New Delhi, Feb 23 (NationPress) The path for Sri Lanka to enter the AI landscape is by aligning with a swift mover. Given that establishing connections with the current leaders in the AI domain—the US and China—is improbable, the next best option is to partner with its northern neighbor, India, which is emerging as a formidable player. As noted in an article from the Colombo Telegraph, India holds a significant strategic advantage in various aspects of AI development.

"India is advancing rapidly in the realm of AI, and it is poised to become part of a three-nation oligopoly, including the US and China, that will influence the globe. For Sri Lanka, aligning with India is essential to achieve optimal benefits for its citizens," asserts Dr. WA Wijewardena in the article.

At the recent AI Summit, Sri Lanka's President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, emphasized that nations lagging behind in the AI sector might face heightened vulnerabilities, as these advancements threaten shared objectives for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development—goals that resonate across nations today.

He further remarked that Sri Lanka, similar to many other developing nations, still lacks the AI infrastructure necessary to leverage its full economic potential. Immediate and decisive action is crucial for these countries to adopt a principled, confident, and forward-thinking strategy.

The article highlights Sri Lanka's particular susceptibility due to its inadequate infrastructure for participating in the AI race. Meanwhile, India is currently recognized as a 'rising star,' holding the third position globally in AI competitiveness and innovation, according to the Stanford University AI Index 2025. However, its capacity to effectively compete with the top two leaders remains uncertain.

Joining forces with India offers a viable escape route for Sri Lanka. Demographically, India boasts a youthful population, with approximately two-thirds under the age of 35, presenting a robust pool of human talent. In terms of digital infrastructure, India has made impressive strides recently.

Its cloud storage capability stands at around 100 petabytes (PBs), and numerous data centers are equipped with over 38,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). This represents a significant leap forward, as a single petabyte can store about 500 billion pages of standard text or upwards of 200,000 high-definition films. Originally designed for graphics, GPUs have evolved to support intensive data computations, video production, and machine learning.

Given their proficiency in managing demanding data tasks, GPUs are essential for training extensive AI models. Additionally, India is now characterized by an entrepreneurial spirit, with around 200,000 startups flourishing. The country also has a substantial 5G user base, exceeding 400 million subscribers, according to the article.