Ranveer Allahbadia - Rajeev Chandrasekar

1) Rajeev Chandrasekhar discusses the importance of engaging with young Indians in policymaking and the need to keep the internet safe and trusted. He mentions how the Ministry engages with young gamers ranging from ages 14 to 28 to gain a unique perspective that gaming companies cannot provide. The Minister also touches on the banning of PUBG due to violating fundamental privacy rights and the importance of ensuring that gaming content is not addictive or harmful to the broader community. Furthermore, he expresses his excitement about the financial potential of the Indian gaming industry and how the Ministry has created a framework to foster the growth of Indian gaming companies.

2) Rajeev discusses the reasons behind the bans on apps like PUBG and TikTok in India. He explains that while everyone loves technology, data privacy and consumer rights are a priority, which is why they needed to be protected. He goes on to say that until there is transparency about the fundamental back-end of any product including TikTok, that uses algorithms to serve content, they will not permit it in India. The minister also talks about the future of the internet and web 3, stressing the importance of educating oneself on these technologies. While he believes that crypto and web 3 are inevitable, he stresses the need for guardrails to prevent misuse and chaos.

3) Rajeev talks about the need for global rules and framework to regulate the cryptocurrency space. He mentions that governments all around the world are grappling with the same challenges and are looking towards India to lead the way for policies, rules, and regulations in the future. He credits the sheer presence of India on the internet today as the reason for this perception due to the ecosystem being the third-largest and fastest-growing in the world. He also talks about how reverse brain drain has already started, and Indians and startups in India will be a big force multiplier for innovation in the next ten years.

4) Rajeev speaks about the nature of democracy and how some amount of dissent, cynicism, and skepticism are inevitable in any democracy, especially in India, which happens to be the world's oldest and largest democracy. He explains how propaganda can leave a lasting impact on people's minds and how patient engagement is required to convince people of the truth. He talks about the importance of shedding light on false information or misinformation and providing legitimate discourse and debate. The Minister stresses the need to understand what a critic is upset about and address it with the truth.

5) Rajeev discusses his approach to addressing controversial issues with opponents, citing an example of inviting children over for tea to explain the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to them. He also refutes the anti-BJP narrative that the government is against minorities, stating that their goal is to build a future of opportunity and hope for everyone and that the opposition uses "divide and rule" tactics. Lastly, he notes the prevalence of the internet in India and how negative opinions about the government can quickly gain traction, even if it's a small percentage of the population.

6) Rajeev discusses the nature of the internet and the importance of using common sense and critical thinking when engaging with online content. He stresses the need to look for positivity and not be swayed by negativity and toxicity, cautioning against getting led by those who aim to provoke or incite. He believes in the freedom of speech but also emphasizes the importance of exercising the brain and learning to listen to sharp opinions without getting into a slugfest. The anonymity of the internet and the prevalence of memes are also discussed, with Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar suggesting that they are a celebration of people and an important part of the times we live in.

7) Rajeev discusses his vision for the future of technology startups in India, emphasizing the importance of deep tech startups emerging from the country, not just consumer technology and the internet. He believes that India can lead the world in innovation and AI and stresses the need for guard rails to regulate technology and prevent harm to users. He also mentions the upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, which creates a behavioral change for companies collecting Indian data, and the forthcoming Digital India Act, which will define no-go areas for AI based on user harm. Overall, he believes in the transformative power of technology to improve the lives of all Indians, particularly young people and women.

8) Rajeev discusses the importance of regulating AI to prevent harm to users. He notes that while he agrees that AI cannot be unregulated, he does not believe it should be regulated on a use case basis like in the EU. Instead, he advocates for regulating AI through user harm. Chandrasekhar also emphasizes the importance of digital India in his legislative work and stresses the need for young engineers to embrace entrepreneurship, gain deep knowledge in their field, and improve their skills to create innovative startups.

9) Rajeev discussed the development of AI and the role that the military and strategic sectors play in driving technology advancements. He recommended the book "Genius Makers" to understand how modern-day AI was developed by companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta. Chandrasekhar said that the Indian government has sufficient funds for research and development (R&D) but lacks focus on strategic areas. He pointed out that the space sector has developed essential chips, such as Navic, a location chip, and the Prime Minister has set aside specific funds for R&D and semiconductor manufacturing, indicating a focus on the tech industry.

10) Rajeev explains the potential of quantum computing and how it is a pathway to a new model of computing and a redesign of technology to power computing. He explains that quantum computing is not on the same track as high-performance computing as it requires a new kind of processor, software, and computers. The innovation in quantum computing will lead to progress in the world of science, especially in the field of chemistry and biology research. He highlights that the current world of encryption will be easily broken with quantum computing. Indian Prime Minister Modi has set aside almost 9,000 crores of rupees for research on quantum computing and created the Indian Quantum Mission as a collaborative effort between the Department of Science and Technology, meti, and the Department of Telecommunication.