Strengthening the Country’s Role in Shaping the Global AI Landscape through Open, Safe, and Responsible AI Practices

INDIA, Bengaluru, September 18, 2024 –The AI Alliance, a global community dedicated to advancing safe and responsible AI through open innovation, has expanded its membership to include seven leading Indian organizations: AI4Bharat (IIT Madras), IIT Jodhpur, Infosys, KissanAI, People+AI, Sarvam AI, and Wadhwani AI. This move reinforces India’s growing contribution to the global AI landscape and marks a significant expansion of the Alliance. These companies are joined by IIT Bombay as one of the founding members of the Alliance.

India’s AI landscape is rapidly evolving, with the Government’s IndiaAI mission aiming to catalyze and nurture the ecosystem by democratizing access to technology and resources. With a large and vibrant developer community and start-up ecosystem, India has made tremendous strides in leading the AI adoption and innovation and is on the path to become a global hub for AI talent, skill, and innovation. Open-source approach to AI innovation aligns with the vision of the Indian government, which supports the adoption and use of open-source technology to achieve India’s digital transformation goals.

Open and transparent innovation is essential to empower a broad spectrum of AI researchers, builders, and adopters with the information and tools needed to harness these advancements in ways that prioritize safety, diversity, economic opportunity, and benefits to all.

AI Alliance, which is dedicated to the mission of promoting open, safe, and responsible artificial intelligence is proud to add a diverse mix of academia, startups, enterprises from India who are committed to open science and open technologies and want to participate in the new wave of AI innovation. By joining the Alliance, Indian organizations can contribute and collaborate to shape the evolution of the global AI landscape that reflects the needs and the complexity of India.

“India’s growing AI landscape presents unique opportunities and challenges. By joining the AI Alliance, these organizations will be able to tap into global expertise and a collaborative network that will enable them to tackle the ethical and technical challenges of AI for India head-on, and in an open manner.”, said Dr. Amith Singhee, Director, IBM Research India and CTO IBM India and South Asia “Together, we can promote the development and deployment of AI in a manner that is safe, transparent, and beneficial to all.”

“The inclusion of Indian organizations in the AI Alliance underscores India’s growing influence in the global AI landscape. As we continue to push the boundaries for what is possible with AI collaboration across borders and industries is crucial.” said Shivnath Thukral, Vice President and Head of Public Policy, Meta India. “At Meta, we are committed to advancing AI in a way that benefits everyone, and we believe that the contributions of these new members will significantly strengthen our collective efforts.”

The Indian organizations joining the AI Alliance represent a cross-section of industries and academic institutions, including technology, agriculture, and AI research. Their participation in the Alliance underscores the importance of a collaborative approach to AI development in India, where the need for responsible AI practices is paramount.

Mitesh M Khapra, Head, AI4Bharat, Associate Professor at CSE Department, IIT Madras: “AI4Bharat is excited to join the AI Alliance, reinforcing our commitment to advancing AI technology for Indian languages. Through this collaboration, we aim to push the boundaries of innovation in language technology for Indian languages, ensuring equitable access to AI for all. Together, we look forward to creating open-source solutions that empower communities, enhance digital inclusivity, and drive meaningful impact across academia, industry, and government sectors.”

Professor Mayank Vatsa, Computer Science Department, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur: “Open AI research is crucial for the advancement of AI, as it fosters collaboration and the free exchange of ideas, accelerating breakthroughs that benefit society at large. Several initiatives at IIT Jodhpur aim to drive inclusive and ethical AI development, with a strong emphasis on responsible AI practices and the creation of robust foundation models focusing on the local context. Additionally, the institute is committed to advancing AI education, equipping the next generation of researchers and practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to shape a better future”.

Balakrishna D. R. (Bali), Executive Vice President, Global Services Head, AI and Industry Verticals, Infosys: “At Infosys, we believe that ensuring AI’s safety and fostering responsible adoption of AI is an industry-wide endeavor that requires collaboration among technology providers, policymakers, academia, and government bodies. AI alliance’s objectives and approach align closely with Infosys Topaz. As we join the alliance, we look forward to collaborating and building a robust ecosystem for AI’s open, inclusive, and responsible adoption and growth.”

Pratik Desai Founder, KissanAI: “At KissanAI, we believe that open innovation is not just a technological approach, it’s a commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for agriculture. The AI Alliance embodies this vision, uniting diverse voices to unlock the transformative power of AI for the benefit of the planet. As a member of this alliance, we are dedicated to fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, ensuring that AI advancements in agriculture are accessible, ethical, and empower farmers to embrace sustainable practices for generations to come.”

Tanuj Bhojwani, Head, People+ai: “We’re excited to announce that People+ai has joined the AI Alliance. This group brings together a diverse mix of companies, researchers, and innovators who all share a common goal: making AI technology that’s open, safe, and beneficial for everyone. By working together, we hope to tackle the big challenges in AI development and ensure that the powerful tools we’re creating are used responsibly. We believe that collaboration and sharing knowledge are key to building AI systems that people can trust and use with confidence. As part of this alliance, we’re looking forward to contributing our expertise and learning from others to help shape an AI future that works for all of us.”

Pratyush Kumar, Co-Founder, Sarvam AI: “At Sarvam AI we believe in the value of open innovation in catalysing broad-based availability and adoption of AI technologies. We are excited to be part of the AI Alliance and look forward to working with various members to further the cause of open innovation.”-

Shekar Sivasubramanian, CEO, Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence: “If AI is to impact lives and livelihoods, it is imperative that it be open in many ways. Open data, open code, and open models are just the beginning in terms of creating an ecosystem that brings the benefits of AI to those who need them most. This openness must be present in the creative minds of the AI scientists, in the data collection and refinement strategies used by AI to learn, and in the discipline in rolling out AI at scale in the human ecosystem. Inclusivity, humility, an unbiased approach and willingness to unlearn are all tenets of such an approach. Through the AI alliance, we hope to meaningfully expand the scope of our work as well as contribute to open AI initiatives worldwide.”