Overview
- Ashwini Vaishnaw rejected an IMF-linked portrayal of India as a second-tier AI power during a WEF session in Davos.
- He cited Stanford-based assessments that place India third for AI preparedness and penetration and second for AI talent.
- The minister said India is advancing across five AI layers—application, model, chip, infrastructure and energy—with particular strength in practical deployment.
- He pointed to a semiconductor strategy spanning design, fabrication, packaging, materials, gases and equipment to build a resilient supply base.
- As evidence of investor confidence, he referenced Google’s plan for a $15 billion AI data centre in Visakhapatnam and broader partnerships with Indian startups.