During the India Today AI Summit, Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, shared insights on the concept of Atmanirbhar AI (self-reliant AI). He clarified that self-reliant AI does not mean developing a separate AI ecosystem isolated from the global landscape. Rather, it involves investing in AI, strengthening India's ecosystem, and collaborating with global technology partners. Chandok stressed that Microsoft is working with partners to build Sovereign AI, and India should adopt a similar approach.

Chandok described AI as a 'five-layer cake', urging India to focus on which specific layers it wishes to prioritize. He highlighted that India's AI strategy hinges on three pillars: innovation, inclusivity, and sovereignty. While acknowledging that the United States and China are leading in AI development, he pointed out that India possesses ample scale and talent that can be leveraged effectively.

Moreover, Chandok underlined that simply developing AI technologies is insufficient; it is crucial for AI to diffuse across various sectors such as agriculture, health, and education. He emphasized the necessity of skilling one billion Indians to utilize AI effectively, indicating that the successful integration of AI into everyday life is a key factor for India's future competitiveness in the global tech arena.