial subsidies, sharpening battles over standards and supply chains. India must leverage these dynamics to expand its national options. The goal is to integrate universalism with nationalism, anchoring global ambitions in national capability, and vice versa, for shared progress.

Author: C Raja Mohan, contributing editor of The Indian Express and associated with several strategic institutes.