Digital
India launches its first AI industry body
MUMBAI: India just gave artificial intelligence its own rules of engagement. The Artificial Intelligence Association of India (AIAI) has officially launched as the country’s first dedicated industry body for AI, aiming to steer the ethical, inclusive and innovation-driven growth of artificial intelligence across India’s creative and technology sectors. Think of it as a referee, coach and cheerleader all rolled into one, making sure AI plays fair whilst helping India score big.
Led by National Convenor Sandeep Goyal, AIAI arrives at a pivotal moment when India’s AI ecosystem is expanding rapidly but operating without formal guardrails. The association will bring together technologists, creators, legal experts, educators and industry stakeholders spanning advertising, design, film, music, gaming, publishing and emerging tech sectors.
“AI is no longer the future. It is the now,” Goyal said. “And India cannot afford to be a passive consumer in this revolution. With AIAI, we are building the ethical and institutional guardrails that ensure India’s creative industries not only thrive with AI, but do so on their own terms.”
The association has outlined five key objectives for responsible AI adoption:
Policy and advocacy: AIAI will represent creative industries in AI consultations with MeitY, DPIIT and Niti Aayog, giving creatives a seat at the policy table.
Ethical standards: The body will develop certification frameworks for ethical AI practices across advertising, film, music and design.
Skilling and inclusion: AIAI aims to train over 10,000 creative professionals in AI tools and workflows by 2026.
Research and development: The association will incubate India-focused AI tools for content creation, translation, personalisation and storytelling.
Creative IP protection: AIAI will lead efforts to safeguard artist attribution, combat deepfakes and evolve copyright rules for AI-generated content.
AIAI plans to establish “ethical sandboxes” for testing AI use cases and a national AI incident registry to track challenges such as bias, misinformation, deepfake misuse and copyright concerns. It’s basically building a playground where AI can experiment safely whilst someone watches to make sure nobody gets hurt.
“Creative AI isn’t just a technology story,” Goyal emphasised. “It’s a story about what kind of country we want to be, how we preserve language, culture, livelihoods and imagination in a time of machines. This is India’s moment to lead, not follow. And AIAI will make sure we do.”
The governing board, set to include senior leaders from major corporations and multiple creative domains, will be announced shortly. For now, India’s AI revolution has found its institutional voice, and it’s speaking with one clear message: India won’t just adopt AI. It will shape it.
Digital
Maharashtra partners OpenAI, Sarvam AI to boost state’s tech ecosystem
State to set up dedicated AI department and roll out frontier technology policies
MUMBAI: Maharashtra is set to become a primary hub for artificial intelligence following the 2026–27 Budget announcement. chief minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that the state has signed letters of intent with global giant OpenAI and national pioneer Sarvam AI to integrate advanced technology into the state’s economic and administrative framework.
The collaboration with OpenAI and Sarvam AI marks a shift towards adopting cutting-edge generative tools for governance. These partnerships, alongside MoUs with IIT Bombay and BharatGen, are designed to create a robust ecosystem for research and innovation. The move signals the state’s intent to bring together global technology leaders and domestic research institutions to accelerate the development and adoption of artificial intelligence across sectors.
Regarding the strategic intent of these alliances, chief minister Fadnavis stated, “With the objective of making the State’s Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence sector dynamic, letters of intent have been signed with globally and nationally reputed institutions like OpenAI and Sarvam AI to facilitate the Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence sector in the state.”
To manage these high-level partnerships and ensure effective implementation, the government is establishing an independent department of electronics, Information technology, and artificial intelligence. The new department will function with a dedicated commissionerate and specialised technical manpower, enabling faster decision-making, improved coordination, and stronger accountability in executing technology-driven initiatives.
The state also plans to introduce special policies aimed at strengthening its position in emerging technology sectors. These policies will focus on advancing Maharashtra as a global hub for frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles, and deep technology.
According to the chief minister, “The state government plans to introduce special policies to develop Maharashtra as a world-class hub for frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles and deep technology.”
Artificial intelligence is already being integrated into the state’s governance framework. A collaboration with Microsoft has led to the development of MahaCrimeOS AI, a platform that has reportedly reduced police investigation times by 80 per cent across 23 police stations in Nagpur. The initiative demonstrates how AI-driven tools can significantly enhance law enforcement efficiency and data analysis capabilities.
The government is also working toward building a fully digitised administrative ecosystem. Plans are underway to achieve complete digitisation of land transactions and implement electronic office systems across departments, paving the way for a paperless government. In addition, a pilot project will introduce AI-powered solutions in 75 selected villages to improve infrastructure, governance efficiency, and overall quality of life in rural areas.
To strengthen digital infrastructure and data protection, the state also intends to establish an advanced data centre in Nagpur. This facility will be designed to safeguard sensitive and sovereign information while supporting large-scale digital services and government platforms.
These initiatives form part of Maharashtra’s broader cyber security and digital transformation strategy aligned with the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 vision. By partnering with global and domestic technology leaders such as OpenAI and Sarvam AI, the state aims to build a secure, future-ready digital ecosystem that enhances citizen services, supports innovation, and strengthens India’s position in emerging technologies.
