Ashwini Vaishnaw Rejects IMF's AI Ranking, Claims India is 'First Group' Nation

• IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw disputed the IMF's classification of India as a second-tier country in AI preparedness.
• Vaishnaw asserted India belongs to the top group, citing work across all five layers of AI architecture: application, model, chip, infra, and energy.
• IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva introduced an 'Index of Preparedness' based on physical infrastructure, labor skills, AI diffusion, and regulation.
• Georgieva named the US, Denmark, and Singapore as top three, acknowledging India's potential due to its IT focus.
• Vaishnaw highlighted India's strength in AI applications and diffusion, focusing on smaller, efficient models for productivity gains.

Why It Matters: Ashwini Vaishnaw strongly refutes IMF's AI ranking, positioning India as a leading nation in AI preparedness.