Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, highlighted the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in India’s technological future at the Mumbai Tech Week on February 28. Ambani warned businesses that refusing to adopt AI would lead to a “bleak future” for companies, urging them to invest in AI infrastructure to remain competitive.
At the event, Ambani discussed how India has transformed from a “technological laggard” to a leader in digital innovation. He pointed to the country’s progress in connectivity and digital payments, particularly the success of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has earned global recognition. He cited India’s successful export of UPI to countries like France, Singapore, the UAE, Sri Lanka, and others as proof of India’s tech capabilities.
Referring to AI as “the most significant technological advancement of our lifetimes,” Ambani expressed that AI would drive India’s economic growth and potentially push the nation into double-digit growth. He called on businesses and policymakers to prioritize investment in AI infrastructure, emphasizing that the window of opportunity is narrowing.
Earlier this year, Reliance Industries unveiled plans for a cutting-edge AI data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. This gigawatt-ready facility, which will integrate NVIDIA’s AI semiconductors, is expected to become the world’s largest in capacity, surpassing current global standards.
Ambani also revealed that Jio has formed a dedicated AI team, consisting of over 1,000 data scientists, engineers, and researchers, to accelerate the company’s AI-driven initiatives. He addressed concerns about AI’s impact on employment, drawing comparisons to the internet revolution, which disrupted traditional jobs but also gave rise to new industries such as fintech and e-commerce. He assured that AI would create new job opportunities, rather than eliminate them.
He emphasized AI’s potential to tackle pressing challenges in sectors like education, agriculture, and healthcare. Ambani stressed that collaboration between the government, private sector, and academia would be key to maximizing AI’s benefits.
In conclusion, Ambani urged companies to integrate AI into their strategies, warning that businesses that fail to adopt AI will fall behind. With the Indian government increasing its AI budget by nearly 300% to ₹2,000 crore for the IndiaAI Mission, Ambani believes India is poised to lead in AI innovation.
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