PM pitches AI for farms, classrooms

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday discussed the potential of harnessing artificial intelligence across key sectors such as agriculture, environmental protection, healthcare and education with CEOs and founders of AI and deeptech startups.

At a roundtable interaction, leaders from 16 AI and deeptech ventures presented their ideas and innovations to the prime minister. Modi underscored the importance of strong data governance, cautioned against the misuse of AI for misinformation, and called for solutions tailored specifically to India’s needs, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Referring to UPI as a model of simple, scalable digital innovation, Modi expressed confidence in Indian companies and encouraged greater trust in domestically developed products. He also spoke about expanding private participation in the space sector, noting strong investor interest in Indian startups.

The PM highlighted the role of AI in agriculture, including monitoring crop productivity, optimising fertiliser use and safeguarding soil health. He also discussed the use of geospatial and underwater intelligence to boost farm output and manage climate risks. Stressing the importance of Indian languages and culture, Modi called for expanding AI tools for higher education in mother tongues, saying vernacular access can significantly widen learning opportunities.

In healthcare, the startups showcased AI-driven applications for advanced diagnostics, gene therapy and efficient patient record management, aimed at extending quality care to the last mile. Other ventures focused on cybersecurity, ethical AI, space technologies, social empowerment through vernacular access to justice and education, and modernising legacy enterprise systems.

Congratulating the innovators, Modi praised them for taking bold risks and building impactful solutions. The startups, in turn, lauded India’s sustained push to strengthen its AI ecosystem, noting rapid expansion and vast untapped potential. They said global momentum in AI innovation and deployment is increasingly shifting toward India.