CHENNAI: India must build an ethical and inclusive AI framework with participation from every state, industries minister T.R.B. Rajaa said on Wednesday. Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day conclave on safe and trusted AI at the IIT Madras Centre for Responsible AI, he stressed that national AI policy cannot follow a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
“All states need to be involved and consulted. What works for Tamil Nadu may not work for Assam or Gujarat. Academia, civil society, state governments, and independent experts must all play a role. We should stand for inclusive and universally accessible AI,” Rajaa said.
He emphasised that transparency is essential to building trust in AI systems. “We need to know how these models are built. Policymaking must be continuous, and AI must remain human-centric, not algorithm-centric,” he said. Rajaa also noted that Sarvam is developing a Tamil Large Language Model (LLM) — the first in the Bashini series — and reiterated that technology becomes truly powerful only when it benefits everyone.
IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti highlighted the need for accountability and responsible use of AI. “We must create strong human capital capable of understanding the dos and don’ts of AI. There is a pressing need for common regulatory standards,” he said.
Kamakoti added that IIT Madras is working with the Tamil Nadu government to introduce AI education in schools. “Students are already using large language models without understanding them. Teaching AI at a young age is crucial,” he said.
The conclave will deliberate on advanced AI safety commons—open, shared ecosystems for safe AI development—and outline pathways for AI governance guidelines.
Experts including Professor B. Ravindran of the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI and Sriraam Natarajan from the University of Texas at Dallas also addressed the gathering.
