India Poised to Lead AI Adoption and Innovation
New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) India is set to become a global leader in the adoption and innovation of artificial intelligence (AI), with the government open to partnering with the industry for responsible advancement of AI technology and scaling up skills in this space, according to Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India/South Asia.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Patel emphasized the need for India to establish itself as a hub for AI adoption and innovation in the world, in order to be ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) with AI. He stressed the importance of connecting different domains such as policy making, investments, skilling, and research and development to accelerate India’s AI story.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed India’s commitment to the responsible and ethical use of AI through initiatives such as the ‘National Programme on Artificial Intelligence’ and the upcoming AI mission in Bharat. The goal of this mission is to promote AI applications in sectors like agriculture, health care, and education.
According to Patel, the government plans to establish centers of excellence (CoEs) in the AI space across different domains and drive practical applications of AI technology to ensure it goes beyond experimentation.
Research commissioned by IBM has found that 59 percent of enterprise-scale organizations in India have AI actively in use in their businesses, with early adopters leading the way. Additionally, a Nasscom study has indicated that AI and automation have the potential to add up to $500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025.
Despite the advancements in AI in India, challenges still exist for AI adoption in enterprises, including hiring employees with the right skill sets and addressing ethical concerns and data complexity.
In an effort to address these challenges, IBM has made a commitment to skill 30 million people worldwide by 2030 and train two million learners in AI by the end of 2026. Patel stressed the importance of adopting responsible AI powered by proper governance, and the potential for India to set the standard for precision regulation that boosts AI innovation globally.
With India poised to lead AI adoption and innovation, the country is set to play a significant role in the global AI revolution. The government’s open stance towards partnering with the industry, coupled with initiatives aimed at promoting the responsible and ethical use of AI, reflects India’s commitment to becoming a key player in the AI landscape.
(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)
