AI Takes Centre Stage At India Mobile Congress 2024

The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024, held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, had a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, with over 750 AI-driven use cases presented out of a total of 900 throughout the four-day event. The exhibitors included IT corporations, telecom players, start-ups and educational institutions, who focused on AI's rising significance in a variety of fields such as conservation, healthcare and public safety. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the event and spoke with numerous firms, including Signalchip, Wisig Networks and women-led ventures such as Astrome and Easiofy Solutions.

AI Innovations And Industry Solutions

Companies at IMC 2024 showcased AI-driven solutions designed to improve efficiency, enhance safety and automate tasks. Key innovations included AI-powered railway safety systems that detect and alert unusual activities on tracks and AI agents that manage contact centre workloads, addressing operational challenges like doctor shortages in remote regions.

Bharti Airtel introduced an AI-powered spam detection tool, claiming to be India’s first network-based spam combat solution that offers real-time alerts to reduce spam calls and messages. Ericsson revealed its 5G-enabled robotic dog, Rocky, which assists emergency services by providing timely alerts during crises like fire outbreaks.

Reliance Jio gave attendees a preview of ‘PhoneCall AI,’ a feature still in alpha testing that offers transcription and summarisation of phone calls. Vodafone Idea showcased real-time diagnostics transmission, enabling video consultations by doctors for as low as Rs 250, aimed at improving rural healthcare access.

Startups Embracing AI For Diverse Applications

Startups at IMC 2024 introduced a wide range of AI-driven applications. These included humanoid co-workers, AI marketing bots for mental health issues and AI-based de-addiction programs. Other startups focused on human resources, automating recruitment, payroll management, attendance tracking and employee performance monitoring.

Educational Institutes’ Contributions To AI

Educational institutions, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), also made their mark with innovations like BharatGen, an LLM (Large Language Model) developed to advance telecom research. IIT Kanpur’s C3iHub showcased AI applications in the cybersecurity of cyber-physical systems, with a particular focus on automotives and drones.

Students from Mahindra University displayed AI-based solutions for shrimp farming, while the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) demonstrated over a dozen AI solutions for smart agriculture, such as AI systems for managing fish aquariums and monitoring water quality.

As Asia's largest digital technology forum, IMC 2024 attracted over 400 exhibitors, 900 start-ups and participation from 120 countries. The event has become a leading platform for showcasing digital technology solutions and services, bringing together industry leaders, government representatives, academics and start-ups.