AI for Good Comes to India: Real Problems, Real Solutions
- Nikita Silaech
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
On October 10th, something important happened at the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi. For the first time, the AI for Good initiative came to India, hosted at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre. The International Telecommunication Union and India's Department of Telecommunications brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, and investors to explore one simple question: How do we make sure technology actually helps everyone, not just a few?
Why This Matters Now
Dr. Bilel Jamoussi from the ITU set the tone right away. "The ITU delegation was just in New York for the UN General Assembly last week," he said, "and I can assure you, this topic was on the minds of all world leaders."
India's Secretary of Telecommunications, Dr. Niraj Mittal, summed up the challenge: "Standards, regulation, collaboration, skills, capacity building—all these take time. Technology doesn't wait. That's why having organisations like the ITU that bring countries together is so critical."
Consider this: Samsung unveiled a massive new model the day before the event. The pace of change isn't slowing down for anyone. The question isn't whether we act, but how we act
thoughtfully and fast.
Making Governance Work in the Real World
One of the most practical discussions centered on deepfakes and misinformation. Dr. Bilel Jamoussi explained that policymakers often aren't aware of existing technologies or standards to combat deepfakes. Meanwhile, standards experts are working in isolation from each other.
Here's what was happening: image experts focused on authenticity, video experts on watermarks, and audio experts on voice verification. Everyone worked separately, so no one saw the bigger picture.
The solution? The ITU brought everyone together and created two things: a complete map of existing tools and a practical guide for governments on how to use them. This is governance in action, not just in theory.
Does Regulation Stifle Innovation?
Eunsong Kim from UNESCO South Asia challenged a common belief. "Many governments think regulation will stop innovation, especially in the global south," she said.
Her example changed the room's thinking. "When Microsoft first came to India, the government required software in local languages. That regulation actually drove innovation, helping millions access services digitally."
The lesson is simple: smart rules don't stop progress—they steer it toward solving real problems.
Technology Already Helping People in India
Mohit Kumar Aggarwal from India's Department of Telecommunications showed how technology is protecting citizens today. The Sanchar Saathi portal lets people report suspicious calls and messages. The system analyses them immediately.
"In the last four months, we've stopped around 200 crores in fraudulent transactions," he said. That's not a pilot, it's a nationwide system safeguarding 1.4 billion people.
Data Comes First
Speakers kept repeating one point: you can't do this work without good data.
Fadwa AlBawardi from Saudi Arabia explained how her country predicted COVID cases and hospital needs by bringing together scientists, government, and the private sector. "Leave one group out, and the system wouldn't work," she said.
Robots Solving Real Problems
Professor Subir Kumar Saha from IIT Delhi opened the startup showcase with live robots. These weren't prototypes; they were working machines.
Tele-ultrasound robots developed during COVID can now be controlled from New Delhi to do check-ups in Antarctica. AURA is an autonomous robot that can manage security and navigation. COBRA demonstrated searching through collapsed buildings for survivors.
Professor Saha gave advice to the young audience: "Any technology reaching the real world takes 10 to 15 years. Real breakthroughs require patience and persistence."
Four Startups Tackling Critical Problems
The Innovation Factory competition highlighted four startups tackling urgent challenges.
I-Stem: Making the Internet Usable for Everyone
Kartik Sawhney revealed a stark fact: "96% of the web is inaccessible to people with disabilities." I-Stem built a tool that adds a conversational layer to websites and apps, letting people speak commands instead of navigating complex menus. Every action is logged so humans remain in control.
Kartik explained how they worked directly with 500 individuals representing different disabilities, languages, and socioeconomic situations. They work with 17 organisations, including UN agencies, proving accessibility isn't just charity, it's an essential investment.
Livofy: Helping People Manage Chronic Diseases
Sahil Pruthi focused on conditions like diabetes, thyroid problems, obesity, PCOS, fatty liver, and high blood pressure. His startup creates personalised wellness plans based on over 30 factors per person, checked by certified nutritionists.
Livofy has helped over 10,000 people directly and now partners with pharma and insurance companies across India and 25 countries. "Companies see wellness as part of effective healthcare, not just medication," Sahil explained.
LogicBots: Early Diagnosis Through Sound
LogicBots built CoeurAI, a stethoscope that can detect six conditions including heart and lung issues. It analyses sounds and sends data over the internet, letting doctors check patients in remote areas in real time. Tested with 3,000 patients, it costs around 20,000 rupees, making it affordable for rural clinics.
NemoCare: Saving Newborn Lives
Manoj Sanker shared a heartbreaking reality: 640,000 newborns in India die of preventable infections each year. In many hospitals, two nurses care for 100 babies.
NemoCare's wearable monitors babies and predicts illness 48 hours before visible symptoms. They've reached 25,000 babies across six states for less than a dollar a day. NemoCare won the competition and will represent India at the global finals in Geneva.
What Makes Technology Matter
Judges emphasised one thing: solving real problems is more important than fancy technology. Nupur Sharma from Google said clarity and scalability of the problem are key. Amit Gupta added, "Focus on your end goal. Technology should support it, not distract from it." Kumud Jindal from the Department of Telecommunications reminded the audience, "Solutions must improve society."
A Seven-Year-Old's Perspective
Ranvir Sachdeva, age seven, connected ancient Indian wisdom to modern technology. "Knowledge is data, wisdom is technology, truth is responsibility," he said.
He used math to show India's growth: with 8% GDP growth, the economy doubles every nine years. By 2047, India could be a 30 trillion dollar economy. "My generation and I will be the biggest change makers," he said. Gen Alpha and millennials together make up over half the population, ready to drive change.
Thinking Bigger Than Just Code
Dr. Zena Jarrahi Cinker reminded everyone that technology isn't just computer programs. She highlighted genomics, materials, and quantum technologies as powerful tools. "These are tools. The real power is in what we choose to do with them," she said.
Security Never Sleeps
Prof. Brejesh Lall from IIT Delhi warned that old security methods aren't enough. "Threats evolve. You need a strategy to gather good data continuously. This is a cat-and-mouse game that never ends," he said.
The Human Challenges
Romita Ghosh shared the realities of bringing technology into communities. Her startup measures child malnutrition using photos. They've screened 300,000 children, but the challenges weren't technical. Families lacked electricity, birthdates were unknown, children wouldn't sit still, and caregivers had urgent daily concerns.
"Before technology shapes people's lives, we must give them a voice and ensure it works for them," she concluded.
Looking Ahead
The UN will hold a global dialogue on technology governance alongside the AI for Good Summit in 2026. Over 150 countries are still catching up on strategy and regulation. India, with fast-growing talent, strong infrastructure, and 2.4 billion dollars in funding for its AI Mission, is in a strong position to lead.
The next summit in India in February 2026 will give a voice to countries often left out of global conversations. It's a chance to make sure technology benefits everyone, not just a few.
The Real Takeaway
This event wasn't about what could happen someday. It was about what's happening now: saving newborns, making websites usable, preventing fraud, managing chronic disease, and providing care in remote areas. Real impact takes patience, clear goals, and understanding real problems.
The question isn't whether technology will change the world; it already is. The question is whether it will reach the people who need it most and serve real human needs. Events like AI for Good India show it can, but only if we keep the focus on people, not just possibilities.