Narendra Modi in Conversation With Bill Gates: 'Aai' and 'AI' Among an Indian Child's First Words Now

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates during a meeting at his residence, in New Delhi on March 28, 2024. (X/@BJP4India)

In a free-wheeling chat with Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi illustrated India’s adoption of artificial intelligence in the fields of governance, education and medicine, quipping that ‘AI’ is among the first words of children born in the country today.

“AI is very important. In our country, we call mothers ‘aai’ in many states and languages. Sometimes I jokingly say that now when a child is born in India, he says ‘aai’ and ‘AI’,” the Prime Minister said in a lighter vein.

During the conversation with Gates, the PM also shared recent practical use-cases of AI, particularly during the G20 event.

“Let me share the exciting use of AI. It will make you happy to see how a common man demonstrates its practical benefits. Our G20 campus featured AI-based solutions for language interpretation. We equipped all chauffers with a mobile app, enabling seamless communication with the guests. For instance, if a guest spoke French, the app would allow the chauffer to understand. This facilitated smooth conversations between speakers of different languages.”

“Recently, I went to the Kashi Tamil Sangam event. As I can’t speak Tamil, I delivered my speech in Hindi which was translated into Tamil real-time using AI, allowing attendees from Tamil Nadu to understand me clearly,” Modi said.

“…Historically, during the first and second industrial revolutions, we lagged behind because we were a colony. Now, in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution, the digital element is at its core. I am confident that India will gain a lot in this,” the Prime Minister said.