New Delhi [India], December 11 (ANI): Experts from India and across the Global South emphasized that the future of artificial intelligence rests on simple, practical, and public-focused tools that address everyday needs. Speaking on the sidelines of the Carnegie Global Technology Summit 2025, they highlighted how AI is already transforming public services, healthcare, and agriculture, while calling for stronger international collaboration to expand access and impact.
Shruti Mittal, Research Analyst at Carnegie India, said the summit’s theme—People, Planet, Progress—reflects how technology can support social inclusion and environmental priorities. She noted that the idea of “happiness for all” aligns with the responsible use of AI for societal benefit. Mittal also described India as the “AI use-case capital of the world,” offering diverse environments for testing inclusive and scalable models.
A major focus at the summit was how AI improves access to essential services. Benjamin Mwalimu, Head of Technology at Jacaranda Health in Kenya, said his team developed an SMS-based AI platform for expectant mothers. The system allows women to ask questions related to pregnancy, flags danger signs, and alerts trained help-desk agents who guide users on seeking timely care. Mwalimu noted that such tools help reduce maternal risks in regions where reliable pregnancy information is limited. He added that data shared with local governments helps identify gaps in clinics—from missing beds to shortages of basic items like curtains.
Mwalimu also stressed the importance of collaboration, arguing that it is inefficient for countries to build similar language models in isolation. He welcomed the summit’s emphasis on shared development for broader impact.
Sushant Kumar, Founder and CEO of Kalpa Impact, said India has evolved from trying to catch up in AI to becoming a leader in building public-interest AI resources. He explained that AI tools are helping farmers interpret weather data, choose seeds, and manage pests, while simple AI co-pilots are supporting ASHA workers in healthcare. Kumar said India’s multilingual datasets and growing compute access are enabling innovations tailored to local needs. However, he pointed out that affordable compute infrastructure remains a major challenge in the Global South, where most compute capacity is concentrated in the Global North. Sustainable funding, he said, will be essential for innovators to continue developing real-world applications.
For many organisations, the summit provided actionable insights. George Maina, CEO and Founder of Shamba Records, said AI is helping African farmers build verifiable credit histories and improve crop planning. The discussions, he added, offered valuable guidance on refining their models and tackling compute-related constraints. (ANI)
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