Founders of Indian Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups expressed that their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi motivated them to develop AI solutions with the potential to change lives. Dr. Siddharth Panwar, CEO of NeuroDx, highlighted the Prime Minister’s insights as pivotal in reshaping their views on AI’s role in benefiting people. He stressed the importance of crafting AI solutions that positively impact the lives of everyday citizens in India, rather than imitating Western practices.
Nikhil Malhotra, Chief Innovation Officer at Tech Mahindra, shared his positive experience interacting with PM Modi. He emphasized the Prime Minister’s understanding of the significance of ethical and responsible AI adoption in the country, urging the creation of innovative solutions that prioritize societal well-being and are yet to be developed.
During a roundtable with Indian AI startups at his residence, PM Modi encouraged startups to utilize AI for the greater good. He urged them to ensure that AI is accessible, inclusive, and transparent. Ayush Gupta, CEO of Genloop, mentioned that discussions with the Prime Minister revolved around shaping India’s AI landscape to be trustworthy and ethical. PM Modi envisioned India’s AI as “Atmanirbhar Intelligence,” underscoring its crucial role in India’s future development.
Srikanth Velamakanni, co-founder of Fractal, highlighted PM Modi’s aspiration for India to lead globally in AI. He stressed the importance of developing AI models tailored to India’s needs and making them accessible to all citizens in their native languages. The meeting, which included 12 AI startups selected for the ‘AI for All: Global Impact Challenge,’ preceded the upcoming ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’ scheduled in India next month. These startups presented their innovative ideas and projects in various fields such as healthcare, multilingual language models, materials research, and data analytics.
