Building AI for India? Or Bharat?

When Bill Gates visited India this year, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and wished to know what AI meant for the country. Modi quipped that in many Indian states, a newborn’s first word is “aai”, meaning mother—but also, fittingly, AI. He said that since India is getting so technologically advanced, everyone now knows about AI.

However, AI progress in India has a dual edge—one that speaks of pushing the boundaries of innovation for the urban world (building for India), and the other that deeply understands and uplifts the aspirations of rural communities (building for Bharat).

“So, Are You Building ‘AI for India’ or ‘AI for Bharat’?”

These two worlds have different realities, but their aspirations are the same—better opportunities through technology. But what exactly is the difference?