AI is booming here in India. On this first day of my visit, I spoke with various experts about AI technology and policy, and India’s role in this area on the world stage. I also took part in a conference attended by representatives of government, the business sector and civil society. We discussed the importance of international cooperation among like-minded countries to responsibly accelerate the development of AI. Middle powers need to take the lead on this, serving as a bridge between the Global North and South. That is where our strength lies, also as the Netherlands.(Dick Schoof)