Artificial intelligence is transforming the way people work, but India should not view the technology solely through the lens of potential job losses. Instead, the country should use AI to enhance skills, develop affordable technologies and generate new opportunities, said CP Gurnani, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of AIONOS, at the India Today BRICS Roundtable in New Delhi.
Gurnani said AI itself is not a completely new technology; rather, what has changed significantly is how people interact with it. With conversational AI now available in several languages, the technology can reach a much broader audience, including those who may not be comfortable with conventional digital tools.
He believes AI could eventually become similar to electricity — something people use routinely without needing to understand the technology powering it.
According to Gurnani, India should concentrate on building and applying AI rather than focusing exclusively on controlling every layer of the technology stack.
Although access to advanced chips and other infrastructure may be influenced by geopolitical tensions and supply restrictions, India can still develop applications, platforms and AI-powered services using whatever infrastructure is accessible.
He cited India’s previous experience of dealing with technology restrictions as proof that the country can develop alternatives when foreign technologies become difficult to obtain.
The larger opportunity, he said, is to create solutions tailored to India’s requirements and subsequently take those products to international markets.
DATA COULD GIVE INDIA AN EDGE
Gurnani believes data could be one of India’s biggest advantages in the global AI race.
The country possesses vast amounts of data along with numerous real-world applications across sectors such as healthcare, digital payments and transportation. Combining this data with practical use cases could enable Indian companies to develop AI solutions that can eventually be deployed across other emerging economies.
He also said India should not automatically rule out China when considering technological cooperation. If another country develops a more effective solution or experiment, Indian businesses should be prepared to study it and adapt relevant ideas to suit Indian requirements.
INDIA CAN TAKE AFFORDABLE AI TO THE GLOBAL SOUTH
India’s long experience of developing cost-effective products and services could give it another advantage in the AI sector.
The country has successfully demonstrated that affordable solutions can achieve large-scale adoption in industries such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and financial technology. Gurnani said this model could also be extended to AI, particularly in countries and markets where expensive technology is out of reach.
The objective should be to identify areas where India can develop competitive products and services while maintaining affordability.
AI DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN FEWER JOBS
Addressing concerns about employment, Gurnani said the fear surrounding AI could ultimately prove greater than its actual impact.
He pointed to the continued growth of India’s technology sector and the rise of new forms of employment, including independent businesses, creators and technology-driven entrepreneurs.
In his view, employability will be the central challenge. Employees will have to continually acquire new skills and adapt as technology evolves.
AI could also enable smaller businesses to increase productivity and create opportunities outside large corporations, which could be particularly significant for India’s extensive small-business ecosystem.
STAYING RELEVANT WILL BE THE KEY
Gurnani’s advice to workers was to focus on continuous learning instead of being afraid of technological change.
Workers no longer have to rely solely on traditional educational institutions to develop new skills. Online courses, certifications and digital platforms can allow people to keep learning and prepare for evolving career requirements.
He also said India must expand beyond its traditional dependence on services and strengthen its capabilities in products, platforms and strategically important technologies.
INDIA SHOULD BUILD FOR A CHANGING WORLD
Geopolitical tensions and the possibility of increasing deglobalisation may pose challenges for India, but Gurnani said the country should work towards reducing dependence on foreign sources in critical sectors while strengthening domestic capabilities.
He views AI as part of a much broader technological transformation. Rather than focusing only on the jobs that technology could replace, India can use AI to boost productivity, create affordable solutions and open up new avenues for growth.
The key opportunity, he said, is for India to remain adaptable and ensure that technology is developed and deployed according to the country’s needs.
