India is embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly leaving the rest of the world behind. According to a research report by Microsoft, 65% of surveyed Indians have used AI in some form which is more than twice the global average of 31%. The findings are the results of the Global Online Safety Survey, conducted between July 19 and August 9, 2024, covering 15 countries and 15,000 participants (a mix of adults and teenagers). When it comes to AI, India is leading the charge, using it for translations, answering questions, workplace efficiency, and even helping students with their studies.

Millennials aged 25-44 are at the forefront of this revolution. A whopping 84% in this age group use AI regularly, making them the most active adopters. Indian parents are also hopping onto the bandwagon, becoming increasingly aware of the digital challenges their kids face and making them comparatively more aware than last year.

As AI adoption is skyrocketing, so are concerns. Deepfakes, online abuse, scams, AI “hallucinations”—all these are raising red flags, not just in India but across the world. The report highlights that over 80% of respondents worry about AI exposure to children under 18. And on top of that, Indian teenagers are experiencing online risks at an alarming rate, like global trends.

AI is changing the game in India. But as exciting as it is, there’s a real need to strike a balance between innovation and safety. Stronger regulations, ethical AI practices, and better awareness of those are going to be key to making sure AI benefits everyone while keeping the risks in check.

"We must pull together our resources and talent and develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency and develop quality datasets, free from biases, in order to benefit the world. AI must be about people-centric applications. We must address concerns related to cyber security, disinformation, and deepfakes," said PM Modi at the AI Action Summit at Paris.