Clearly in The First Group: Ashwini Vaishnaw Counters IMF on India’s AI Status

During a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw strongly contested the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) classification of India as a second-tier country in artificial intelligence (AI) readiness.  

He asserted India’s position in the global top category, citing the country's work across five AI architecture layers and backing it with data from Stanford rankings. 

Vaishnaw Highlights India's Multi-Layered AI Capabilities 

Addressing a question at the event held on November 20, Vaishnaw responded to IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva’s categorisation, which grouped countries as AI leaders, followers, and observers.  

He asserted that India is “clearly in the first group.” According to Vaishnaw, AI architecture comprises five layers: application, model, chip, infrastructure, and energy layers. India, he noted, is developing capabilities across all five. 

He especially emphasised India's strength in the application layer, claiming the country is poised to be the largest AI service provider globally. This layer is critical, he explained, since return on investment (ROI) is often derived more from effective deployment than from model creation alone. 

Smaller, Efficient Models Over Massive Scale 

Vaishnaw stressed that India is not chasing large-scale models for the sake of complexity. Instead, efforts are focused on building efficient AI models with 20 billion to 50 billion parameters.  

These models are already deployed across multiple sectors with an aim to enhance productivity and efficiency. He indicated that India has created a collection of such models serving various operational and industry needs. 

Read More: AI and Semiconductor Manufacturing to Drive Job Growth in India by 2030: MeitY Secretary! 

IMF and Stanford Diverge on AI Metrics 

Georgieva’s IMF ranking is based on four specific parameters: physical infrastructure, labour skills, AI diffusion in the economy, and regulatory and ethical standards.  

While the United States, Denmark and Singapore were ranked at the top by the IMF, India was noted in Georgieva’s comments as only emerging in the higher segment. 

Vaishnaw, however, referred to Stanford rankings positioning India third in AI penetration and second in AI talent, offering a different perspective on India’s preparedness and progress. 

Conclusion 

India’s IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has confidently refuted the IMF’s findings on AI readiness, citing structured development across AI layers and favourable rankings from other institutions. His comments suggest a nationally integrated approach to AI that addresses both deployment and capability creation. 

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