Microsoft Corporation and Alphabet Inc’s top-ranking executives will embark on Bharat tour, spanning a week, to engage the vast community of programmers and advocate for the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence or AI services in this pivotal market in Bharat.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is set to deliver addresses to developers and technologists on “exploring new horizons with AI” during his visit to Karnataka’s Bengaluru, the nation’s technology hub in the approaching week. Additionally, he will engage with industry leaders in Mumbai to discuss the opportunities and obstacles connected with next-generation AI technologies.
Concurrently, Google’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean, will delve into the future of AI alongside researchers, developers, and startups in Bengaluru. Following this, he will participate in a fireside chat exploring Bharat’s pivotal role in harnessing AI for significant societal impact.
With over 5 million programmers, Bharat has emerged as one of the largest talent pools for AI, serving startups and global enterprises alike, particularly during times of scarcity in AI talent.
Nvidia Corporation CEO Jensen Huang previously accentuated Bharat’s potential to become the world’s foremost exporter of AI expertise during a tour last year.
Asia’s second-largest technology services firm Infosys Ltd chairman Nandan Nilekani asserted on the pivotal role of Indian developers in shaping the future AI landscape. He noted the Indian developer community will play a central role in determining the dominant AI technologies, referred to as the “AI stack.”
Both Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, have roots in Bharat, having pursued engineering studies there before furthering their education in the United States. For both leaders, the current focus on AI represents a defining moment in their careers. Pichai has likened the AI shift to being “bigger than the internet,” while Nadella views it as “Microsoft’s moment.”
Bharat’s burgeoning influence in AI is evident in its developer activity on GitHub, a platform owned by Microsoft. Microsoft Asia president Ahmed Mazhari highlighted one in every four AI projects on GitHub originates from Bharat, indicating the nation’s unique scope to facilitate AI adoption on a global scale.
Microsoft recently unveiled plans to train 100,000 developers in Bharat on cutting-edge AI technologies and tools. Moreover, Nasscom, India’s technology industry trade body, reported nearly half a million developers specializing in AI and data sciences last year.
Nasscom senior vice president Sangeeta Gupta predicted a surge in AI companies setting up operations in Bharat, with major technology services firms such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd and Infosys leading the charge by training hundreds of thousands of engineers to meet the demand for AI expertise.
