AI Could Be India’s Largest Export: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
Nvidia Founder and CEO Jensen Huang on Friday made a series of significant statements, painting a promising picture for India's artificial intelligence (AI) potential while announcing important AI infrastructure partnerships with the Tata Group and Reliance.
During a closed-door session, Huang told reporters AI could be India’s largest export item in the coming years. He affirmed his belief that “computer science” behind the AI was India’s natural resource which needed to be preserved.
According to a report by BlueWeave Consulting, India artificial intelligence (AI) market size was estimated at USD 672.11 million in 2022. During the forecast period between 2023 and 2029, the size of India artificial intelligence (AI) market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 32.26 per cent reaching a value of USD 3,966.51 million by 2029.
“My prediction is that the next time I come back, it is very likely that one of the largest export products of India is AI,” Huang said, promising to return in next two years.
He also emphasised the formidable talent pool in India, particularly in the field of technology. He commended India and the IITs for producing a wealth of computer scientists. He said, “You produce more computer scientists than any country on the planet.”
Nvidia employs 2,200 people in India and plans to at least double its headcount in next few years.
Need For AI Infrastructure
Huang underscored the critical need for India to establish a robust AI infrastructure, citing the country's wealth of data as a pivotal resource. By localising AI infrastructure, India can maximise the utility of its vast data resources, tailoring solutions to address specific linguistic and cultural nuances, he noted.
Furthermore, Huang highlighted India's linguistic diversity as a driving factor for the necessity of indigenous AI infrastructure. He pointed out that India's diverse population has distinct needs compared to the rest of the world. He noted, “Your diverse languages. And your diverse population has diverse needs different than the rest of the world.”
The Nvidia CEO also encouraged development of a collaborative AI ecosystem in India. He envisioned a landscape where startups, researchers, scientists and developers work together to create AI solutions tailored to India's unique needs. He said that this collaborative approach would be instrumental in harnessing the full potential of AI in India.
"In the future, I hope that we have the supercomputers here in India. Our engineers will use the supercomputers here."
Huang delved into the importance of affordability and speed in AI, explaining how faster computers could significantly reduce the cost of AI training. He revealed that Nvidia plans to introduce high-speed computers in India, aiming to make AI workloads more cost-effective.
"We've improved the cost of AI by about a million times in the last 10 years."
Addressing the opportunities for Indian IT companies like TCS, Infosys and Wipro in the AI sector, Huang expressed optimism, stating that the prospects were “incredibly good.” He emphasised that these companies could excel in specialised AI domains, underscoring the need for domain-specific AI expertise.
