India's AI lag reflects global tech power imbalances and domestic policy gaps
Original framing: “India missed ot on AI and now its run as market darling may be over” — The Japan Times
Scientific analysis shows that AI development is not just about data or algorithms, but also about infrastructure, education, and governance. India's underinvestment in these areas has created bottlenecks that are not easily solved by market forces alone.
India's AI challenges are not a market failure but a systemic reflection of global power imbalances, historical underinvestment in public research, and cultural disconnection from indigenous knowledge.
By integrating traditional wisdom with modern science, fostering inclusive education, and building ethical governance frameworks, India can redefine its AI trajectory. Drawing from cross-cultural models in China, South Korea, and Africa, India has the potential to create a more equitable and sustainable AI future. This requires not just policy reform, but a cultural shift in how AI is imagined and practiced, with marginalized voices at the center.