Sharryn, you joined GitHub in 2022. Can you describe your initial role, before the Generative AI disruption came about later that year, and how things have evolved since?
When I started, our conversations with customers focused on the substance of GitHub, which is software development life cycle, aspects like source control and automation. By November 2022, with the rise of ChatGPT and Generative AI, the dialogue shifted dramatically. We have since moved from developer-centric talks to boardroom discussions about how generative AI can drive significant business outcomes quickly. Companies realise they must adapt swiftly to avoid being left behind.
How has the market shift in the past two years affected GitHub in APAC compared to globally?
India, China, and Japan are adopting AI faster than the US and Europe, reflecting the large developer base in APAC. India alone has over 15 million developers on GitHub and is projected to surpass the US by 2027. APAC banks, like those in Australia, are publicly adopting GitHub Copilot rapidly, unlike their US and European counterparts. The APAC market is keen on embracing new technologies and is positioning itself as a global leader in generative AI adoption.
How does GitHub operate differently in the Indian market compared to other APAC nations?
Each APAC market is unique, but all aim for productivity, improved code quality, secure code, and developer happiness. India is about scale, with large enterprises and digital natives embracing new technologies quickly. Financial services and global system integrators (GSIs), primarily based in India, are adopting GitHub Copilot rapidly. Meanwhile, Japan supports AI at a governmental level but faces challenges with cloud adoption and legacy code. Korea is similar but has a significant gaming industry. China has enormous scale, similar to India, but focuses more on Copilot adoption.
Would you say China is #1 in APAC and then India?
The business is fairly distributed across the region. The entire APAC region is performing well and continues to improve. We have grown our team significantly and partnerships with companies like Infosys and Cognizant, which adds to our success here in India.
What is your perspective on Indian enterprises and their adoption of generative AI?
Indian enterprises, especially digital natives, are rapidly embracing new technologies. The market dynamics are strong, particularly among digital natives, GSIs, and financial services. Many are adopting GitHub Copilot quickly.
Any expansion plans in India or outlook from GitHub’s perspective?
We will continue investing in key markets, including India. We work with Microsoft locally, which has 20,000 employees. It is a fairly great number of people already. I think that from a GitHub perspective, we will always lean into the areas that we believe need greater resourcing. And we continue to do that in India.
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