“We are at the beginning of a golden age of AI. Recent advances have already led to invention that previously lived in the realm of science fiction.” – Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon
Rising global competition
Global investments in AI are growing rapidly, with the US and UK leading through massive commitments from Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, and others. Microsoft alone has pledged $30 billion to expand its UK AI infrastructure by 2028. To stay competitive, India must match this momentum through local innovation, infrastructure, and regulatory clarity.
The scaling challenge
India’s 18,000-plus GPUs are far below global capacity. Experts believe scaling compute, AI research infrastructure, and affordable access are essential to avoid dependence on foreign technologies. The focus must be on speed and scale—creating accessible and cost-efficient AI environments for both public and private players.
Building domestic strength
India cannot rely solely on international giants. It must foster homegrown AI ecosystems that combine academic research, start-up innovation, and government support. Public-private collaboration can build sovereign compute capacity and attract global partnerships while nurturing domestic IP creation.
The policy push
The Union Government’s ₹10,371 crore IndiaAI Mission aims to democratize computing, develop datasets, and support AI startups. While this initiative is a strong start, experts warn that its success depends on faster execution, better scaling, and long-term industry collaboration.
The way forward
India’s AI future hinges on creating affordable compute, strengthening local data pipelines, and building talent capable of driving world-class research and innovation from within.

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