Tech billionaires are set to descend upon Delhi for the AI expo, as Modi strives to position India as the South's AI leader. The week-long AI Impact Summit will bring together tech giants, government officials, and AI safety experts, with a focus on the potential of AI to transform agriculture, water supplies, and public health. However, concerns have been raised about the darker side of Modi's enthusiasm for AI, with civil liberties campaigners warning of its potential for state surveillance and discrimination. The summit also highlights a battle between US tech firms' AI colonialism and an alternative 'techno-Gandhism' approach. While Indian commentators emphasize the value of AI in improving lives in the global south, US companies are focused on supremacy and profit. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, will speak at the summit, emphasizing the need for global coordination to prevent catastrophic risks from advanced AI models. The event marks the first AI summit in the global south, following previous gatherings in the UK, Korea, and France. Safety remains a key concern, with fears about the risk of powerful AI systems enabling cyber- and bioweapons attacks. Despite these concerns, the Trump administration continues its policy of refusing to bind US AI companies with red tape. Companies like Google are investing in India, focusing on AI's use in education and its potential to function in the country's diverse languages.
