Vishal Sikka, the founder of Vianai Systems and former Infosys CEO, says India must start building its own artificial‑intelligence (AI) foundation models right away.
Why India Needs Its Own AI Models
He warns that if India only uses AI tools made elsewhere, the country will become just a consumer of foreign technology. By creating its own models, India can show its innovation and let millions of people use AI for local needs.
Big Skill Gap Worldwide
Sikka points out that out of 8 billion people on Earth, only about 2 million can build AI applications, a few hundred thousand can run them in real life, and fewer than 25 000 can create large foundation models. He says these skills are not magical – they can be taught.
AI Summit to Teach Model Building
At the upcoming India AI Impact Summit, faculty from Stanford’s AI center will help participants learn how to build foundation models. The goal is to spread the know‑how to many more engineers.
Immediate Threat to IT Services
Large language models (LLMs) can write software very quickly, which could replace many traditional coding jobs. Sikka calls this a “short window” to shift from old ways to AI‑driven work.
- Example: a system that took 15 experts nine months was recreated by one person in 14 days using AI tools.
- This shows the speed of change is already here, not some future event.
What This Means for Investors
Investors should watch how Indian tech companies respond to the AI push. Firms that develop their own models or adopt AI tools early may gain a competitive edge, while those that lag could lose market share.
Bottom Line
India’s AI future depends on building home‑grown models and closing the talent gap. The coming months will be crucial for both the tech sector and anyone with a stake in it.
Remember, this is my perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.