The euphoria around the Indian AI Impact summit is simply unprecedented. There are indications of the best of global knowledge leadership assembling in Delhi to discuss with their Indian counterparts how to efficiently respond to the challenges and opportunities which artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to trigger. Let’s be honest – while it almost seems to be an undisputed fact now that AI is the future, the moot point is: will it guide the future or govern the future? Because if it is the latter, the apprehension of massive job losses across the planet appears to be more real. So, while mega-scaler entities (Amazon, Google,
Microsoft and Meta) are putting in unprecedented investments to further tighten their grip on global businesses, some have started saying that it is more dangerous than Corona, and it will completely change the course of human behaviour and affairs. Elon Musk has just commented that with rapid advancement in AI, quantum computing and humanoid robotics, the only occupation which will probably be left for humans would be agriculture a few decades down the line.
But, while everybody seems to be indulging in crystal gazing to understand how AI will inevitably reshape the human future, the broader point is: where do we, as a nation, stand to contribute to this churning positively? The epic scale AI summit arrangements definitely send the message that we are keen to be on the main stage. The broader point is: do we really have in our DNA to make it there? Can we really place our hands on the global baton of AI in the years and decades ahead?
These points are critical. While we may have succeeded in spheres like low-cost IT solutions architecture (also loved by global corporations) in the recent past, or even secured a global podium position for ourselves in the production of several brick-and-mortar commodities, we have not exactly been among those who have created the larger templates for others to emulate. Somewhere, we have not been in the front row of innovators, who decide and define the course of the economic future.
Since we are talking about AI and the digital age, here is a point worth considering. No doubt, we have managed to create a robust start-up ecosystem (more aligned to new-age technologies) in the last ten years. But there again, their orientation and objectives have not actually been to lead the path. Remember that comment made by the Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal early last year in a summit, when he had complained that Indian start-ups are just focusing on connecting consumers and suppliers and not doing something meaningful in the high technology arena. While saying so, he had cited the example of China, where many start-ups have decisively moved in the direction of developing an edge in deep-tech. His statement had become quite controversial then. But if you look at the actual scene, it wasn’t actually off the mark. There is clear evidence to show that China has almost shrugged its copier image, and its AI-centric solution offerings like WuDao, Pangu and DeepSeek have made it a direct challenge to the US supremacy in new age technology innovation. But we are still waiting to mark their place at the highest echelon of the evolving AI hierarchy.
While in the digital space, India has notched remarkable success in recent times, as evident from the success of the UPI system, the country now needs to develop a broader AI infrastructure system that would allow interoperability to attain massive scale. So, while we succeed in creating an unprecedented buzz around our AI inclination with the summit, it is equally important to consolidate our efforts to figure out ways and means to create large-scale trustworthy AI execution models and not just being the testing ground of new age technology projects with limited impact. And, here, more than the government, the onus lies on the private sector to commit to creating AI and other high-technology-centric templates, which the world may find emulating. There is certainly an urgent need for the rebirth of the innovative spirit in the Indian private sector. We had promised to become a leading global innovation centre to the world with our IT-sector-centric superiority in the past. But we have not been able to carry it forward and make it to the list of movers and shakers of the digital world. Now, AI is just pushing that envelope further.