AI Impact Summit 2026: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant urged India to develop its own AI systems instead of relying solely on global tools like ChatGPT, highlighting the country’s data, talent, and digital infrastructure to support strong indigenous AI models.
Kant highlighted the role of data from the Global South in advancing AI, stating, "If you look at Open AI, ChatGPT, we are providing more data than the United States of America, 33% more data than what the United States of America do. These large language models are getting better and better on the basis of data from the Global South. It is essential that this contribution translates into benefits for these regions."
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently announced that ChatGPT is now used by 100 million people in India each week, establishing the country as the largest market in Asia by user base and the second-largest globally, following the United States.
OpenAI isn’t the only company eyeing India’s rapidly growing AI user base. Tech giant Google has also ramped up its efforts, especially among students, offering free one-year subscriptions to its AI plans. India has quickly become one of Gemini’s largest markets in the education segment, with young users integrating AI into assignments, research, and coding.
To broaden its reach, Google is partnering with telecom providers. Through a tie-up with Reliance Jio, Gemini AI Pro is now available free to over 500 million Jio subscribers for up to 18 months, initially targeting users aged 18–25, seen as early adopters of generative AI tools.
Highlighting the need for India-focused AI, Amitabh Kant stressed the importance of a “desi” AI chatbot that understands Indian languages and local problems. AI shouldn’t remain limited to English-speaking users; it must be accessible in multiple Indian languages.
Kant warned that if AI development is controlled by only a few large companies without robust digital public infrastructure, it could worsen inequality. He emphasized that AI must prioritize accessibility, affordability, and accountability to benefit the wider population.
Drawing on India’s success with digital public infrastructure like Aadhaar and UPI, he suggested that AI should follow a similar model, with applications across healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance.