India AI Impact Summit 2026

ai-beyond-moonshots-a-playbook-for-many

8 min read

TRACK:Economic Growth and Social Good
SPEAKERS
  • Abhineet Kaul, Access Partnership
  • Brando Benifei, European Parliament
  • Doreen Bogdan-Martin, International Telecommunication Union
  • Dr. Rachel Adams, Global Center on AI Governance
  • Frederic Werner, AI for Good
SESSION OVERVIEW

As India advances from AI strategy to economy-wide adoption, the challenge is translating digital foundations into measurable AI diffusion across sectors, regions, and populations. This session explores how to convert AI readiness into tangible outcomes—driving productivity, inclusion, and competitiveness while offering a scalable model for the Global South. Leaders will discuss moving from pilots to scaled deployment, leveraging policy instruments, financing mechanisms, and India's digital public infrastructure to unlock AI's transformative potential.

VIDEO RECORDING

AI Beyond Moonshots: A Playbook for Many

Abstract

The session examined how India’s rapid AI adoption can be leveraged as a scalable model for the Global South. Doreen Bogdan‑Martin opened with a “three‑S” playbook—Solutions, Skills, and Standards—highlighting the need for connectivity, talent development, and trustworthy technical frameworks. The Global South AI Diffusion Playbook was launched as an implementation guide rather than a strategy document. A panel of international experts then debated concrete pathways for moving AI from pilots to widespread impact, discussing policy levers (EU AI Act), public‑trust challenges, standards development, and the pivotal role of AI‑native startups in bridging technology and market needs. Audience questions probed priority spending (a hypothetical $1 billion) and lessons from India’s digital‑inclusion journey.

Detailed Summary

Moderator (Abhineet Kaul) opened by emphasizing that AI must move beyond abstract “moonshots” to real‑world benefits for households, communities, and businesses. He underscored the necessity of flexibility and inclusivity, noting that “one‑size‑fits‑all” models do not work across varied development contexts.

Keynote – Doreen Bogdan‑Martin (ITU)

  • Re‑iterated India’s leadership in translating AI ambition into measurable outcomes while keeping a human‑centred focus (citing the Prime Minister’s Basini platform that delivers services in 22 languages).

  • Introduced the three‑S framework:

    1. Solutions – Building digital public‑infrastructure (connectivity, platforms). She referenced ITU’s GIGA Initiative (school connectivity) and the Digital Coalition aiming for 100 billion connections, of which 80 billion have already been pledged.
    2. Skills – Emphasized digital agency; cited India’s Future Skills Programme and ITU’s Skilling Coalition (≈70 partners, 180 learning resources in 13 languages).
    3. Standards – Discussed the need for interoperability and trust. Highlighted the AI Standards Exchange Database (≈850 standards, including multimedia‑authenticity standards to combat deepfakes). Stressed that standards are voluntary, multi‑stakeholder, and critical to avoid an “AI divide.”

  • Announced the launch of the Global South AI Diffusion Playbook, a practical guide covering five inter‑linked dimensions: infrastructure, data & trust, procurement institutions, skills, and market shaping.

Announcement: Launch of the Global South AI Diffusion Playbook – an implementation‑focused framework rather than a policy strategy.

2. The Startup Perspective

Dr. Pani Selwyn Madan Gopal (Mithi Startup Hub)

  • Described Mithi Startup Hub as a “custodian of deep‑tech startups” in India, supporting >6,000 startups.
  • Outlined the three M’s that the Hub provides: Mentorship, Market Access, and Money.
    • Mentorship: Guidance from ideation to Series A.
    • Market Access: Connecting startups to large corporates and international markets; emphasized that “the customer is the best investor.”
    • Money: Access to up to ₹1,000 crore from the Hub and an additional ₹8,000 crore from the India AI Mission; noted that capital is abundant in India.
  • Identified key challenges:
    • Technology overshoot – enterprises often receive technology that exceeds their immediate needs, creating integration and workflow friction.
    • Capability gap – SMEs lack the ability to translate AI into business‑value processes.
  • Proposed the concept of an “AI Bridge” – aligning technology with concrete business problems, positioning startups as the bridge between cutting‑edge AI and pragmatic enterprise needs.

Key Insight: Startups, being AI‑native and agile, can catalyze the transformation of both small and large enterprises, provided they receive mentorship, market pathways, and financing.

3. Panel Discussion – From Policy to Practice

3.1. Brando Benifei (European Parliament) – The EU AI Act & Global South Partnerships

  • Acknowledged his voice quality but proceeded to explain the EU AI Act as a reference point for diffusion.
  • Noted that SMEs in the Global North still struggle with AI adoption due to low trust, limited AI literacy, and insufficient supportive systems.
  • Described the Act’s risk‑based approach:
    • Highlights high‑risk AI applications (e.g., predictive policing, emotion recognition, social scoring).
    • Leaves non‑high‑risk use‑cases under existing legislation, thereby reducing regulatory burden.
  • Argued that clarity of governance boundaries (what is regulated vs. what is free) builds trust and encourages adoption.

Recommendation: Use the EU AI Act’s clear risk categorisation as a model for other regions to signal where regulation is needed and where innovation can flourish.

3.2. Dr. Rachel Adams (Global Center on AI Governance) – Trust, Literacy, and Democratic Participation

  • Cited a public‑perception survey in South Africa: 3,000 respondents across 11 official languages; ≈66 % lack meaningful AI understanding (one‑third never heard of AI, another third heard but could not explain).
  • Warned of a democratic gap: without public awareness, citizens cannot contest AI deployments, especially in public services.
  • Stressed that diffusion must pair infrastructure with governance; technology alone is insufficient if used for autocratic purposes (e.g., social scoring).
  • Highlighted the necessity of participatory governance and inclusive standards‑setting that represent Global South voices.

Open Question: How can we ensure that AI governance processes are genuinely inclusive rather than dominated by well‑resourced actors?

3.3. Frederic Werner (AI for Good) – Use Cases, Standards, and Skills

  • Illustrated high‑potential AI‑for‑Good use case: an Estonian startup using voice analysis on a mobile phone to estimate blood‑sugar levels—a potential breakthrough for diabetes monitoring.
  • Warned of dual‑use concerns: the same data could infer sleep patterns, diet, medication adherence, etc., raising privacy and ethical questions.
  • Emphasized that standards translate principles into implementation; they are essential for interoperability across borders and sectors.
  • Described rapid ITU response to the Global Digital Compact: less than three weeks to launch an International AI Standards Summit and the AI Standards Exchange Database (first introduced at the 2024 WTSA).
  • Noted ongoing work with ISO and IEC on multimedia‑authenticity standards (deep‑fake detection).
  • Repeated the skills gap as a universal barrier; highlighted that even at a governance summit with 100 + ministers, addressing the AI skills gap was the only consensus item.

Key Insight: Standards and skill‑building are the twin engines that can safely scale AI applications worldwide.

3.4. Extended Debate – Governance Models & Standard‑Setting

  • Rachel contrasted three global governance approaches (EU‑centric rights‑based, US market‑driven, China state‑coordinated) and argued that the Global South, exemplified by India, is forging its own pragmatic path—prioritizing safety, fairness, and developmental impact.
  • She warned that global consensus on standards can unintentionally impose dominant regional viewpoints (e.g., GDPR’s restrictive effect on Africa). She advocated for principles (accountability, transparency, safety, human oversight) plus regionally adapted standards (gold vs. minimum).
  • Brando responded, pointing out that the EU AI Act deliberately avoids over‑regulation for many use‑cases; however, high‑risk areas still need concrete standards (data adequacy, cybersecurity). He noted deliberate delays by private‑sector actors in standard‑setting and the EU’s plans to enforce time‑bound mechanisms for standards adoption.
  • Both highlighted the risk of AI‑enabled authoritarian tools (mass surveillance, social scoring) in fragile institutional contexts, urging ethical frameworks coupled with enforceable regulations.

Debate Highlight: Voluntary ethical guidelines are insufficient without binding, well‑defined standards—particularly in politically fragile environments.

3.5. Audience Q&A – “If you had a $1 billion to accelerate AI diffusion in developing economies…”

SpeakerPriority Use of $1 BRationale
Frederic WernerEducation & Skills – invest in AI literacy from primary school to diplomatic training.Skills gap is the deepest barrier; a skilled populace can harness AI responsibly.
Brando BenifeiDigital Literacy & Civil‑Society Capacity – fund programs that raise AI consciousness among NGOs, media, and the public.An informed civil society can demand trustworthy AI and guard against misuse.
Audience (unattributed)Labor‑Displacement Mitigation & Institutional Capacity – strengthen competition commissions, gender‑equality bodies, human‑rights institutions, and information regulators.These institutions will safeguard citizens against monopolistic and discriminatory AI practices.
Rachel AdamsInclusive Public Engagement – ensure local languages and community‑level outreach (mirroring her South Africa survey approach).Without public understanding, diffusion will exacerbate democratic deficits.

4. Closing Remarks & Lessons from India

  • Rachel highlighted that India makes clear that AI is not “for everyone” – the focus is on inclusive participation, evident from the presence of schoolchildren and local stakeholders at the summit.
  • Frederic praised India’s track record of digital ID, financial inclusion, and mobile payments, suggesting this model can be replicated for AI diffusion at scale.
  • Brando called for continuous global cooperation, emphasizing that the summit is only a starting point; a year‑long, sustained dialogue is required.
  • Moderator (Abhineet) summed up with a metaphor: “Shake hands with your enemies”—the only way to achieve worldwide AI diffusion is through mutual learning and collaboration.

Final Takeaway: The session presented a pragmatic, multi‑stakeholder blueprint—combining connectivity, talent development, standards, and startup dynamism—to move AI from pilots to pervasive, equitable impact across the Global South.

Key Takeaways

  • Three‑S Playbook – Solutions (connectivity), Skills (talent), Standards (trust) are the foundational pillars for AI diffusion.
  • Global South AI Diffusion Playbook launched as an implementation guide covering infrastructure, data & trust, procurement institutions, skills, and market shaping.
  • Connectivity ambition: ITU’s Digital Coalition targets 100 billion connections; 80 billion already pledged.
  • Skills gap is massive: Over 180 learning resources in 13 languages via the ITU Skilling Coalition; Indian Future Skills Programme serves thousands of learners.
  • Standards matter: The AI Standards Exchange Database now hosts ≈850 standards, including deep‑fake detection frameworks; rapid ITU response shows standards can be developed quickly when needed.
  • Startups as the AI bridge: Mithi Startup Hub provides Mentorship, Market Access, and Money (≈₹1,000 cr + ₹8,000 cr from the India AI Mission) to help startups translate AI into real‑world solutions.
  • Public trust is essential: A South African survey found ≈66 % of citizens lack meaningful AI understanding, underscoring a democratic gap that must be closed before large‑scale diffusion.
  • Policy flexibility: The EU AI Act’s risk‑based, “regulate the high‑risk, leave the rest alone” approach offers a template for other regions to balance innovation and safety.
  • Inclusive standards‑setting: Global consensus on principles (accountability, transparency, safety, human oversight) is needed, but standards must be adaptable to regional contexts and include voices from Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
  • Investment priority: All panelists agreed that education and digital literacy should receive the bulk of any large‑scale funding aimed at accelerating AI diffusion in developing economies.

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