On January 15, Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America), along with the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) and the Embassy of India, Washington DC co-organized a discussion at the U.S. Senate on U.S.-India strategic cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) and the forthcoming AI Impact Summit in India.
Keynote Remarks
Namgya C. Khampa, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Washington DC
Expert Panel Discussion on U.S.-India AI Cooperation
Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF America (moderator)
Chantal Lakatos, Managing Director for Global Government Affairs, Lam Research
Jeffrey D. Bean, Program Manager, Technology Policy, ORF America
Trisha Ray, Associate Director and Resident Fellow, GeoTech Center, Atlantic Council
Joe Wang, Vice President for Global Affairs, Special Competitive Studies Project
Discussants stressed India's bet on the promise of AI for the next generation of disruptive technologies, its deployment of digital public infrastructure at population scale, India's growing AI market (expected to rise to $130 billion), it being the second-largest hub of generative AI startups, and it being home to a fast-growing AI talent pool. India's focus is on how to use AI to empower people through balancing both innovation and responsible use and competition and safety.
The Summit itself revolves around three themes (People, Planet, and Progress), and involves seven working groups negotiating a Summit statement. This will be the first Summit of its kind in the Global South, a part of the world that has historically been marginalized in standard setting and global AI policy. It intends to shift the focus beyond only AI safety to impact and use cases.
Discussants also focused on bilateral cooperation, including U.S.-India cooperation in combating the weaponization of supply chains and building resilience. India is already the second largest user base for most American AI applications. To this end, companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Open AI, and Google are all investing further in data centers and markets in India, despite ongoing trade frictions between the United States and India.
To advance cooperation further, a recent dialogue organized by SCSP and ORF America led to recommendations for further cooperation on AI applications, infrastructure, talent, and policies. These included steps to strengthen cybersecurity, leverage DPI, and improve defense applications; cooperation on semiconductors, mid-life GPUs, and capital deployment for data centers and connectivity; coordination on talent certification and apprenticeships; and alignment on standards, export controls, and intellectual property.
