India and Japan have announced a joint roadmap for cooperation on artificial intelligence and semiconductors, agreed at a summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese leader Takaichi.

According to Deccan Herald, the roadmap spans several pillars of advanced computing: large language models (LLMs), the kind of AI systems that power chatbots and generative tools; data centres, the physical backbone that trains and runs those systems; and semiconductors, the chips everything depends on. Deccan Herald frames the effort as part of a broader push for "tech sovereignty" — the idea that nations want more control over the critical technologies they rely on, rather than depending on a handful of foreign suppliers.

The two governments also issued a formal India-Japan Joint Statement on cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, published by PM India, signaling that AI collaboration is now a headline item in the countries' bilateral relationship.

The sources describe the announcement itself rather than detailed spending figures, timelines or specific company commitments, so the roadmap is best understood as a statement of shared direction between the two governments.

Why it matters: as AI and chipmaking become strategic priorities worldwide, two of Asia's largest democracies aligning on LLMs, data centres and semiconductors signals a deliberate effort to build technological capacity together and reduce reliance on other powers.