Former SAP CTO and Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka advocates for India's proactive involvement in AI alongside the US and China. Emphasizing India's potential in AI, Sikka urges the country to develop applications and models. He praises DeepSeek's cost-effective approach and calls for localized AI models. Sikka discusses AGI cautioning against premature claims. He highlights discussions with PM Modi on AI strategies, emphasizing India's need for intellectual property creation and alignment with cultural heritage. Sikka stresses the importance of balancing existing business interests with AI's transformative impact.
Vishal Sikka, the former CTO of SAP and CEO of Infosys, recently expressed his belief that India should not merely observe from the sidelines while the US and China lead the way in Artificial Intelligence (AI). In an exclusive interview with ET, Sikka shared his enthusiasm after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who invited him to join the India AI Mission as an advisor to help steer India's AI strategy.
Sikka emphasized that India, with its vast potential and significance on the global stage, should actively participate in every aspect of AI development. He stated, "India should build applications, and it is crucial for India to also focus on constructing AI models."
Regarding India's capabilities in AI, Sikka highlighted that despite resource constraints, India could excel in this field. Drawing a parallel to China's success with DeepSeek, he expressed confidence in India's ability to achieve similar feats. He urged the IT industry to view AI as both an opportunity and a potential disruptor, underscoring the importance of rapid innovation.
Reflecting on India's AI strategy, Sikka praised DeepSeek's cost-effective development on older processors, showcasing the feasibility of such projects. He emphasized the need for India to create foundational and sovereign models based on local data and languages. The vision to harness ancient knowledge from manuscripts and scriptures aligns with the Prime Minister's aspirations for technological advancement.
In discussions about artificial general intelligence (AGI), Sikka highlighted the evolving landscape of AI. While acknowledging the advancements made, he cautioned against premature claims of achieving AGI, citing the limitations in current models' accuracy rates.
During his meeting with the Prime Minister, Sikka engaged in conversations concerning data centers, model building, applications, job implications, and skills development in the AI sector. The focus on preserving traditional manuscripts resonated with Modi's commitment to cultural heritage.
Sikka stressed the importance of India creating its intellectual property and staying ahead in the AI domain. He highlighted the need for balancing existing business interests with the transformative impact of AI, particularly in software development.
In conclusion, Sikka's insights underscore the imperative for India to actively engage in shaping the future of AI, leveraging its strengths to innovate and lead in this transformative field.
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