Not Surprised To See India’s Growing Reputation As Prime Spot For AI Talent: Jim Goodnight
In an exclusive interview with BW Businessworld, the renowned billionaire Jim Goodnight, co-founder and CEO of SAS, spoke on the need for responsible innovation while dealing with artificial intelligence (AI) and expressed his views on India being a leading AI talent producer. Read on for the excerpts from the interview.
What does it take to move the needle from being an organisation with no data to being data-driven?
Ongoing digitisation has created vast streams of data, forcing businesses to rely on it more than ever before. Becoming a data-driven organisation requires so much more than simply having data. While the benefits are apparent — improved performance, more profitability and stronger innovations — our experience shows that many companies still face obstacles when dealing with unstructured data, unconnected systems, IT misalignment, and low-quality or unavailable data.
The good news is that we can overcome these challenges by defining a road map toward better data analytics. Technological improvements within analytics platforms make it possible for more companies to become data-driven by enabling them to manage their data better, run more complex analyses and visualise outcomes in more understandable ways. But being data-driven is not an end state. It’s the beginning of an exploration of exciting possibilities.
How important is responsible innovation while dealing with Artificial Intelligence?
With increasing, widespread use of powerful data technologies, the importance of responsible innovation has never been greater. Technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning offer opportunities to enhance human capabilities in many areas. However, if developed and deployed without appropriate controls and human involvement, those technologies can do more harm than good.
That’s why we recently created the SAS Data Ethics Practice, which provides counsel and guidance that empowers SAS employees and customers to put humans at the center of AI and analytics. The Data Ethics Practice also helps us operate with trust and transparency to develop platform capabilities, oversight and controls that ensure SAS’ approach to responsible innovation is coordinated globally and prepares us for pending AI regulations. At SAS, we’re making moves not just to meet requirements ourselves, but to help our customers meet them as well. For instance, SAS® Viya® – our AI, analytic and data management platform that runs on modern, scalable architecture – has explainability built in, which helps customers use AI transparently and ethically.
According to a recent report, India produces 16 per cent of global AI talent. Being at the forefront of AI, how do you rate Indian talent?
India is home to a major global talent hub, so it's not surprising to see the country’s growing reputation as a prime spot for AI talent. A natural affinity towards technology, combined with a vast pool of young, technically sound professionals gives India a strong advantage.
SAS recognized India’s potential both as a market as well as a key talent area quite early. SAS R&D India, established in 2000 in Pune, houses over 450 employees and is one the largest R&D centers outside the U.S. focused on developing strategic products and solutions.
Do you think India can become a leading player in AI and Analytics in the near future?
As the demand for deployed analytics grows, so will the need for AI talent. To bridge this gap, the tech industry needs to focus on empowering employees to build their analytics skillset and digital tools. Recently, the government of Rajasthan announced an investment of Rs 200 crore to set up the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Advanced Technology and has partnered with SAS India to launch this ambitious initiative. The program aids young job seekers and helps prepare them for the future by equipping them with the new skills necessary in an increasingly digitalized economy that emphasises capabilities in big data, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
SAS has also collaborated with premium institutions like IIT Kanpur, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT), NMIMS, Goa Institute of Management and others to educate students and current working professionals.
For India to develop into a global leader in the digital era, it must employ strategies to nurture talent at home and attract the global talent to catalyse the next decade of innovation.
