India needs to master AI amidst stable, robust economic growth: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Stressing that India's economic growth is stable, and consistent amidst global turbulence, Union minister of electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw today said the country needs to adopt and master artificial intelligence.

“We need to adopt and master these technologies. We need to develop a talent pipeline,” said Vaishnaw, speaking today at the launch of NITI Aayog’s two initiatives under the Frontier Tech Hub.

Vaishnaw said Indian growth is inclusive and driven by technology and no country can think of becoming a developed economy without tech prowess.

“No country can think of becoming a developed economy without tech prowess. These technologies are telecom, semiconductor, electric vehicles, biotech, complex engines, and rare earth,” Vaishnaw added.

Vaishnaw’s statements are supported by the ‘AI for Viksit Bharat: Roadmap for Accelerated Economic Growth’ report unveiled today. The report revealed that AI adoption is expected to add over $1–1.4 trillion to India’s GDP by 2035, helping bridge the gap to achieve the $8.3 trillion GDP target, giving India a GDP growth rate of 8% or more.

“AI has joined the constellation of technology. AI is going to fundamentally change the way we work and live. It will change the pattern of consumption, education, and healthcare. Practically everything is going to be impacted… Hence, India needs to be a front runner in the use of AI,” Vaishnaw added.

For Vaishnaw, the path must be led by research and development, and a massive pipeline of talent. He illustrated this with the example of India’s Semiconductor Mission launched in 2022, which has already seen students from 278 institutions using latest semiconductor design tools to design latest chips.

“Semiconductor mission started in 2022 is a twenty-year road map for development of the entire ecosystem. Students at 278 institutions are using latest semiconductor design tools to design chips,” he said.