Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a roundtable discussion with founders and leaders from Indian AI start‑ups as the country gears up for the India AI Impact Summit, a flagship event meant to showcase India’s growing capabilities in artificial intelligence and foster global collaboration.
The session focused on emerging opportunities, challenges facing the AI ecosystem, and how India can lead innovation while ensuring ethical use of the technology.
The roundtable brought together entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry experts to share insights and explore ways to strengthen homegrown AI development.
Addressing the group, PM Modi spoke about the importance of AI as a transformative force across sectors. “Artificial Intelligence is not just a technology of the future; it is a technology of today,” he said.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 @narendramodi 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐔𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢.
Ahead of the 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐈 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 to be held in India next month,… pic.twitter.com/zVrWnpm4OJ
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) January 8, 2026
Modi pointed out that India’s youthful population and growing digital infrastructure give it an edge in adopting and developing AI solutions.
“India’s strength lies in its vibrant start‑up ecosystem, and AI can become a pillar of our economic progress,” he added.
Start‑ups share challenges and aspirations
During the meet, start‑up founders shed light on both opportunities and challenges in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Many stressed that while India has a wealth of talent, there are obstacles related to data access, funding, and regulatory clarity that need to be addressed.
One participant, quoted by ANI, noted that access to diverse datasets, particularly in regional languages, would help accelerate innovation. Others said that clear policy frameworks could improve investor confidence and encourage more robust R&D in niche AI segments.
“We must ensure that AI is trustworthy, inclusive and beneficial to all sections of society,” one start‑up leader said.
The roundtable set the stage for the India AI Impact Summit, scheduled to attract AI leaders, policymakers, and technologists from around the world.
