2026-02-152026-02-152026-02-14https://www.livemint.com/technology/future-of-ai-is-a-governance-question-not-a-technology-race-vilas-dhar-of-patrick-j-mcgovern-foundation-india-summit-11771069614699.htmlhttps://ir.mica.ac.in//handle/123456789/10506Vilas Dhar has been among the earliest voices to argue that Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be governed as long-term civic infrastructure rather than short-term commercial technology. Under his leadership, the $1.5 billion Patrick J McGovern Foundation, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, has deployed over $500 million specifically toward AI as public infrastructure, working closely with governments, multilaterals, and public institutions across the globe. A: I was in India recently and discussed this issue at length with Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Prime Minister’s Principal Science Advisor. Beyond the IITs, I visited MICA in Ahmedabad and PSG in the South, where I saw extraordinary talent and imagination in institutions not traditionally seen as AI leaders. This reinforced the need to broaden India’s AI ecosystem. Graduates from places like PSG or MICA should have the same access to funding, research support, and opportunity as IIT graduates.enVilas Dhar Interview about AI Sumeet in MICA