First AI Safety Meet-Up Nepal: Tech Leaders Discuss Responsible AI
26th August 2025, Kathmandu
The first AI Safety Meet-Up Nepal, held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, gathered over 60 influential technology leaders, students, and innovators to initiate a national conversation on the development and use of responsible, ethical, and forward-looking artificial intelligence (AI) in Nepal.
AI Safety Meet-Up Nepal
It was the first of its kind event in Nepal, jointly organized by ainnovators and UK-based non-profit BlueDot Impact, and featured insightful talks and presentations from leading experts, highlighting how important it is to guide AI development responsibly and use it ethically.
The main part of the meet-up was a keynote speech by Madhu Kumar Marasini, former secretary of the Nepal government, who shared his insights on ‘AI Governance: Policy Foundations for AI Safety & Governance.’ He talked about how technology has grown and how the Nepal government is working to adopt technology in public service.
His speech stressed the need to keep up with fast changes in technology and to make sure everyone understands how to use digital tools. He outlined a clear vision for AI governance and safety in Nepal, saying, “Nepal cannot afford to lag on AI governance. We must act responsibly and rapidly so that artificial intelligence works for every citizen.”
Following this, Neel Kantha Uprety, the first computer operator in Nepal, took the audience on a journey back 55 years. He captivated everyone with a unique historical perspective on technology in Nepal. He recounted his work with the IBM 1401 mainframe computer to process the country’s census results, his work at the National Computer Center, and then his leadership in modernizing Nepal’s electoral processes as Chief Election Commissioner. His story was an inspiring reminder of the early efforts that still shape Nepal’s technology and new ideas today, and captivated the audience.
Likewise, Valerie Pang, representing Singapore AI Safety Hub, provided valuable insights into best practices adopted across Southeast Asia. Her virtual participation highlighted the collaborative efforts in Singapore to promote AI safety and responsible AI development. Similarly, guest speakers Prakriti Bhattarai and Chandan Goopta shared helpful advice on AI, getting ready for the AI age, dealing with biasness in AI, responsible AI, and how to use AI ethically in daily work. The event also included a quick talk by Pratik Dahal about the risks associated with today’s LLMs (large language models).
At the end of the event, an interactive AI awareness and safety quiz was conducted to make the event more fun and entertaining. Two winners each received a six-month free subscription to Perplexity Pro Enterprise Edition, worth USD 200.
The meet-up catalyzed ongoing dialogue and collaboration essential for building a safer and more responsible AI future in Nepal. The event ended with a strong call for everyone to keep working together on developing AI in a careful and thoughtful way.
About the Organizers
ainovators
ainovators is a platform of AI thinkers, builders, and innovators committed to democratizing artificial intelligence in Nepal. Through practical, hands-on events, mentorship, and community building, we connect aspiring tech minds with real-world AI opportunities.
In this rapidly changing era, we aspire to act as a catalyst, expanding people’s exposure to AI tools. Through different workshops, hackathons, and other initiatives, we are sparking an important conversation: in this age, the divide is no longer between techies and non-techies. It’s between those who know how to use AI tools and those who don’t. Our core belief, “Me & AI > I,” captures this perfectly. AI isn’t here to replace people. However, people who know how to utilize AI will undoubtedly have an edge over those who don’t.
BlueDot Impact (UK)
BlueDot Impact is a UK-based non-profit organization committed to promoting responsible and inclusive innovation, with a core focus on global AI safety. The organization has supported thousands of people worldwide through free training, awareness campaigns, and the facilitation of multi-sector collaborations aimed at ensuring AI’s ethical development.
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