Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on March 28 at the PM's residence, covering topics from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to digital public infrastructure and efforts to combat climate change. During the conversation, Gates commended Indians for their rapid adoption of technology and for leading the way in this regard. PM encouraged Gates to take a selfie using the Photo Booth feature on the PM's Namo App.
PM Modi Reflects on G20
Discussing the 2023 G20 Summit, which concluded last year under India's presidency, PM Modi stated, "We had extensive discussions before the G20 Summit, and as you might have seen, the summit's proceedings took various turns. I believe we have now aligned with the G20's core purposes and objectives, bringing them to the mainstream. I hope your first-hand experience echoes this sentiment."
Gates Praises G20 Impact
Gates responded, "G20 is way more inclusive, and it's fantastic to see India hosting it. It has really elevated discussions on topics like digital innovations and emphasised how south-south collaboration can extend beyond just dialogue with the north. Our foundation is excited about the past results achieved here in India, and we are eager to partner in replicating those successes in many other countries."
Gates praised India, stating that the country has a "digital government." He emphasised that India is not only adopting technology but is actually leading the way in this regard.
PM Modi on Digital Transformation
The PM also highlighted his government’s initiatives aimed at empowering women, such as the Namo Drone Didi programme, which equips women with drone piloting skills. This initiative fosters economic independence and rural development while empowering women to actively participate in various sectors.
PM Modi said, "When I used to hear about the digital divide in the world, I was determined not to let it happen in my country. Digital public infrastructure is a significant necessity in itself... Women in India are more receptive to adopting new technology... I have initiated the 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme. Some women mentioned they didn't know how to ride a bicycle, but now they are pilots and can fly drones. The mindset has indeed changed."
PM Modi Discusses AI Challenges
Speaking on AI, PM Modi explained to Gates that artificial intelligence presents significant challenges globally. He emphasised the importance of comprehensive training for AI systems and proposed the idea of adding a watermark to AI-generated content.
The PM cautioned about the deceptive potential of deepfake technology and stressed the need for labelling such content and providing its complete source. Moreover, he also advocated for the establishment of a well-considered legal framework to regulate AI and deepfake technology.
"Our priority is to enhance the quality of life rather than merely focusing on services," said the PM. "In sectors like health, agriculture, and education, we have taken significant strides. For instance, India has established 2,00,000 Arogya Mandir Health Centres in villages and interconnected them with leading hospitals using modern technology," he added.
PM Modi also described to Gates how AI was used, highlighting that during the Kashi Tamil Sangamam event, his Hindi speech was translated into Tamil using AI.
The PM expressed his belief that India has historically lagged behind in the first and second industrial revolutions due to its colonial past. However, he feels confident that India will benefit greatly from the current fourth industrial revolution, which is heavily influenced by digital technology.
He emphasised the importance of AI, humorously noting that in India, the word for mother is "Aai," and now with the advancement of technology, children are also saying "Aai" as well as "AI" when they are born.
During his last visit to India in February 2024, Gates expressed that he had discussed various local and global issues and was impressed by the country's strong focus on areas such as digital public infrastructure, women-led development, and innovation.
Gates Reflects on Tech Industry Beginnings
Gates also talked about his origin into the tech industry, for which he feels very lucky and excited in equal measure. “I am so lucky I was born at a time when the chip miracle happened. I got a very good education. Because I have an optimistic view in life, dropping out of school to take the risk didn’t seem that dangerous to me,” he mentioned during his interaction with Modi.
The Microsoft co-founder then touched upon his passion for technology and what inspires him to continue in this field. "The most exciting thing for me is to see people using technology. When I go into a classroom and witness them using it, it's incredibly gratifying. I initially wanted software for my own curiosity, so I could take courses online, and seeing people being empowered by these tools is very rewarding. It demonstrates how technology is enhancing people's lives," he adds.
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