Microsoft India Advocates for Ethical AI Development with Human Oversight
In the midst of a global discourse concerning the safety of artificial intelligence, Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, affirmed on Monday that the tech giant is firmly convinced that AI should prioritize service to humanity, with individuals maintaining absolute control over technological advancements.
Speaking in an interview with PTI, Chandok articulated a palpable enthusiasm surrounding AI innovation and deployment in India.
He noted that the nation is not merely a consumer of technology but is also a pivotal creator, as demonstrated by Microsoft’s substantial operational footprint in the country.
Currently, Microsoft employs over 23,000 engineers across ten cities in India and boasts the largest R&D facility outside the United States, a testament to India’s burgeoning significance in the realm of AI development.
The company has bolstered its commitment to India with a new investment of USD 17.5 billion aimed at the period from 2026 to 2029, increasing its total investment to USD 20.5 billion.
This latest funding initiative, announced in December 2025, builds upon an earlier pledge of USD 3 billion within the same year, directed towards enhancing cloud and AI infrastructure, as well as workforce training.
Addressing the implications of AI on employment, Chandok noted the emergence of new positions such as AI engineers and agent orchestrators.
He acknowledged that while AI is automating essential functions like data collection and routine tasks, it is simultaneously directing the workforce toward higher-value responsibilities. “The work is changing, not ending,” he reiterated.
The Microsoft executive emphasized the necessity for AI to be deliberately crafted to benefit humanity, underscoring the imperative for humans to retain oversight over these technologies.
He shared insights concerning the company’s proactive stance on mitigating risks associated with rapidly evolving AI capabilities.
“At Microsoft, our principle is unambiguous: AI must be constructed in service to humanity, with humans retaining control at all times,” Chandok stated.
He articulated the need for an open and diverse AI ecosystem comprising multiple models, rigorous testing of AI systems, and safeguards for customer intellectual property, all within a secure and dependable infrastructure.
When questioned about various calls for a cessation of AI advancements, Chandok expressed that discussions of halting progress were complicated. Instead, he highlighted the urgency of embedding safeguards “by design” to ensure responsible technology development capable of affecting global change.
“It is essential that we cultivate an open, diverse environment, safeguard intellectual property, and ensure our infrastructure is sovereign, secure, and sustainable.
We are methodically establishing these guardrails at Microsoft, ensuring they are integrated into our platform from the outset,” he elaborated.
Additionally, Chandok noted that “our commitment lies in responsible diffusion, developing technology securely and sustainably; if we are to create something world-altering, it must be done with accountability.”
On Monday, Microsoft also inaugurated its fourth cloud region in India, situated in Hyderabad. Dubbed the India South Central region, it complements the existing facilities in Pune, Chennai, and Mumbai.
Notably, the Hyderabad site employs air-cooled chillers, thus significantly minimizing water consumption compared to conventional cooling methods.
Chandok remarked on India’s ascendance as a pivotal AI market, talent repository, and technology innovator.
He highlighted that 92% of Indian knowledge workers engage meaningfully with AI, with 40% of enterprises beginning to scale AI applications.
“While we often discuss frontier models, we should also acknowledge the frontier professionals who are enthusiastically utilizing AI.
These individuals are creatively reconstructing their work dynamics while upholding their human responsibilities.
Furthermore, 40% of Indian enterprises are in the process of scaling AI, indicating significant momentum in technological diffusion and innovation,” he stated.
He further elaborated that India is evolving from a digital public infrastructure—like the UPI system—to an ‘AI public infrastructure’ designed to make AI accessible to a billion citizens.
India, generating 20% of the world’s data but possessing merely 3% of global data center capacity, presents what he termed the “largest infrastructure opportunity of the decade.”
He envisaged capacity increasing from approximately 2 GW to a range of 12-14 GW in the coming years, positioning the nation as a preeminent AI infrastructure hub for India, Asia, and the Global South.
Source link: Money.rediff.com.
