AI will be a game-changer for India, but we must educate for it: Ashoka University’s Pramath Raj Sinha

AI will be a game-changer for India, but we must educate for it: Ashoka University’s Pramath Raj Sinha

Pramath Raj Sinha, Founder and Trustee of Ashoka University, underlined the need for inclusive and forward-looking education in India during a session at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit on April 9. Addressing critical challenges in the education sector, Sinha said, "The core problem is we are unable to get education to a large section of our society."

He spoke about Ashoka University’s efforts to redefine the idea of learning in India, saying, "We are trying to bring back the purest form of education. We want to give people the choice to do what they would like to do."

Sharing the philosophy of collective philanthropy behind Ashoka University, Sinha explained, "If you look at the biggest universities of the world, no one particular entity owns the institution. The point of collective philanthropy is that nobody owns it, but everybody owns it." He further clarified that contributors don’t control academic or strategic decisions: "You don’t have decision-making power based on your donations."

On the subject of raising funds for education, Sinha noted a positive shift in the philanthropic landscape of India. "You are seeing a large accumulation of wealth in the country, and many of them are interested in giving back," he said.

Discussing the impact of emerging technologies, Sinha pointed to artificial intelligence as a transformative force. "AI is going to be a game-changer for India. The country needs to be prepared to be educated for the technology," he said while emphasising on the urgency for educational reforms to match the pace of technological change.