Ahead of a key global technology moment for the country, India’s artificial intelligence start-up ecosystem found itself at the centre of the national spotlight. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a high-level roundtable with leading Indian AI start-ups at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg—an interaction that went far beyond symbolism and sent a clear signal about where India’s technology ambitions are headed.
The closed-door discussion comes just weeks before the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to take place next month. The timing is significant. As global conversations around artificial intelligence intensify—ranging from innovation and regulation to ethics and societal impact—India is positioning itself not merely as a participant, but as a shaper of the future AI narrative.
Twelve Indian AI start-ups that have qualified for the prestigious AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge were invited to the roundtable, offering them a rare opportunity to directly present their work and vision to the Prime Minister. Collectively, these companies represent the depth and diversity of India’s rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.
From foundational technologies to real-world applications, the start-ups showcased solutions across a wide spectrum. These included Indian language foundation models, multilingual large language models (LLMs), speech-to-text and text-to-audio systems, as well as text-to-video technologies. Several companies are also working on generative AI-led 3D content for e-commerce, marketing, and personalised digital experiences—areas where India’s scale and creativity offer a natural advantage.
Beyond consumer-facing applications, the discussions also highlighted AI innovations in engineering simulations, advanced materials research, industrial analytics, healthcare diagnostics, and medical research. Together, the use cases reflected a maturing ecosystem—one that is increasingly focused on solving complex, high-impact problems rather than chasing novelty alone.
During the interaction, start-up founders and leaders spoke candidly about the momentum building within India’s AI sector. They credited a strong policy push, expanding digital public infrastructure, and a deep talent pool for accelerating innovation. Many noted that the global centre of gravity for AI development and deployment is steadily shifting towards India—driven by the country’s ability to build scalable, cost-effective, and responsible solutions.
According to the entrepreneurs, India is fast emerging as a credible global hub for AI that balances innovation with accountability. This confidence, they said, is rooted in both market opportunity and a regulatory environment that encourages experimentation while recognising the importance of ethics and trust.
Prime Minister Modi, in his remarks, underlined the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in reshaping both society and the economy. He described the upcoming India AI Impact Summit as a platform that would reinforce India’s role as a major global contributor to the future of technology.
Calling start-ups and AI entrepreneurs the “co-architects of India’s future,” the Prime Minister emphasised that the country has not only the capacity to innovate but also the unique ability to implement solutions at population scale. This, he said, is where India can truly differentiate itself on the global stage.
He urged start-ups to take forward a distinctive AI model rooted in the vision of “Made in India, Made for the World.” Stressing that global trust in India is among the nation’s strongest assets, PM Modi highlighted the need for AI systems that are ethical, unbiased, transparent, and built on robust data privacy principles.
Importantly, he also pointed to the cultural and linguistic dimensions of technology. Indian AI models, he said, must promote indigenous content and regional languages, ensuring that technological progress remains inclusive and accessible to all sections of society.
The Prime Minister encouraged Indian start-ups to aim for global leadership by championing affordable and inclusive AI solutions. He noted that India’s experience in building frugal innovations—whether in digital payments, identity systems, or public service delivery—can serve as a powerful template for AI adoption worldwide.
The message was clear: India’s AI story should not mirror existing global models but offer an alternative—one that prioritises scale with sensitivity, innovation with responsibility, and growth with inclusion.
The roundtable brought together founders, CEOs, and senior leaders from some of India’s most prominent AI-driven companies, including Avataar, BharatGen, Fractal, GAN, Genloop, Gnani, Intellihealth, Sarvam, Shodh AI, Soket AI, Tech Mahindra, and Zenteiq. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Jitin Prasada, underscoring the government’s whole-of-system approach to nurturing the AI ecosystem.
Taken together, the roundtable reflects the government’s broader ambition to position India as a global AI powerhouse—one that leads not just in technological capability, but also in responsibility, inclusivity, and trust. As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 approaches, the message from the top is unmistakable: India’s start-ups are no longer on the sidelines of the global AI race—they are being called upon to help define its future.
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