India is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform public services, focusing on practical applications that improve governance rather than disrupt it. S. Krishnan, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, highlighted this approach during his speech at the Abu Dhabi Global AI Summit. He emphasized that India’s AI-driven governance model is affordable, open-source, and designed to foster innovation. Krishnan cited specific examples, such as using AI for chest X-ray diagnostics in rural healthcare clinics and detecting road potholes through data collected from food-delivery services. These initiatives are part of India’s broader Digital Public Infrastructure, which includes frameworks like Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface. Krishnan stressed that the open-source nature of these AI solutions allows them to be exported to other regions, such as Africa, without significant licensing barriers. He also called for flexible regulations to encourage innovation, stating that policymakers should trust innovators to address governance challenges effectively. The panel discussion, which included Baroness Joanna Shields of the Responsible AI Future Foundation, concluded that India’s approach exemplifies ‘agentic governance,’ where AI is used to deliver tangible benefits to citizens.