New Delhi, October 10 (APAC Media): Union Minister for Communications and Development of the Northeastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated the AI for Good Lab Workshop at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 in New Delhi. The workshop aims to translate artificial intelligence strategies into practical, locally relevant solutions.
India will contribute its expertise in Digital Public Infrastructure and shared computing to advance AI collaboration across the Global South.
AI Must Improve Lives, Not Widen Inequalities
Scindia emphasised that the success of artificial intelligence should be measured by its impact on people rather than the scale of its models or the sophistication of its algorithms.
He highlighted the need to ensure that technological advancements expand opportunities instead of deepening existing inequalities. The minister also pointed to the global digital divide, noting that nearly 2.2 billion people worldwide remain offline.
The workshop focused on identifying ways to make AI accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of communities, particularly those that remain underserved by digital technologies.
DoT, ITU Join Hands for AI Development
Organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the workshop is part of the broader AI for Good Lab initiative.
India is among ten pilot countries participating in the initiative, alongside countries and partners from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Gulf. The programme seeks to help participating nations overcome gaps in skills, innovation, and infrastructure while developing AI solutions suited to local priorities.
Three Pillars to Strengthen AI Readiness
The AI for Good Lab framework is built around three key pillars: AI readiness and policy, AI skills development, and public AI infrastructure.
The initiative aims to establish practical governance frameworks, strengthen national AI talent through training and capacity-building, and support the development of infrastructure that enables countries to experiment with and deploy AI applications.
A key component is the creation of interoperable AI Sandbox environments. These platforms will allow locally relevant solutions to be tested, validated, scaled, and reused, encouraging collaboration and reducing barriers to innovation.
India to Support Global South Collaboration
India will contribute its experience in shared computing infrastructure, open datasets, and Digital Public Infrastructure to facilitate technical cooperation and knowledge-sharing among participating countries.
The initiative aims to promote locally driven AI innovation and help nations build the capabilities required to develop and deploy solutions that address public needs. Through the collaboration, India and its partners seek to advance more inclusive and accessible AI ecosystems across the Global South.
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