Modi, Biden seek tech titans’ help to build a bright future

Modi asks Pichai to explore collaboration in Artificial Intelligence (AI); fintech; cybersecurity products and mobile device manufacturing

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden have sought tech titans’ help to build guardrails around emerging technologies to ensure they are trustworthy and secure to guarantee a bright future.

“From agriculture to space, technology is something that touches our lives in every way,” said Modi addressing senior officials and CEOs of technology companies at a meeting hosted by Biden at the White House Friday.

Well-established firms and startups are both working together to create a new world, he said noting the progress that America has made in the area of technology understanding its importance.

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“And the youth in India, thanks to its talent, has created an identity for itself in the world,” Modi said. “So this coming together of talent and technology, I believe this is definitely a guarantee for a bright future.”

“This is a very small group of people, but this is a very promising group, a wonderful group, and one which is going to give direction to the world, which is going to build the future of the world,” he said.

“And with the resolve for a better future, the vision of President Biden, the aspirations of India, and the possibilities that India represents, we have an opportunity to take this forward.”

Earlier, Biden noted that US and India are teaming up to design and develop new technologies that are going to transform the lives of people around the world.

“And together, we’re lifting the private and public partners to make this possible, including launching a new program between India and America — American astronauts, Indian astronauts, and entrepreneurs, scientists, students,” he said.

“Simply put, our countries are taking innovation and cooperation to a new level in our relationship,” Biden said. “So my message today is really simple: We’ve got to keep it up, and we have to make sure we aim even higher.”

Noting that world is going to see more technological change in the next 10 years than in the last 50 years, he sought the help of Indian and American CEOs “to seize the moment, to help manage the risk to our societies, our economies, and to our nations’ national security.”

READ: Modi visit yields big-ticket defense and technology deals, Moon shot (June 23, 2023)

“We need your help to build guardrails around emerging technologies so that they’re trustworthy, they’re secure, and uphold our shared value and human rights,” Biden said. “We need you to help us expand our partnership into new fields, in biotechnology as well as quantum.”

As innovation and collaboration are rarely without obstacles, he asked the CEOs to identify the speed bumps impeding technological partnership. “So the Prime Minister and I can commit to building around them, over them, and through them,” said Biden, “because our partnership is about more than the next breakthrough or the next deal and — as big as they may be.

“Our partnership between India and the United States will go a long way, in my view, to define what the 21st century looks like,” he said, “and our technology and technological cooperation will be a big part of defining our partnership.”

In a separate meeting with Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google, Modi invited him to explore further avenues of collaboration in the domains of Artificial Intelligence (AI); fintech; cybersecurity products & services; as well as mobile device manufacturing in India.

Modi and Pichai also discussed collaboration between Google and academic institutions in India to promote R&D and skill development, according to a readout of the meeting from the Indian embassy.

In another meeting with President and CEO of Boeing, David L. Calhoun he discussed Boeing’s greater presence in the aviation sector in India, including in the domain of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of aircrafts. Modi also invited Boeing to invest in the Space manufacturing sector in India.

READ: Modi, Biden vow to deepen India-US ties, work for global good (June 22, 2023)

In a meeting with President and CEO of Amazon, Andrew R. Jassy he held discussions on the area of e-commerce. They also discussed the potential of further collaboration with Amazon in the logistics sector in India.

Modi welcomed Amazon’s initiative of promoting digitisation of MSMEs in India, according to the embassy readout.

READ: Modi visit to affirm deep and close India-US partnership: White House (June 22, 2023)

READ: Jayapal, 75 lawmakers urge Biden to discuss human rights with Modi (June 21, 2023)