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Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries worldwide, from healthcare and finance to security, education and governance. While AI holds immense potential to improve efficiency, innovation, and quality of life, it also poses significant ethical challenges. Concerns about bias, privacy violations, job displacement, and the potential misuse of AI technology are gaining attention from governments, companies, and the global public alike. Amid this growing discourse, India has a unique opportunity to take the lead in shaping a responsible, ethical approach to AI development and implementation.
Recently, an ambitious “The Stargate Project” – an American artificial intelligence (AI) joint venture was created by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle and investment firm MGX. The venture plans on investing a whopping US$500 billion in AI infrastructure in the USA by 2029. They will begin deploying $100 billion immediately. This infrastructure will secure American leadership in AI, create hundreds of thousands of American jobs, and generate massive economic benefits for the entire world. This project will not only support the re-industrialization of the USA but also provide a strategic capability to protect the national security of America and its allies.
India is lagging…
India has made significant strides in AI in recent years, but despite its vast talent pool, increasing investments, and growing tech ecosystem, it still faces challenges that have prevented it from fully capitalizing on the AI research race. While it’s not necessarily “falling behind,” there are several factors that contribute to why India may not yet be a dominant force in AI research compared to global leaders like the U.S. and China.
India’s projected $6 billion expenditure on AI by 2027, as reported by the International Data Corporation (IDC), highlights the country’s growing commitment to AI technologies but falls short of investment being done by other countries.
According to a study by Change Engine, India currently holds the 14th position globally in terms of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research, contributing only 1.4% of the global share, indicating that India is significantly lagging behind other major players. The US and China dominate the AI research landscape with significantly higher shares, at 30.4% and 22.8% respectively.
The Reason Behind…
While India is home to a growing number of skilled engineers and data scientists, it lacks the deep-rooted, cutting-edge research ecosystem that is prevalent in countries like the U.S. and China. Leading institutions like Stanford, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon in the U.S. provide a breeding ground for AI research and innovation, fostering close ties between academia, industry, and government.
India’s research institutions, although strong, have not yet reached the same level of global recognition in AI. Despite institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), which are highly regarded in certain engineering disciplines, there’s still a gap in terms of producing groundbreaking AI research or securing prominent global research grants.
India faces a significant challenge when it comes to retaining its best AI talent. Every year, thousands of skilled professionals leave for opportunities abroad, particularly in the U.S., where top tech companies and research institutions offer competitive salaries, funding, and resources for AI research. While India’s tech scene is rapidly evolving, the lure of higher-paying jobs, better research facilities, and career growth abroad continues to attract top AI researchers.
Fragmented Government Policy and Strategy
While the Indian government has started recognizing the strategic importance of AI, its policies are still in their early stages compared to countries like China, where AI is treated as a national priority. For India to stay competitive, it needs a more coordinated, long-term strategy involving not just funding but also targeted investments in AI education, infrastructure, and industry-academia collaborations.
India has made some strides with initiatives like the National AI Strategy by NITI Aayog in 2018, which lays out a roadmap for AI development, but policy and implementation often lack the agility needed to match the pace of AI advancements globally.
A large part of India’s AI efforts has focused on applying existing AI models to solve specific problems, particularly in industries like agriculture, healthcare, and finance. While these applications are important and could significantly improve quality of life in India, they do not necessarily push the boundaries of AI research and innovation.
To make a real global impact, India will need to place a stronger emphasis on original AI research that contributes to fundamental breakthroughs in areas like machine learning algorithms, AI safety, and explainability. While India excels at executing AI-based solutions, it must further invest in leading the way with original, transformative research.
While India has a robust IT outsourcing industry and strong collaborations with global companies, it still faces challenges in collaborating with the leading AI players—particularly in terms of co-developing and co-investing in new technologies. Access to advanced AI research often comes with partnerships with top global AI research labs, but these collaborations could be more widespread in India. More partnerships between global organizations with IITs, NITs, IIMs would help boost India’s AI research capabilities.
Path Forward…
India stands at a crossroads. The potential for AI to transform its economy and society is enormous, but the country risks missing out on these opportunities if it doesn’t act swiftly and decisively. India needs a national AI vision—one that includes robust government support, active collaboration between the public and private sectors, and a focus on ethical AI.
By focusing on AI research and development, investing in infrastructure, improving data access, nurturing its talent pool, and creating clear policy frameworks, India can better position itself as a global leader in AI.
India has the potential to be a global leader in AI, but it needs to make targeted investments in research, talent, infrastructure, and policy to ensure it doesn’t just catch up but leads the charge in AI development.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint