Opinion | AI is coming to Nepal either way. The real question is who’s in charge
Summary
Nepal’s AI rollout is becoming a test of digital sovereignty, with calls to pair foreign technology with local control, data safeguards, and stronger domestic skills. The country’s new AI policy and digital financing support this push, but experts warn that autonomy must be built into contracts, audits, and governance from the start.
Key Points
- Nepal is being urged to adopt AI in a way that protects national sovereignty, data control, and the ability to audit and adapt systems.
- The National Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2025 and major financing from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank are presented as key enablers of digital transformation.
- The article argues that Nepal must strengthen local talent, institutional capacity, and language resources to avoid dependence on foreign vendors.
- AI systems should include safeguards for interoperability, data portability, exit options, and oversight of agentic AI before deployment.
