Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has highlighted the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the safety of India’s railway network. Speaking at the 69th Foundation Day & 19th National Management Day event hosted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) in New Delhi, Nilekani emphasized that AI could be a key driver in modernizing railways to prevent accidents and improve passenger safety across the vast network.
Nilekani discussed how AI could be integrated into the existing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) of India to enhance safety measures on the railways. He explained that DPI has already established robust systems and amassed large amounts of data, which can serve as the foundation for AI applications. “DPI and AI are complementary. DPI has laid the foundation in terms of large systems, a lot of data, all of which are required for the AI. AI will be built on top of DPI, and DPI will get turbocharged by AI. So, it’s a very synergistic relationship,” Nilekani stated.
While acknowledging that he is not an AI expert, Nilekani expressed his confidence in the application of AI to improve railway safety. “I am sure AI can be applied to safety in Railways too, though I am not an expert,” he remarked during a conversation with Moneycontrol’s Managing Editor, Nalin Mehta.
Nilekani also emphasized the broader potential of AI in India, especially at a population scale. He discussed its application in areas like education and agriculture, where AI could help deliver localized information to farmers, boosting productivity. He believes India is poised to be a leader in scaling AI applications. “To me, AI is as good as its application, and its usage. I think India will definitely be a leader in applying AI at scale,” he said.
Addressing the challenges of implementing AI, Nilekani pointed out the importance of cost-effective solutions due to the high computational costs associated with AI. He suggested that government-led initiatives could pave the way for affordable and scalable AI deployment. “The ability to build at that scale cheaply is something we have perfected, and we’ll apply that in India. The same thinking applies to AI,” he added.
Nilekani’s comments come at a time when railway safety is a major topic of concern in India. In October 2023, a tragic train collision in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district underscored the need for urgent reforms in railway safety protocols. In response, Indian Railways has increased its focus on modernization, allocating significant portions of the railway budget to safety upgrades and the procurement of modern rolling stock.
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