The ongoing India AI Impact Summit is turning out to be the biggest brainstorming event on artificial intelligence (AI) till date, with over 300,000 attendees gathering in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam. Speaking on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit, Maya Sherman — senior AI researcher and innovation attache at the Embassy of Israel in New Delhi — told Firstpost’s Dheeraj Kumar that India’s human-centric AI approach could be its strongest geopolitical asset in a world increasingly defined by AI blocs and sovereign technology infrastructure.
The event, now extended by a day till February 21, has drawn over 20 heads of state, 60 ministers, and more than 500 global AI leaders, alongside startups, researchers, multilateral institutions, and industry executives. Sherman highlighted India’s high-growth AI market with strong public infrastructure for technology adoption.
Edited excerpts:
With the AI Impact Summit, India is positioning itself as a global AI powerhouse. Israel also aspires to be one itself. India is also a high-growth market for AI tools. Can India and Israel co-innovate in the AI or tech sector?
Both India and Israel have distinct yet complementary tech ecosystems. Israel, the “Startup Nation,” has long been at the forefront of cutting-edge AI research, while India offers scale, a high-growth market, and strong implementation capabilities.
What connects the two countries is a shared vision for responsible AI. We already have mechanisms in place to deepen technological collaboration—for instance, the joint fund between India’s Department of Science and Technology and the Israel Innovation Authority. Tech diplomacy initiatives, including expert delegations, have also helped strengthen ties.
With AI now taking centre stage, the summit provides an opportunity to expand these collaborations even further, exploring how different government ministries and institutions can better engage in joint research, innovation, and development projects.
Israel is often called the “Startup Nation”. India runs a massive Start-up Mission programme with the government’s backing. Do you see potential for a structured India–Israel AI innovation corridor — perhaps joint research funds, sovereign sandboxes, or cross-border AI accelerators?
Absolutely. There is already an innovation corridor in place through the Department of Science and Technology and the Israel Innovation Authority, but there is significant scope to expand, especially in research.
We are currently connecting Israeli and Indian academic institutions for joint AI research projects, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is much more that can be done together. India and Israel already have Centres of Excellence in areas such as agriculture and water management, and the goal now is to replicate that model in the AI space.
Startups are an important focus, and while some defined corridors exist, we are keen to broaden collaboration across research, innovation, and applied AI projects. The potential is enormous, and both countries are committed to exploring it further.
In a world where AI is increasingly viewed through a national security lens, how could countries such as India and Israel balance openness with strategic autonomy?
This is a highly relevant question for countries like India and Israel, both of which face complex regional and security challenges. The key lies in balance.
Open AI is essential — collaboration allows countries to learn from each other, share best practices, and advance AI responsibly. At the same time, nations are investing in their own infrastructure and capabilities, creating an AI arms-race dynamic.
The solution is multilateralism. Initiatives like Pax Silica, which India and Israel are part of, demonstrate how countries can maintain strategic autonomy while engaging in global collaboration. In other words, countries can build sovereign capabilities and remain strong, while still being open to partnerships that advance AI innovation safely and responsibly.
Are we entering an era of AI blocs, given an intensifying race between the US and China with a coalition of middle powers? Where do India and Israel fit into this equation, and do they need to fit in this AI geopolitical game?
We are already seeing the formation of AI blocs and strategic groupings. Both India and Israel follow multifaceted strategies and maintain multiple alliances rather than aligning with a single bloc.
Initiatives like Pax Silica are a good example — these coalitions are built on shared values and common strategies. I believe we will continue to see more such groupings in the coming years, but countries like India and Israel are positioning themselves to navigate these alliances flexibly while maintaining their strategic interests.
Could AI reshape diplomatic relationships the way nuclear technology or semiconductors once did?
Absolutely. AI diplomacy is becoming increasingly important. We are moving beyond discussions about individual tools to considering AI as a full ecosystem, which includes infrastructure, chips, data, and governance frameworks.
Once infrastructure and strategic assets come into play, diplomacy naturally takes on greater significance. Governments and political actors are now deeply involved in shaping AI strategy, and I believe the role of diplomacy in AI will only intensify in the years ahead.
As AI models become more powerful, do you foresee sovereign AI models becoming the norm? Is technological nationalism inevitable?
I don’t think sovereign AI models will necessarily become the norm, though we will see more countries exploring this path. Foundational models are driving a new level of discussion, but not every country has the infrastructure or resources to develop them.
Take Israel, for example — it leads in AI innovation but is not prioritising foundational AI models for strategic reasons. India, on the other hand, is exploring this direction to address linguistic diversity and to bring a Global South perspective into the AI narrative.
Different countries are taking varied approaches based on their priorities and assets. Developing sovereign AI requires substantial infrastructure and investment, so it won’t be universal. I do expect new collaborative facilities to emerge, which could make these capabilities more accessible to countries based on their specific needs.
Is India’s people-centric AI focus pushing it behind in the tech race for innovation?
Not at all. In fact, India’s human-centric approach is a significant advantage. While some may have thought focusing on responsible and socially beneficial AI could slow innovation, today it positions India as a leader in responsible AI deployment.
Many countries are now following this path, and Israel shares a similar approach. India’s emphasis on tackling diverse real-world challenges — from healthcare and agriculture to financial inclusion—has allowed it to demonstrate the societal impact of AI. By prioritising responsible, human-centered use cases, India is shaping the global discourse on ethical and inclusive AI, rather than trailing behind.
ALSO READ:
‘AI will take jobs—but growth lens matters’: Founders call for national reskilling push
How does the India AI Impact Summit differ from last year’s AI Action Summit in Paris in terms of focus, outcomes, and strategic priorities?
The India summit is much more diverse, which is one of its most remarkable achievements. It has brought together the widest range of participants in the history of global AI action and safety summits, spanning policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, startups, and civil society.
Importantly, this is the first time a Global South country has hosted such a major AI gathering, highlighting India’s growing role as a bridge between the Global North and South. The summit places strong emphasis on practical impact technologies and socially beneficial applications of AI, marking a significant shift from previous forums that focused primarily on frontier models and AI safety.
Do you believe India is emerging as a leader of the Global South in AI innovation and positioning itself competitively in the global AI race?
Absolutely. While there is impressive AI work happening in Africa, Brazil, and other parts of the Global South, India is increasingly being recognised not just within the Global South, but also by the Global North, for its role in shaping AI in society.
India is positioning itself as a bridge between the two worlds—leveraging its scale, diversity, and human-centric approach to AI. This gives the country a unique leadership role and makes it one of the most influential actors today, both within the Global South and globally.
End of Article
Leave a Reply