Global AI Conclave Chennai 2025 hosted by IIT Madras and India AI Mission focuses on safe, trusted, and inclusive AI governance, shaping India’s role in global AI policy.
IIT Madras and India AI Mission Host Global AI Conclave in Chennai
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, in collaboration with the India AI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), successfully hosted a Global Conclave on Safe and Trusted Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Chennai on 10–11 December 2025. The two-day event was part of the official pre-summit activities leading up to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, set to be the first major global AI summit held in the Global South.
The conclave took place at the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras’ Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, bringing together senior policymakers, academic experts, industry leaders, civil society representatives, and global AI institutions. The central focus was on AI safety, governance, inclusivity, and interoperability of AI systems—especially across developing nations.
Focus on Safe, Trusted, and Inclusive AI
One of the primary objectives of the conclave was to explore how AI technologies can be governed with principles of ethics, trustworthiness, and transparency while maximizing benefits for societal development. Deliberations emphasized the need to translate broad AI governance principles into practical, scalable frameworks that are applicable across cultures and regions. News on Air
A key initiative discussed was the development of an AI Safety Commons—an open collaborative ecosystem that would provide shared AI resource tools, datasets, benchmarks, and governance protocols. This platform aims to support nations in the Global South by offering accessible AI safety and governance infrastructure.
Collaborative Governance and Global Integration
During the conclave, a special session was held by the Safe & Trusted AI Working Group, chaired by Prof. Balaraman Ravindran. Members discussed strategies for building cooperative governance frameworks that prioritize equity, inclusiveness, and shared accountability.
Participants included representatives from international AI organizations, which encouraged cross-sector dialogue and consensus-building on AI risk mitigation and governance interoperability. These insights will feed directly into the leaders’ declaration at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026.
Global South Leadership in AI Governance
The conclave also highlighted India’s aspirations to position itself as a leader in global AI governance, particularly in contexts that involve developing nations. Discussions underscored the need for capacity building, context-aware policy frameworks, and ethical AI deployment models that are reflective of diverse socio-economic landscapes.
Speakers at the event emphasized the integration of AI safety in sectors like healthcare, education, governance, and industrial applications, noting that robust governance mechanisms are critical to mitigating risks posed by rapid AI adoption.
Why This News Is Important for Government Exam Aspirants
Relevance to Technology, Governance and Public Policy
This news is highly relevant to students preparing for competitive government exams such as UPSC (IAS/IPS), SSC, banking, railways, defence services, and teaching positions, because it highlights India’s strategic vision in emerging technologies—specifically how the government and premier research institutions are shaping AI governance frameworks. Understanding the direction of national technology policies is crucial for sections like General Awareness, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs.
India’s proactive role in building inclusive AI governance not only reflects its intention to become a global leader in technology regulation but also underscores the importance of ethical and safe application of AI. Given AI’s influence across critical public sectors—healthcare, education, security, and governance—aspirants must be familiar with initiatives that address risk mitigation, trust, transparency, and fair access.
This conclave also echoes larger global discussions on AI regulation that feature in international policy debates, which may appear in essay writing, interviews, and analytical questions in government exams. Moreover, it reinforces the linkage between technological innovation and public policymaking, a common topic in higher-level competitive examinations.
Historical Context
India’s Expanding Role in Global AI Leadership
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly moved to the forefront of national development strategies worldwide. India launched the ambitious India AI Mission to enhance AI capabilities across sectors, including research, capacity building, and ethical governance. As part of this mission, India is preparing to host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, which will bring together global leaders to discuss actionable AI strategies for the future.
IIT Madras has been a focal point of India’s AI efforts; its Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) under the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI works on fostering inclusive and trustworthy AI solutions. Past events organized by CeRAI, such as industry conclaves on AI governance, have aimed at building consensus on AI safety and ethical frameworks for the broader international community.
These initiatives reflect India’s increasing engagement with global AI governance, ensuring that AI systems are developed with safety, transparency, and accountability—especially in contexts relevant to the Global South where technological resources and governance frameworks vary significantly from the developed world.
Key Takeaways from Global AI Conclave in Chennai
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Global AI Conclave was held in Chennai by IIT Madras and India AI Mission as a pre-summit to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026. |
| 2 | The focus was on safe, trusted, inclusive, and governance-oriented AI frameworks. |
| 3 | Participants included policymakers, industry experts, academia, and civil society leaders. |
| 4 | A key agenda item was creating an AI Safety Commons to support responsible AI use. |
| 5 | Discussions are expected to feed into final declarations at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Global AI Conclave held in Chennai?
The Global AI Conclave was a two-day event hosted by IIT Madras and India AI Mission focused on safe, trusted, and inclusive Artificial Intelligence. It served as a pre-summit to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 and brought together global experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss AI governance and ethical practices.
2. When and where was the conclave held?
The conclave was held on 10–11 December 2025 at the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI), IIT Madras, Chennai.
3. What was the main objective of the conclave?
The primary objective was to promote ethical, safe, and transparent AI governance, especially for nations in the Global South, and to create scalable frameworks for AI deployment.
4. What is the AI Safety Commons discussed in the conclave?
The AI Safety Commons is a collaborative platform to provide datasets, governance protocols, and resources for AI safety. It aims to support developing nations in building trustworthy AI systems.
5. Who were the key participants in the conclave?
Participants included policymakers, AI researchers, industry leaders, civil society representatives, and global AI organizations, fostering dialogue on AI governance and inclusive practices.
6. How does this conclave relate to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026?
Insights and recommendations from the conclave are expected to feed into the leaders’ declaration at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, shaping global AI policies.
7. Why is India’s role in AI governance significant?
India is positioning itself as a global leader in AI governance, especially in contexts involving developing nations, promoting ethical AI, inclusivity, and transparency.
8. How is this relevant for government exam aspirants?
It is important for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, Defence, and Teaching exams as it relates to Science & Technology, General Awareness, and Current Affairs sections.
9. What institutions collaborated for the conclave?
IIT Madras, India AI Mission (MeitY), and other international AI organizations collaborated for the event.
10. What sectors can benefit from AI governance frameworks discussed?
Sectors like healthcare, education, governance, industrial applications, and public services can benefit from ethical, safe, and transparent AI frameworks.
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