Chennai: IIT Madras' Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) hosted a two-day Conclave on 'Safe and Trusted AI' on December 10 and 11, bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia and global AI institutions to deliberate on safety, governance and ethical frameworks for emerging technologies, particularly for the Global South.

Inaugurating the event, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa said the State aims to become “AI-first” and stressed the need for strong policy interventions to ensure ethical and inclusive AI systems. “Technology becomes powerful only when it benefits everyone,” he said.

IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti highlighted the increasing reliance on AI in critical areas such as healthcare and education and said developing trusted systems is essential as AI becomes more pervasive in daily life. The Conclave focused on advancing an 'AI Safety Commons'—an open and collaborative ecosystem of tools, datasets and governance models.

The discussions form part of preparatory work for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Prof. B. Ravindran, Chair of the Safe and Trusted AI Working Group, said the aim is to create globally relevant guidelines that balance innovation with societal well-being.

Experts also examined models to operationalise AI governance and enhance safety capacities across the Global South. Insights from the event will contribute to India's leadership in shaping responsible AI frameworks globally.