Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a detailed conversation with Lex Fridman, shared his views on India’s role in artificial intelligence (AI), the rise of Indian talent globally, and the crucial role of human intelligence in shaping technology.
During the nearly two-and-a-half-hour discussion, PM Modi emphasized that no single nation could lead the AI revolution alone. “No matter what the world does with AI, it will remain incomplete without India,” he declared, asserting India’s indispensable role in the development of AI. He added, “I am making this statement very responsibly. Can anyone develop AI entirely on their own?”
Though India has often been viewed as a latecomer to the AI race, PM Modi pointed out the country’s rapid advancements, drawing a parallel to India’s record-breaking 5G rollout. “Take 5G, for example: the world initially believed we were far behind. But once we started, we became the fastest nation globally to roll out comprehensive 5G networks,” he said.
He also shared an anecdote from a conversation with an American tech executive, who noted that while advertising engineering jobs in the U.S. barely fills a room, in India, a football field wouldn’t be enough to accommodate applicants. “India has access to an extraordinarily vast pool of talent, and that’s our greatest strength,” PM Modi remarked. “Artificial intelligence is fundamentally powered, shaped, and guided by human intelligence. And the richest reservoir of that intelligence is found in India’s youth and talent pool.”
PM Modi further highlighted the impact of Indian-origin CEOs in global technology, including Sundar Pichai of Google, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, and Aravind Srinivas of Perplexity AI. He explained, “Indian culture emphasises that there should be equal respect for the place where you’re born and the place where you work. There should be no difference. As much as there is dedication to the land of birth, there should be the same sense of dedication to the land of work.” He suggested that Indians, especially those raised in joint families and an open society, naturally develop leadership skills and problem-solving abilities, which is why they hold key positions across the world’s biggest companies.
The Prime Minister also touched on India’s growing influence in space exploration and startups. He noted that just a few years after opening up the space sector, over 200 private companies are now involved in space technology. “Missions like Chandrayaan are extremely cost-effective. India’s Chandrayaan mission cost less than what Hollywood spends making a single blockbuster film! When the world sees how efficient we are, they naturally think, ‘Why not partner with India?’” he said.
Addressing concerns about AI replacing humans, PM Modi dismissed the notion of a conflict between technology and humanity. He explained that humans have always adapted alongside technological advancements. “It has always been the case. After all, it is humans who find the best ways to use technology to their advantage,” he said. “And I believe that with AI, humans are now being forced to reflect on what it truly means to be human. This is the real power of AI.”
While acknowledging AI’s potential to create, generate, and predict, he pointed out its fundamental limitation. “Humans have an innate ability to care for each other, the natural tendency to be concerned about one another. Can AI do that?” he questioned.
PM Modi also called for global collaboration in AI, emphasizing that it should be seen as a shared mission rather than competition. He reaffirmed that India is not only building theoretical AI models but is also developing real-world AI applications, including a unique, accessible GPU marketplace.
