India well positioned to be leader in AI: Rishi Sunak

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that India is well-positioned to be a leader in AI and demonstrate its mass adoption and deployment in society.

Addressing an event at the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Sunak said there is incredible optimism and trust towards AI in India, while in the West, the overriding feeling is one of anxiety at the moment. He said, India has recognized that leadership in technology does not just depend on inventing technology; it’s about how you deploy it.

At the interactive session at the ongoing AI Impact Summit here, Sunak also said there are different attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI) around the world, and in India, there is "incredible optimism and trust", whereas in the West, the "overriding feeling is one of anxiety at the moment".

The session – 'AI for All: Reimagining Global Cooperation' – was hosted by Carnegie India in association with the Observer Research Foundation, among other partners.

Sunak said India’s focus on mass adoption of AI is backed by a deep talent pool, strong digital public infrastructure, and a public very supportive of the technology. The former UK Prime Minister said that in the Stanford Global AI Vibrancy 2025 report, India has been ranked third for AI competitiveness and ecosystem vibrancy. India is hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16-20, in which a large number of world leaders, technology experts and innovators are participating.

The Indian-origin politician asserted that crucially, the debate has shifted over the years when it came to AI.

"I think the AI debate has shifted from technology to strategy. From what these tools could do to what countries are choosing to do with them," Sunak said.

He underlined that for political leaders, "AI can't be some specialist subject on the side", it's got to become the "central responsibility" of a government.