India expands AI access in rural areas through digital public infrastructure

India is accelerating the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in rural communities by integrating it with digital public infrastructure (DPI), enabling direct access to advanced technologies for farmers, women and local institutions, reports IANS, a partner of TV BRICS, with reference to One World Outlook.

India’s model shifts AI from being an urban-centric tool to a practical solution embedded in everyday rural life. By integrating AI into familiar platforms – such as messaging-style interfaces, voice-based systems and local governance networks – the technology becomes more accessible and easier to use.

This approach ensures that services are adapted to local needs, enabling communities to interact with AI in their own languages and within existing institutional frameworks.

The report highlights a strategy centred on low-cost, low-compute, high-impact applications, designed to address real-world challenges. These include improving agricultural productivity, detecting crop diseases and enhancing access to markets.

The report suggests that India’s model could serve as a blueprint for other emerging economies, demonstrating how AI can be adapted to local contexts and used as a tool for broad-based development.