Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday that DeepSeek, the popular Chinese open-source AI model, will soon be hosted on Indian servers. The decision, aimed at addressing privacy concerns, comes amid heightened national security worries over the model’s Chinese origin. Hosting DeepSeek locally is expected to strengthen India’s data security and ensure compliance with Indian regulations, Vaishnaw said during the IndiaAI Mission event.
The move follows similar concerns raised by Western nations, including the United States, regarding the potential risks of foreign-origin AI models.
IndiaAI Mission Secures AI Compute Facility with 18,000 GPUs
As part of the IndiaAI initiative, Vaishnaw highlighted the establishment of a Large Language Model (LLM) tailored to India’s needs. To support this, the India AI Compute Facility has acquired 18,000 GPUs to enhance domestic AI research and application development.
Vaishnaw highlighted that the infrastructure will be cost-effective, with operational costs under one dollar per unit. The government will provide four years of subsidies to ensure affordable access and sustainability for researchers and enterprises. The initiative focuses on promoting open AI models and efficient resource utilization.
Partnerships for AI Infrastructure and GPU Development
The Indian government has partnered with leading GPU and data center providers, including Jio Platforms, CtrlS Datacenters Ltd, Locuz Enterprise Solutions, E2E Networks Limited, and NxtGen DataCenter. These collaborations will help establish structured, scalable AI infrastructure across the country.
Vaishnaw also revealed that several global chip designers have expressed interest in collaborating with India on developing indigenous GPUs. The government, through MeitY, is working on co-development partnerships to accelerate the growth of India’s semiconductor and chip design ecosystem.
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Advancing India’s AI Ecosystem
The IndiaAI initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to advance AI capabilities and reduce dependency on foreign technologies. By hosting AI models locally and promoting indigenous GPU development, India aims to establish itself as a global leader in AI research and innovation.
With increased infrastructure investments and strategic collaborations, India is poised to expand its influence in the global AI ecosystem.
