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    BUSINESS & TRADE                                                         JUNE 26, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 34

             India’s AI Ambitions Get Global Backing

                            as Mistral Seeks Collaboration

                 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch

                in Paris highlighted India’s growing focus on artificial intelligence as a driver of

                                economic growth, innovation and technological self-reliance

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            technology,  become  better  at  build-
                                                                                                                  ing it through startups... and through
            Paris / Mumbai
                                                                                                                  the general training of the popula-
                  rtificial   intelligence   has                                                                  tion so that they make better use of
                  emerged  as  one  of  the  defin-                                                               that technology to learn faster and to
            Aing pillars of India’s economic                                                                      build business faster and to generally
            strategy, with the country’s leadership                                                               be more efficient in their life,” he said.
            increasingly viewing the technology as                                                                    This approach reflects one of In-
            a catalyst for productivity, innovation                                                               dia’s comparative advantages. With
            and long-term competitiveness. Prime                                                                  one of the world’s youngest work-
            Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting                                                                      forces and a thriving startup ecosys-
            with Arthur Mensch, Co-founder and                                                                    tem, widespread AI adoption could
            Chief  Executive  Officer  of  France-                                                                improve productivity across sectors
            based Mistral AI, during his visit to                                                                 ranging from manufacturing and
            Paris  reflects  New  Delhi’s  growing                                                                healthcare  to  financial  services,  edu-
            determination to build indigenous AI                                                                  cation and agriculture. Rather than
            capabilities while forging strategic in-                                                              replacing labour, policymakers in-
            ternational partnerships.                                                                             creasingly see AI as a productivity
                The discussions went beyond                                                                       multiplier capable of enabling busi-
            technology cooperation. They under-                                                                   nesses to scale faster and compete
            scored a broader economic vision in                                                                   internationally.
            which artificial intelligence is expect-                                                                  The discussions also highlighted
            ed to transform industries, strengthen                                                                the importance of building a complete
            startups, modernise governance and                                                                    AI value chain. Mensch explained that
            create new opportunities for busi-                                                                    sovereignty extends from “the energy
            nesses across sectors. At the heart of                                                                supply all the way to the creation of what
            the conversation was the concept of                                                                   we call tokens and the creation and dis-
            “sovereign AI” — ensuring that coun-                                                                  tribution of this technology to the peo-
            tries retain control over the critical                                                                ple.” Such an integrated approach rec-
            infrastructure, computing resources   Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Co-Founder & CEO, Mistral Ai, Arthur Mensch, in Paris   ognises that AI leadership depends not
            and data that power next-generation                    on Thursday (DPR PMO/ANI Photo)                only on software but also on computing
            AI systems.                                                                                           infrastructure, reliable power, skilled
               “It was a great pleasure for me   not become the preserve of a few mul-  valuable as India seeks to develop an   talent and broad-based adoption.
            to  be  received  by  His  Excellency,”  tinational companies or governments.  end-to-end AI ecosystem spanning   Equally significant was Mensch’s
            Mensch said after the meeting. “We  “AI is too important a technology not   computing infrastructure, software,  assessment of Prime Minister Modi’s
            discussed artificial intelligence. We’re   to be controlled by sovereign states   talent development and enterprise   understanding of the technology. “I
            a company building sovereign AI ca-  and not to be controlled by sovereign   adoption. Rather than relying entirely   was impressed by the understanding
            pabilities across the world. The discus-  companies,” he said, stressing that ev-  on imported technologies, the objec-  of the Prime Minister and his leader-
            sion revolved around how to build a   ery  country  should  benefit  from  the   tive is to create domestic capabilities   ship on artificial intelligence,” he said.
            full-stack solution that is resilient and   economic growth AI is expected to   that can support Indian businesses  “I was also impressed by the fact that
            that is escaping foreign control, which   generate.                 while remaining globally competitive.  there’s actually very strong alignment
            is something that we can help with.”  The meeting also highlighted In-  A notable aspect of the discus-  with what he says and what we’ve
                The  emphasis  on sovereignty   dia’s growing appeal as an AI innova-  sions was the focus on democratis-  been saying for the last three years.”
            comes at a time when AI development   tion  hub.  According  to  the  Ministry   ing  access  to  artificial  intelligence.   For businesses, the implications
            is increasingly concentrated among a   of External Affairs,  Prime Minister   Mensch emphasised that AI should   are substantial. Greater access to AI
            handful of global technology giants.  Modi showcased the opportunities   benefit not only technology companies   tools could improve efficiency, accel-
            For India, which has built globally   within India’s expanding AI ecosys-  but also citizens, public servants and   erate product development and low-
            competitive  digital  public  infrastruc-  tem, while Mensch expressed Mistral   entrepreneurs across the economy.  er barriers to innovation for startups
            ture over the past decade, policymak-  AI’s strong interest  in collaborating   “It also revolved a lot around how   and small enterprises. International
            ers see AI as the next frontier where   with India and partnering with Indian   to make AI available to everyone,  partnerships with companies such as
            technological independence will have   companies to drive innovation and ex-  both to the citizens, to the civil ser-  Mistral AI can also provide access
            significant  economic  implications.  pand AI capabilities.         vants, and how to make sure that the   to cutting-edge technologies while
                Mensch argued that AI should      Such partnerships could prove   people of India actually train on that   helping develop indigenous expertise.

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