Microsoft’s former CEO Bill Gates on Wednesday applauded India’s strides in artificial intelligence (AI) and asserted that the country’s leadership in AI will drive innovation worldwide.
Speaking at the "Future Forward" event—an initiative that gathers global business leaders, policymakers, and visionaries to encourage impactful collaboration—Gates drew a parallel between India’s progress in AI and its internationally recognized work in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
"Similar to how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has garnered global attention, India’s leadership in AI will drive innovation worldwide," Gates remarked at the event held in New Delhi.
Smriti Zubin Irani, Chairperson, Alliance for Global Good Gender Equity and Equality, commended the Gates Foundation and the leadership of Bill Gates "for putting money where it really matters" while emphasizing the critical role of investment for social innovation calling it "a transformative force that reshapes societies". Irani spoke about India's ability to provide low-cost, tech-enabled solutions that address critical global challenges such as health, nutrition, and food security, among others.
In his address, Bill Gates also revealed that he had recently discussed India’s role in the upcoming global AI Summit with Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology. Gates stressed the importance of ensuring countries from the Global South actively participate and benefit from these developments.
"I recently spoke with the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology about the upcoming AI summit, which I believe will be a fantastic opportunity. The foundation will ensure that governments, especially from the Global South, participate and benefit from India’s advancements," he said.
Gates elaborated on the transformative potential of AI, saying it could significantly boost progress in critical fields such as mRNA vaccine development, agricultural technology, and tackling malnutrition.
"By gathering and analyzing data, we can implement targeted interventions and eliminate barriers that hold people back," he explained.
Through partnerships with companies like Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech, and IRI, India has played a key role in producing affordable, high-quality vaccines that are used globally, Gates noted.
"Without Indian innovation, vaccines wouldn’t be as affordable or accessible," Gates said.
With strong partnerships in place and sustained investments in areas like digital infrastructure, public health, and education, Gates believes India is on a path of continued transformation—one that holds the power to inspire progress well beyond its borders.
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