Dear Reader!

In my quest to understand the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in Bharat, I have delved into numerous blogs, news articles, and interviews with notable personalities from the industry, government, and global technocrats. This deep dive has provided me with a wealth of insights, which I am eager to share in this blog. As Mukesh Ambani, one of Asia’s richest men, unveiled the transformative "JioBrain" during his annual shareholder address, the world’s eyes turned to Bharat. This suite of artificial intelligence (AI) tools aims to revolutionize Reliance Industries' operations across energy, textiles, and telecommunications, while also creating a powerful AI platform to serve other enterprises. Ambani’s vision epitomizes Bharat’s rising stature in the global AI arena.  

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the former IT Minister, articulates the government’s vision: "The ‘BharatAI Mission’ will not only establish Bharat as a global hub for artificial intelligence innovation but also ensure that AI is accessible and beneficial to every citizen of our nation." Technocrat Arvind Gupta emphasizes Bharat’s unique approach: "Bharat’s strength lies in its ability to innovate for the masses—our AI solutions, built on a foundation of trust and public infrastructure, are designed to uplift millions and set global benchmarks." From a global perspective, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang highlighted Bharat’s potential: "With its unparalleled data resources and talent pool, Bharat is destined to become one of the largest AI markets in the world." Reinforcing these sentiments, a Nasscom-BCG research paper states: "Bharat’s multilingual environment and data-rich ecosystem provide an unparalleled advantage for developing generative AI solutions that are both globally relevant and locally impactful."  

Bharat: The Emerging Powerhouse in AI  

Bharat’s IT industry, valued at $250 billion, underpins its position as a major player in AI. With a robust talent pool of nearly 5 million programmers, Bharat is addressing a global AI talent shortage. According to a Nasscom and BCG report, Bharat’s AI services market is projected to hit $17 billion by 2027. Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft Bharat & South Asia, notes that Bharat boasts one of the highest AI adoption rates globally, with 92% of knowledge workers using generative AI—far surpassing the global average of 75%.  

A “Sovereign AI” Vision  

The Bharatiya government has invested heavily in fostering an AI ecosystem, with initiatives like the $1.25 billion “IndiaAI Mission.” This ambitious project focuses on building computing infrastructure, supporting startups, and deploying AI in public services. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Bharat’s former IT Minister, envisions “sovereign AI” transforming sectors like healthcare and agriculture while driving economic growth. Jibu Elias, an AI researcher involved in IndiaAI, highlights the country’s goal to become a “global garage” for AI tools tailored for the Global South.  

Building Trust Through Digital Public Infrastructure  

Bharat’s “bottom-up” approach to AI emphasizes inclusivity and trust. The government’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) combines technology, governance, and civil society. Initiatives like biometric identification, fast payment systems, and consent-based data sharing provide over 1.4 billion citizens access to public services. Arvind Gupta, head of the Digital Bharat Foundation, points out that DPI enables Bharat to be the “data capital of the world.” With 900 million internet users and vast public datasets, Bharat’s startups are creating innovative AI solutions, including large language models (LLMs) for multilingual environments.  

Startups Driving Innovation  

Bharatiya startups are making waves in the AI sector. Krutrim, meaning “artificial” in Sanskrit, became Bharat’s first AI unicorn, securing $50 million in funding. Bengaluru-based Sarvam launched a voice-enabled AI bot supporting over 10 Bharatiya languages after raising $41 million. The government is also building targeted LLMs for real-time language translation in public services.  

The Need for Computing Power  

Bharat’s AI ambitions hinge on computing resources. To address this, the government recently procured 1,000 GPUs and partnered with Nvidia to enhance AI infrastructure. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, during a meeting with Prime Minister Modi, described Bharat as a potential AI superpower, citing its talent and data resources. Nvidia’s Shakti Cloud now powers Bharat’s fastest AI supercomputing infrastructure.  

Industry Giants Joining the AI Race  

Bharatn conglomerates are heavily investing in AI. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) allocated over $1.5 billion for generative AI projects. Gautam Adani’s joint venture with the UAE explores AI and digital services. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio’s collaboration with IIT Bombay led to Bharat GPT, a ChatGPT-style service tailored for Bharat’s multilingual population.  

A Unique Approach to Global AI  

Bharat’s diversity and multilingualism make it an ideal testing ground for global AI solutions. As startups and corporations innovate, the country is crafting AI tools that tackle long-standing socio-economic challenges while setting benchmarks for global adoption. Ganesh Ramakrishnan from IIT Bombay aptly describes this collaborative effort: “It’s like the Bharatn joint family. We are interdependent, and we do better together.”  

Bharat’s AI journey is not just about technology; it’s about creating a blueprint for inclusive, sustainable, and globally impactful innovation. With its unique strengths in talent, data, and governance, Bharat is poised to lead the global AI race.  

Thanks for reading till the end.  

Keep Visiting.  

Cheers