GCG at The International Technology Policy Summit -Technology Dialogue 2025

The Technology Dialogue 2025, held on January 24–25 at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, brought together experts to discuss emerging technologies and transnational collaborations within India’s tech and science ecosystem. Hosted at one of India’s most prestigious institutions for technology and innovation—founded by industrialist and philanthropist Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata—the event featured discussions on the future of AI, computing, and scientific advancements.

Leah Junck, Senior Researcher at the Global Center on AI Governance (GCG), spoke on the panel “Accelerating AI Innovation”, which examined global AI trajectories, India's role in the AI value chain, and key governance considerations.

During the discussion, Leah highlighted the prevailing trend of AI in the Global South being reliant on foreign datasets and standardized technology designs—an approach that often overlooks local contexts and carries significant risks, particularly for marginalized communities. She emphasized the importance of context-specific AI solutions and shared insights from GCG’s work across Africa, Brazil, and South Asia, where initiatives have developed localized generative AI chatbots tailored to address regional challenges. These efforts, supported by GCG through expert knowledge and publishing assistance, underscored a critical need: cross-regional knowledge networks that facilitate shared learning and collaboration among communities facing similar AI challenges.

Leah also shed light on underestimated challenges in developing locally relevant AI, such as high computing costs and the labor-intensive process of ensuring AI technologies are not only functional but also genuinely beneficial to their intended users. She stressed that as more insights emerge on locally-driven AI innovation in the Global South, there is an opportunity to move beyond speculative narratives and instead focus on practical learnings from real-world implementations.

The session concluded with a call for continued engagement from researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to foster a more inclusive and context-aware approach to AI governance and development.