RT team
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella highlighted India’s potential to lead frontier artificial intelligence (AI) research, emphasizing the country’s strong mathematical and academic talent. Speaking at a fireside chat with Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada, Nadella addressed fears of AI-induced job losses, calling them overstated. He pointed to historical trends, such as the quadrupling of call center jobs since 2000, to assert that AI will create new opportunities rather than eliminate jobs.
Prasada acknowledged AI’s risks, including the spread of fake content, but affirmed the government’s commitment to balancing innovation with regulation. He noted that new legislation would be introduced if challenges escalated. Microsoft India President Puneet Chandhok also participated in the discussion.
Responding to whether India should invest in its own AI foundational models, Nadella advocated for leveraging the country’s expertise to achieve breakthroughs in AI. He suggested a focus on efficiency to overcome capital-intensive barriers, envisioning a shift from costly projects to streamlined approaches that maximize resources.
The discussion also explored AI’s darker side, with Prasada citing examples of fake content during elections. Nadella reassured Microsoft’s dedication to responsible AI, emphasizing safety, security, and privacy as critical pillars of trust.
On the business front, Microsoft announced AI partnerships with Indian companies like Apollo Hospitals and Bajaj Finserv, alongside a $3 billion investment in Azure cloud expansion. In collaboration with Meity, Microsoft aims to train 500,000 students and teachers in AI by 2026, prioritizing rural outreach.
