AI Governance and India’s Leadership for the Global South
Context
Representatives from across the world gathered in Geneva for the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence to deliberate on global AI governance. Experts highlighted that India should strengthen its role as the leading voice of the Global South, ensuring that developing nations actively shape the future of AI regulation instead of merely adopting standards framed by advanced economies.
AI Governance and the Global South Perspective
About AI Governance for the Global South
What does it mean?
AI governance for the Global South focuses on building a global regulatory framework that promotes fairness, digital inclusion, technological sovereignty, and equitable economic benefits for developing nations.
Unlike earlier AI discussions dominated by developed countries—which largely emphasized long-term existential AI threats—developing economies seek greater attention to immediate developmental, social, and economic challenges arising from AI adoption.
Important Facts About the Global AI Landscape
1. Semiconductor Partnership Strategy
India has strengthened cooperation with the Pax Silica semiconductor ecosystem, integrating with a US-backed supply chain aimed at promoting trusted semiconductor manufacturing and open technology standards.
2. Digital Accessibility and Innovation
India continues to face relatively lower openness in global digital access indicators, demonstrating that restrictive ecosystems can hinder innovation, cross-border collaboration, and technology development.
3. Research Investment Deficit
India allocates only about 0.65% of GDP to research and development, significantly below many leading economies, limiting indigenous AI research and frontier innovation.
4. Semiconductor Manufacturing Focus
India’s semiconductor industry currently concentrates on OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing) operations, with facilities such as Sanand assembling nearly 20 crore chips annually, largely based on imported technologies.
Why the Global South Needs a Stronger AI Governance Framework
Preventing Unfair Data Exploitation
Regulatory safeguards are required to stop foreign AI companies from commercially using domestic datasets and traditional knowledge without informed consent or equitable benefit-sharing.
Addressing Environmental and Social Costs
Large AI data centres require enormous amounts of electricity, water, and land, creating disproportionate environmental burdens for developing countries.
Protecting Citizens from AI Risks
Governments need effective legal frameworks to tackle AI-generated misinformation, algorithmic discrimination, deepfakes, online manipulation, and hate speech.
Ensuring Domestic Economic Gains
Economic value created through AI should contribute to national development rather than being concentrated within a handful of multinational technology firms.
Strengthening Digital Sovereignty
Reducing excessive dependence on foreign AI platforms, cloud infrastructure, and proprietary APIs is essential for safeguarding national technological independence.
Major Initiatives Supporting Responsible AI
IndiaAI Impact Summit
The summit promoted inclusive, trustworthy, and development-oriented AI policies while highlighting the concerns of emerging economies.
UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence
The Geneva forum initiated discussions on shared international principles for safe, responsible, and inclusive AI governance.
International AI Cooperation Frameworks
Initiatives such as the Hiroshima AI Process and the New Delhi Declaration encourage trustworthy AI development, global cooperation, and common safety standards.
Sarvam Indic AI Models
The development of Sarvam demonstrates India’s growing capability to build advanced AI models trained on Indic languages, promoting linguistic diversity and digital inclusion.
Challenges Before Inclusive AI Governance
Balancing Strategic Partnerships
India must deepen technological cooperation with developed countries while continuing to champion the developmental priorities of the Global South.
Dependence on Global Technology Providers
Reliance on a limited number of international semiconductor and cloud service providers increases supply chain vulnerabilities.
Limited Domestic Computing Capacity
Insufficient high-performance computing infrastructure constrains India’s ability to build globally competitive foundation AI models.
Divergent International Regulatory Approaches
Differences between countries regarding binding AI regulations continue to slow the emergence of a universally accepted governance framework.
Social Impacts of AI Infrastructure
Rapid expansion of AI-related infrastructure may result in land acquisition conflicts and community displacement if not managed responsibly.
The Way Ahead
Strengthen India’s Global Leadership
India should actively lead Global South countries in shaping an AI governance model centered on fairness, inclusivity, and digital sovereignty.
Develop Shared AI Infrastructure
Developing nations can collaborate to establish common computing facilities, trusted datasets, and interoperable AI platforms that reduce dependence on dominant technology companies.
Promote Equitable Economic Benefits
Policy frameworks should ensure that AI-generated value contributes meaningfully to domestic industries, employment, and innovation ecosystems.
Introduce Responsible Data Governance
Foreign AI developers should obtain appropriate permissions and ensure fair compensation before utilizing domestic datasets or indigenous knowledge.
Diversify Semiconductor Capabilities
India should expand domestic chip manufacturing while strengthening partnerships with multiple trusted technology ecosystems to improve resilience.
Conclusion
Although partnerships such as Pax Silica provide important technological and economic opportunities, India must ensure that AI governance remains people-centric and development-oriented. By leveraging forums like the UN Global Dialogue on AI, India can unite the Global South to promote balanced AI regulations that safeguard public interests, strengthen digital sovereignty, and ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence are shared equitably across developing nations.
Source : The Hindu