'Atma Nirbhar' on AI critical for Viksit Bharat: Akash Ambani

Reliance Jio Infocomm chairman Akash Ambani, on the first day of the 8th edition of the four-day India Mobile Congress 2024 summit today, said India must embrace the "Atma Nirbhar" (self-reliance) approach in adopting AI and that the Centre must update the 2020 draft of the Data Centre Policy to ensure Indians' data remains within the country.

AI is the most revolutionary tool of transformation, says Akash, adding that India can transform industries like manufacturing, including SMEs, agriculture, health, and education with AI. "AI is critical for realising our dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047."

He says that, like broadband, Reliance Jio has started to bring AI benefits to every Indian. "We are laying the groundwork for a national AI infrastructure."

He says the scale and speed of multi-lingual AI data generation in India will grow exponentially. "Indian companies ready to set up AI and machine learning data centres should get all necessary incentives, including incentives for power consumption."

He says India needs an "accelerated talent generation" to make it a 'global AI leader'. "Some existing jobs will evolve, and many exciting opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship are going to be created in a rapid way, like during the adoption of computers and internet."