The recent "Harnessing AI for Economic Growth: US and India Collaboration Opportunities" webinar, hosted by the Global Indian Trade and Cultural Council, USA (GITCC) in association with The Consulate General of India, NY and Global Indian Diaspora Alliance (Glo-India). Mr H S Panaser, Chairman, GITCC and President, is a prominent figure with various professional affiliations. This webinar pulled no punches, laying bare the critical pathways and brutal truths of AI integration between the two nations. This wasn't your average talk shop; it was a candid strategic session for a future powered by artificial intelligence.
The virtual summit kicked off with Lt. General Anil Kapoor Ex Director General DGEME, board member, TIH, IIT, Tirupati, India talked on the introduction of electricity in the 2nd industrial revolution transformed society. Similarly, AI is poised to revolutionize our lives, with potential benefits and challenges. Quantum Technology: Providing computational power. Semiconductors: Critical for processing information. Sensors: Enabling data collection and Seamless Communication: Facilitated by advancements like 6G and impact on Workforce
As AI becomes an integral part of our lives, it's crucial to recognize its potential and work together to harness its benefits while addressing challenges. Mr. Gopal Khanna, Founder & Chair of the Health AI Institute, who cut straight to the chase. He emphasized that while AI has been around for 70 years, ChatGPT woke the world up to its true potential. With nine strategic agreements already inked between the US and Indian governments on AI, the real challenge, Khanna asserted, is scaling business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-government (G2G) frameworks with unprecedented speed. He pinpointed healthcare, particularly for the underserved rural populations in both countries, as a prime, untapped collaboration opportunity. Khanna also provocatively proposed a new "mutually assured survival" doctrine for democracies in the cyber age, acknowledging shared vulnerabilities.
Mr. Tarun Anand, founder of India’s pioneering Universal AI University, brought the education and societal impact into sharp focus. He highlighted India’s urgent need for robust AI infrastructure—think chips, data centers, and advanced cloud platforms—areas where the US leads. Anand underscored India’s rich talent pool, evident in its larger ChatGPT user base compared to the US. He championed "digital twins" for transforming industries and healthcare (imagine pre-surgical simulations, no more guesswork!). His university is already prototyping AI solutions to directly uplift rural communities, cutting through bureaucratic red tape. Quantum computing and multimodal AI were flagged as next-frontier collaborative ventures. Anand didn't shy away from the darker side, warning against deepfakes and cybercriminals, demanding global regulatory cooperation.
The discussion then pivoted sharply to the pharmaceutical industry, with insights from Professor Dulal Panda (Director, NIPER Mohali) and Mr. Rajneesh Kumar (Associate Professor, IIT Banaras Hindu University). They showcased how AI is slashing drug discovery timelines, citing examples of drug candidates found in 18 months, a feat previously taking five years. From predicting protein structures to optimizing clinical trials, AI is a game-changer. However, Kumar didn't mince words about the biggest hurdle: data. Pharmaceutical companies, he noted, guard their data like Fort Knox. He advocated for "federated data" solutions to unlock this goldmine for humanity's benefit. Adding industry perspective,
Mr. Biswajit Mitra, Chief Monetary Officer for Cadila Pharmaceuticals, stressed AI's broader application beyond discovery—into marketing, supply chain, and manufacturing for India’s crucial generic drug sector. He called for direct US expertise to elevate Indian pharma.
A high energy and positive exchange on "brain drain" versus "brain circulation" ignited the Q&A, initiated by Dr. Saranjit Singh, ex. Professor, NIPER. The consensus? India needs its brilliant minds back, but not just a one-way ticket. Mr. Khanna proposed government-backed initiatives where Indian "bright sparks" gain global experience while maintaining ties, then return to lead. The age-old question of retirement ages was a question by Prof Rajeev Mehta, Chair, Glo-India for seasoned experts (70+) was also tackled While official appointments are tough, advisory and contractual roles are viable, acknowledging that wisdom doesn’t have an expiry date. GITCCs Chairman H S Panaser (Harry) , pledged to lobby for policy changes to facilitate this "brain circulation."
The webinar concluded with a clear mandate: US and India must relentlessly pursue AI collaboration, addressing infrastructure gaps, data sharing bottlenecks, and policy reforms. This isn't just about economic growth; it's about global leadership in the AI age.
H.S Panaser (Harry)
President, Global Indian Diaspora Alliance
Chair, Global Indian Trade and Cultural Council.
Director, International Affairs, C3 Summit LLC
Director, Empire Holdings (Acquisitions & Mergers)
President, Global Haryana Chamber of Commerce
Chair, India USA Super PAC
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