As India pushes to position itself at the centre of the global artificial intelligence conversation, the AI Impact Summit, held in New Delhi from February 16 to 21, brought together political leaders and policymakers from across continents. From Europe to Latin America and Central Asia, the gathering reflected growing international interest in India’s digital public infrastructure, its approach to AI governance, and the scale at which it is deploying technology to drive growth and inclusion.
Estonia was among the countries closely watching India’s AI journey. Known globally for its e-governance model and digital-first statecraft, Estonia’s participation underscored how mid-sized and smaller economies see value in India’s ambition, scale and regulatory thinking as AI adoption accelerates worldwide.
On the sidelines of the summit, CNN-News18 spoke exclusively with Alar Karis, who reflected on the scope for deeper India–Estonia cooperation on AI and digital public infrastructure, the risks posed by unchecked AI adoption, and why closer EU–India economic integration matters for smaller European economies. He also shared his personal impressions of India’s confidence and ambition as it seeks not just to adapt to the digital age, but to actively shape it.
Q: Estonia is a global leader in digital governance. What concrete lessons can India adopt as it scales AI across public services?
Alar Karis:Start with architecture, not applications. Secure digital identity, interoperable data exchange, and a clear legal framework must come first. AI should be built on trusted digital infrastructure, not used to compensate for its absence. Scale follows trust, and trust drives adoption. Digitalising public services is not about putting bureaucracy online. It is about redesigning the state to be simpler, faster, and citizen-centric. AI runs on clean, structured data, not paper trails. If outdated processes remain intact, technology will only digitise inefficiency rather than eliminate it.
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Q: Do you see scope for a structured India–Estonia partnership on AI regulation and digital public infrastructure beyond pilot projects?
Alar Karis:Yes. Both India and Estonia are making deep investments in digital transformation and see trusted institutions and technological capability as strategic assets. Estonia brings decades of experience in secure, interoperable e-governance, while India brings unmatched scale, engineering depth and ambition.
The next step now is to move beyond pilot projects to structured cooperation. That means jointly shaping standards, building regulatory sandboxes and creating interoperable digital public infrastructure. This partnership should be grounded in mutual learning, not one-way knowledge transfer, with both sides shaping how responsible AI governance evolves globally.
Q: What risks worry you most as AI adoption accelerates globally: technological misuse, regulatory lag, or strategic rivalry between major powers?
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
