It is welcome that India is hosting a global summit on artificial intelligence (AI) and that the Prime Minister has addressed the gathering and expressed commitment at the highest level of government to wholesome development and regulation of AI. AI will fast become not just a major component of economic competitiveness but also a force multiplier in strategic capacity. It also poses serious challenges in itself and in the way it is put to use. Therefore, control and regulation of AI are global concerns of mounting importance, on which the G20 grouping of the world's 20 largest economies have adopted guidelines and principles. For India to offer something more than lip service to developing AI, the first thing to do is to put in place a robust data protection framework.