Officials from Rwanda and India have called for a model of artificial intelligence that prioritises public service delivery, institutional strength and real-world impact over flashy experimentation. The call was made at the AI for Impact Global South Forum held in Kigali on January 21. Co-hosted by the government of Rwanda and India with support from Wadhwani AI Global, an Indian organisation that aims at strengthening public systems with AI across the global south, the forum served as a ‘strategic foundation’ for AI Impact Summit 2026. It brought together policymakers, development partners, technologists and academics to discuss how AI can be designed for the realities of developing countries. ALSO READ: Rwanda to develop 50 AI tools across various sectors: official Sunil Wadhwani, Founder and Chairman of Wadhwani AI Global, said the biggest question facing AI today is not how advanced it becomes, but how useful it is to ordinary citizens. “The real question before us is not how advanced AI can become, but how meaningful it becomes to citizens,” Wadhwani said, noting that massive global investment in AI has often ignored social development needs in emerging economies. Why is Rwanda a perfect partner Wadhwani singled out Rwanda as an example of how disciplined governance can turn technology into a driver of national transformation. “Rwanda has taken a deliberate and disciplined approach to digital transformation,” he said. “Its emphasis on readiness, governance and coordination across institutions offers valuable lessons for countries navigating AI adoption.” He stressed that sustainable AI adoption only happens when governments lead, institutions are involved from the start, and success is measured by outcomes rather than pilot projects. India’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Mridu Pawan Das, said the Kigali forum feeds directly into the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, where Rwanda will co-chair discussions on human capital. “AI must be people-centric, contextual and inclusive,” Das said. “In the African context, AI can make a real difference in agriculture, health, education and good governance.” He warned that if AI continues to be shaped by only a few countries, global inequality could deepen, underscoring the need for Global South leadership in AI governance. ALSO READ: Experts say data science, collaboration key to driving AI adoption in Africa Rwanda’s Minister of State for ICT and Innovation, Yves Iradukunda, said Africa’s success in AI depends on deliberate investment in human capital and use cases that directly benefit citizens.
