At the Global Fintech Fest 2025, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma made a powerful statement that caught everyone’s attention. He said India should never surrender its Artificial Intelligence (AI) sovereignty to foreign companies. In his words, India must build its own AI technology and protect it just like it protects its independence. Sharma believes AI is the next big revolution that will decide how countries grow, and India cannot afford to miss this moment.
India’s Big AI Opportunity
Sharma called AI “the electricity of the digital age” and said India has a once-in-a-generation chance to lead in this space. But he also warned that India is not yet playing the AI game at scale. While many startups and institutions are experimenting with AI, the country lacks large-scale, integrated efforts that can compete globally. He pointed out that India has always relied on foreign technology for its operating systems, software, and digital tools. This dependence, he said, must not continue with AI.
For Sharma, AI sovereignty means having full control over how artificial intelligence is developed, trained, and used in India. If India depends entirely on foreign AI models, it risks losing control over its own data, privacy, and future innovations. He compared AI sovereignty to independence — once lost, it’s almost impossible to regain. That’s why he urged Indian tech founders, engineers, and policymakers to come together and create homegrown AI systems that understand the country’s diverse languages, people, and needs.
Paytm’s Leap into AI Innovation
Paytm is already making strong moves in this direction. Sharma revealed that the company is expanding its AI efforts beyond just digital payments. One of its new products, the AI-powered Soundbox, has already become a hit with merchants. This smart device speaks in eleven Indian languages, gives real-time payment updates, and helps small shop owners manage transactions easily. Sharma said this is only the beginning, as Paytm plans to use AI to make business operations simpler and smarter for millions of users across the country.
He also mentioned that Paytm’s vision is to make AI accessible and affordable for all. The company is focusing on creating AI tools that can help not just businesses but also common people in their daily financial lives. From faster customer support to safer digital transactions, Paytm’s AI roadmap aims to make technology more human and more Indian.
A Wake-Up Call for Indian Startups
Sharma’s speech was more than just a product announcement — it was a wake-up call for India’s entire startup ecosystem. He encouraged entrepreneurs to think big and start building AI solutions for local and global challenges. India, he said, now has the talent, the data, and the funding to create world-class AI products. But what it needs most is confidence and urgency.
The Future Belongs to India
If India builds its own AI platforms, it can protect its digital sovereignty, empower local businesses, and shape the future of global technology. Sharma believes that AI will define which nations lead in the next decade. His message was clear: India must not follow; it must lead. With vision, innovation, and unity, he said, the country can become a powerhouse of AI — one that serves not just its people but the entire world.