External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called for countries to develop their own Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystems, including national models and deployment strategies that reflect domestic goals and priorities.
Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Saturday local time, Jaishankar said India sees AI as an important part of its partnership agenda with the Global South. His remarks placed national control over AI alongside wider questions about technology access, economic development and international understanding.
India's AI approach
Jaishankar described AI as a transformational force with the potential to support human empowerment, economic prosperity and problem-solving at population scale. He also stressed the importance of making technology more accessible and democratic.
India hosted the AI Impact Summit in February, bringing together experts and leading figures in the field, he said. The minister connected that effort with India's broader engagement with countries of the Global South.
His position was that nations should not follow a single model for AI development. Instead, each country should be able to decide how it builds and deploys the technology according to its own priorities.
Mutual respect and cultural understanding
The minister said wider technology access must be accompanied by mutual respect. Greater consideration for other countries' interests and viewpoints, he argued, can strengthen the prospects for peace.
Jaishankar also pointed to culture and heritage as important tools for international understanding in a globalised world. He said economic rebalancing is already underway and that political rebalancing is visible, while cultural rebalancing must now advance as well.
Concerns facing the Global South
Jaishankar highlighted the difficult conditions facing developing countries, describing them as a 4F crisis involving food, fuel, fertilizer and finance. He also referred to the combined pressure from a Super El Nino, fertilizer shortages and obstacles to grain movements.
He said progress on the Sustainable Development Goals is under increasing pressure. The Global South's right to industrialise, he added, is being weakened by non-market practices and denial of market access.
Against this backdrop, Jaishankar warned that technology intended to create hope is also becoming a source of anxiety. He said the misuse of AI is sharpening bias and diluting mutual respect, developments he argued are harmful to the aims and objectives of the United Nations.
Conclusion
Jaishankar's message linked national control of AI with India's Global South partnerships, while stressing that technology must support development, respect and international understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What did S Jaishankar say about AI at the UNGA?
He said every nation should have the right to shape its own AI ecosystem through national models and deployment strategies aligned with its priorities.
Q. How does India view AI in its Global South partnerships?
India considers AI an important part of its partnership agenda with the Global South.
Q. What benefits of AI did Jaishankar highlight?
He described AI as a driver of human empowerment, economic prosperity and population-scale problem solving.
Q. What is the 4F crisis mentioned by Jaishankar?
The 4F crisis refers to challenges involving food, fuel, fertilizer and finance.
Q. What concern did Jaishankar raise about AI misuse?
He said misuse of AI is sharpening bias and weakening mutual respect.
Q. What role did he assign to culture and heritage?
He said culture and heritage should help promote international understanding as economic and political rebalancing continues.
