India needs homegrown AI safety framework, not US model: experts

India should craft a bespoke artificial intelligence safety framework suited to its linguistic diversity, scale and application-driven ecosystem rather than mirror a voluntary accord signed by US President Donald Trump and leading technology companies, according to industry experts.

The comments follow the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, signed on September 29 by Trump and executives from Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Nvidia and xAI. That pact commits participating companies to internal monitoring systems, dedicated oversight teams, independent external audits and board-level supervision of AI models, with regular meetings to establish safety standards.

Industry leaders emphasised the need for a comprehensive commitment bringing together all stakeholders to address risks including deepfakes and cyberattacks. While acknowledging the importance of such measures, experts diverged on whether voluntary initiatives alone would suffice to protect India's interests.

The call for India-specific regulations reflects growing recognition that global AI safety frameworks may not adequately address the country's unique challenges and opportunities in the technology sector. As India positions itself as a significant player in artificial intelligence development and deployment, tailored governance approaches could better serve its economic and security objectives while fostering responsible innovation.