US assures India that access to AI technologies will not be withdrawn: official

Washington, June 25: The United States has assured India that access to artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, once provided, will not be cut off, a senior Indian official said on Thursday.

S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, told reporters on the sidelines of the Pax Silica Summit that American officials expressed concerns about the potential misuse of AI models such as Anthropic and Mythos and their impact. He noted that the US is considering an internal review mechanism before releasing such models.

“But I think there was an understanding and something that they certainly mentioned that access to technology, once it is provided, will not be cut off. I think that was ensured,” Mr. Krishnan said.

He added that the global economy needs reliable and diversified sources of supply in key technology sectors, and that over-reliance on a single source—as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic—should be avoided. “Therefore, you need a multiplicity of at least three or four reliable and trusted sources of supply for a variety of technologies,” he said.

On regulation, Mr. Krishnan reiterated India’s position that the AI sector still requires innovation and that it is not yet time for strict regulation. However, he said that if the time is right, India would not hesitate to regulate.

The discussions were part of the Pax Silica initiative, which aims to build secure and diversified supply chains for critical minerals and semiconductors—areas where China currently dominates. India joined the initiative in February 2026.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Krishnan met US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg to discuss cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing, AI adoption, and access to critical minerals. The second Pax Silica Summit brings together member nations to explore alternative pathways to secure these resources, which are vital for economic competitiveness and national security.

Officials noted that the initiative is not a trade agreement but a pact for economic and military security, focusing on controlling the AI value chain.