Moderated by Praful Manharbhai, Product Lead at Karya, the discussion gathered experts from government, industry, research and social innovation to examine what it truly takes for AI to drive positive and inclusive impact.

Setting the Context The Reality Behind AI for Social Good

Opening the session, Praful Manharbhai emphasised that AI for social good is not a slogan but a responsibility. He pointed out that technology becomes meaningful only when it touches lives, improves access and removes structural barriers. He urged the audience to consider whether solutions are designed with people in mind rather than for the sake of technological novelty.

Policy as the Anchor for Scalable and Responsible Impact

Meenakshi Garg, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, highlighted that policy plays a central role in enabling trustworthy AI. She noted that India’s public digital infrastructure provides a strong foundation for equitable AI deployment, but the real challenge lies in designing systems that protect citizens while encouraging innovation. According to her, AI can strengthen delivery of public services, especially in areas such as financial inclusion, subsidies and healthcare access, provided it is guided by ethics, transparency and accountability.

Research and Industry Perspectives The Need for Practical Solutions

Rohit Saini, Data Scientist at Google Research India, shared insights from field based research across India’s diverse communities. He noted that datasets representing real societal conditions are crucial for building models that work for everyone. His examples demonstrated how contextual AI can support education, language access and agricultural productivity. He stressed that working closely with communities is essential for avoiding bias and ensuring trust.

Grassroots Innovation and Frugal AI

Offering an entrepreneurial viewpoint, Soumyajyoti Acharya, Founder and CEO of Ekak Innovations, emphasised that social impact solutions must be affordable, sustainable and locally adaptable. He shared examples of pragmatic innovations that combine AI with simple hardware to address problems in healthcare screening and rural diagnostics. He highlighted that social good technology must be designed for environments where connectivity, resources and technical expertise may be limited.

Human Centred Design and the Ethical Compass

Milos Maricic, Tech Leadership Coach and Helsinki based strategy expert, reminded the audience that AI for social good must be governed by human values. He pointed out that global frameworks for responsible AI will only succeed when they are rooted in empathy and cultural understanding. He urged innovators to adopt long term thinking and ensure that AI interventions empower rather than displace communities.

Key Takeaways What It Really Takes to Deliver Social Impact Through AI

The panel converged on several shared conclusions:

• Social impact requires collaboration between government, academia, industry and civil society

• Responsible AI demands transparency, accountability and respect for privacy

• Scalable solutions must be affordable, context aware and aligned with local realities

• Community engagement is essential from design to deployment

• Human values must be at the heart of all AI systems

A Future Built on Intelligent and Inclusive Innovation

The session made it clear that the future of AI for social good will be defined by intention as much as innovation. When human compassion meets technological capability, AI becomes a force for equitable development. The speakers affirmed that India is uniquely positioned to lead in this space due to its digital infrastructure, diverse research ecosystem and commitment to inclusive growth.

This conversation set a thoughtful tone for how innovators can build AI that not only advances technology but also uplifts society.