International AI Summit kicks off at IMC 2025, driving the future of networks

The International AI Summit gets inaugurated as a major component at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, on October 9. This dedicated summit positioned artificial intelligence as central to the evolution of global telecommunications and ICT services.

IMC 2025, themed "Innovate to Transform," reinforced India's growing ambition to lead in next-generation technologies. The inaugural International AI Summit focused specifically on AI's ability to drive networks, enhance security, and scale digital services, a crucial area for enterprises.

AI’s role in networks and governance

AI's critical role in future networks and services formed a primary discussion point. Discussions highlighted how AI and machine learning (ML) are becoming essential tools for network self-healing, predictive maintenance, and capacity optimization, features that directly translate into greater reliability and lower operational costs for enterprise customers.

The summit featured a dedicated focus on the responsible deployment of AI. Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications, addressed the gathering, outlining a five-point framework for building human-centric AI. He pointed out the reality of algorithmic bias, citing examples like AI hiring tools that showed bias against women and lending algorithms that unfairly denied rural applicants.

He urged the global community to take active steps to combat bias, protect jobs, safeguard privacy, ensure transparency and lead with ethics.

Showcasing practical applications

IMC 2025 served as a platform to showcase the tangible results of AI integration. Over 1,600 new technology use cases were on display, many centred on AI applications across various sectors. These included:

• 5G/6G and AI: Demonstrations of how AI is a foundational layer for developing and managing next-generation networks, necessary for low-latency, mission-critical business applications.
• Smart Mobility: AI-driven solutions for optimising logistics and fleet management, addressing supply chain complexities.
• Cybersecurity: Tools utilising AI to proactively detect and mitigate threats, protecting vast datasets and 1.2 billion telecom users.

The International AI Summit, alongside the International Bharat 6G Symposium and other concurrent events, established IMC 2025 as a critical junction for global ideas and investment, marking a significant moment