India sharpens focus on developing an AI for real-world use, says Ashwini Vaishnaw at AI Impact Summit
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Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said India is sharply focused on developing artificial intelligence (AI) for practical, real-world use, with special attention on edge AI, enterprise productivity and large population-scale challenges such as healthcare, agriculture and climate change.
Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Vaishnaw said the government’s approach is centred on solving real problems and building solutions that can scale across the country. He noted that the summit provides a platform to deliberate on key technical issues and help shape the direction of AI development in India.
The minister urged experts and industry leaders to offer “solid, concrete suggestions” to ensure AI systems remain safe and responsible. Calling AI a “great tool,” he stressed that it must ultimately serve human interests and should not disturb the broader balance.
Vaishnaw also highlighted the strong public response to the AI Expo and exhibition area at the summit, which drew around 2.5 lakh visitors. Most attendees were young, with the average age below 30, a trend he described as a clear sign of India’s growing engagement with the AI ecosystem.
Inauguration of WAVES Creators’ Corner
On the second day of the summit, the minister inaugurated the WAVES Creators’ Corner, a hands-on innovation workspace designed to showcase the use of AI in the AVGC-XR ecosystem, which includes animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality.
The pavilion has been conceptualised as a fully operational space to demonstrate how AI can transform content creation and media production. During the inauguration, Vaishnaw said the WAVES Creators’ Corner is a strategic extension of the ministry’s initiatives such as WaveX, Waves Bazaar, and the Create in India Challenges.
He conducted a detailed walkthrough of the pavilion and interacted with emerging entrepreneurs from the WaveX startup cohort. The minister also met senior leadership from global companies including Adobe, Netflix, Sony, and Amazon.
In a boost to the media and entertainment sector, 51 AVGC-XR and media tech startups supported by WaveX are showcasing AI-driven tools and immersive technologies at the pavilion. Vaishnaw interacted with several founders, including winners of the Bhasha Setu and Kalaa Setu challenges, as the government seeks to strengthen India’s position in AI-led content and creative technologies.