🇮🇳 India-Specific AI Updates
1. Airtel–Perplexity Partnership
Bharti Airtel has partnered with Perplexity AI to offer 12-month free subscriptions to Perplexity Pro—a Gen-AI search and assistant platform worth ₹17,000—for all Airtel mobile, broadband, and DTH customers. This is Perplexity’s first major entry into the Indian market, giving millions access to AI-powered query tools. The AI Track+2Analytics India Magazine+2The Indian Express+2The Economic Times+1Indiatimes+1
2. Free AI Training for Rural India
India’s IT ministry, led by Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced free AI training for 5.6 lakh CSC (Common Service Centre) operators across villages. This initiative is part of the IndiaAI Mission and will equip 10 lakh citizens with skills in AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity—empowering grassroots entrepreneurs. Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3The Economic Times+3
3. AI-Driven Public Transit in Delhi
AI is now being leveraged to optimize routes for DEVI electric buses in Delhi. By analyzing passenger data, traffic trends, and location attributes, these AI-designed routes—launching next month—aim to make public transport faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly. Navbharat Times
4. Facial Recognition at Railway Stations
As part of a broader safety initiative led by the Ministry of Home Affairs, AI-based facial recognition systems are being installed at major railway stations like Mumbai CST and New Delhi. This system searches against a 20-lakh-strong database of sexual offenders, aiding in real-time identification and arrest. ID Tech Wire+2MeitY+2The Times of India+2
5. Karnataka’s AI Policy Debate
The Karnataka government is debating how to integrate AI into its IT policy framework—either through a standalone AI policy or embedded within the broader IT-BT policy. The decision will shape the state's approach ahead of the Bengaluru Tech Summit in November 2025. The Times of India
🎓 Research, Startups & Regulation
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Kruti: India’s first homegrown agentic AI assistant, developed by Ola’s Krutrim. Launched in June 2025, it can book taxis, order food, pay bills, and communicate in 13+ Indian languages—aiming to expand to 22. Wikipedia
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QpiAI, a Bengaluru startup combining quantum computing with AI, secured $32 million in funding to accelerate enterprise-grade quantum-AI applications in finance and pharma. LinkedIn
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Universal AI University (India) signed an MoU with Qatar’s ACAI and Florida State U, setting up AI research and entrepreneurship programs — a step toward global collaboration in AI education. Wikipedia
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Sarvam AI was selected under the IndiaAI Mission to build India’s first indigenous foundational LLM. The government is supporting this with GPU resources for training Indian-language AI models. Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3Center for the Advanced Study of India+3
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IndiaAI Safety Institute has been established by MeitY to drive ethical, culturally-aligned AI R&D under the IndiaAI Mission’s “Safe & Trusted” pillar. Wikipedia+1Center for the Advanced Study of India+1
🌐 Broader Ecosystem Impact
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The Fusion AI Summit in Vizag (July 25–26) aims to push Andhra Pradesh into India’s top AI hubs by 2030, covering areas like generative, agentic, and edge AI. The Times of India
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AI is now integral to media in India, especially in newsrooms—driving content personalization, ad strategy, and editorial workflows. AI has become core infrastructure rather than an optional tool. INMA
🔑 What This Means for India
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Democratizing AI access: Free tools and training—via telecom and government programs—are empowering villages and individuals.
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Public safety gets smarter: Facial recognition in transit systems underscores how AI is shaping state-level policy and law enforcement.
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Homegrown innovation: With Kruti, Sarvam AI, and QpiAI, India is producing foundational AI models and hybrid tech at scale.
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Ethical guardrails: Institutions like the AI Safety Institute are laying the groundwork for responsible, localized AI development.