Synopsis
Nandan Nilekani emphasizes the necessity of AI solutions that cater to India's linguistic diversity to integrate a billion Indians into the digital economy. Highlighting various initiatives and the importance of affordable technology, he advocates for AI in agriculture, education, and healthcare while promoting the growth of Indian startups.Key Takeaways
- Urgent need for AI solutions for India's language diversity.
- Open Agri Network to provide real-time insights for farmers.
- Affordable smartphones will drive AI accessibility.
- Indian startups are on the rise, with increased IPOs.
- Focus on empowering 10 million MSMEs is essential.
New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) There is an urgent need to develop artificial intelligence (AI) solutions tailored to India's linguistic diversity, aiming to integrate a billion Indians into the AI-driven digital economy, stated Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and architect of Aadhaar. During an event hosted by Arkam Ventures, he highlighted that open-source AI models like AI4Bharat are actively creating Indian language datasets to fuel AI services in sectors such as agriculture, education, and healthcare.
The government is set to launch an initiative known as the ‘Open Agri Network’, designed to provide farmers with real-time agricultural insights using AI.
Nilekani pointed out that a significant change will also stem from the availability of affordable smartphones. He remarked, “This is a major unlock where we utilize technology, DPI, and AI to connect with a billion Indians.”
Furthermore, he mentioned the resurgence of Indian startups in the local markets, asserting that “It’s the ideal environment for increased IPOs and swift growth.”
On the expanding Indian startup landscape, he noted that successful founders are reinvesting in emerging entrepreneurs.
According to Nilekani, while the Indian economy is growing at a rate of 8 percent, the number of startups is projected to increase at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20 percent, potentially reaching 1 million in the next decade.
He also emphasized the necessity to empower 10 million MSMEs with improved access to technology, markets, and credit.
The remarkable technological advancement India has experienced over the past decade is largely attributed to digital public infrastructure (DPI) such as Aadhaar and UPI.
With over 500 million smartphone users and 530 million WhatsApp users, India has established a remarkable digital foundation, he noted.
“India needs to fully commit to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, ensuring its advantages reach a billion individuals. Key focus areas include accessibility in Indian languages, MSMEs, agriculture, health, and education,”
he concluded.
