IBM CEO Arvind Krishna envisions Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a revolution surpassing even the impact of the steam engine, emphasizing India’s pivotal role in leading AI deployment. Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event during the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 17, 2024, Krishna highlighted India’s potential driven by expansive datasets and government initiatives, including the establishment of AI centers of excellence.
Krishna stated that India will be at the forefront of AI deployment. Given the scale of India’s data sets, it will be remarkably useful. I have to applaud the Indian government’s initiatives in AI, and building AI centres of excellence. He believes that AI, as a global force for good, will be as significant as or even surpass the steam engine revolution. Krishna expressed confidence that India will benefit massively from AI, with the workforce driving AI deployment expected to come from India.
To realise this vision, Krishna underscored the crucial roles of skilling and digital infrastructure. “Using digital infrastructure, you can deliver skills in small cities,” he explained.
Nearly 80 per cent of IBM’s India Research and Development (R&D) workforce is actively engaged in researching and building AI capabilities, contributing significantly to Watson X, the company’s flagship AI and data platform. IBM continues to actively recruit fresh talent in India, providing training in AI-focused skills before deployment.
