PM to IT firms: Go beyond services, make AI products | India News
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday called on the Indian IT sector to take the lead not only in providing services but also in building AI products, platforms and solutions that work for India and the world.“India’s IT sector is the backbone of our services exports and a key driver of economic growth. AI presents both a great opportunity and a challenge for this sector… The fundamental change is that AI is not replacing the IT sector. This is transforming it,” he told ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “While general-purpose AI tools have become widespread, enterprise-grade AI adoption has been concentrated in specific sectors. Today’s IT organizations continue to play a critical role in solving complex business problems.”Many saw the PM’s comments as a push for Indian software services players to develop new capabilities and work on products and platforms – something many Indian IT firms are not known for despite sitting on big cash piles. Global tech giants are also facing challenges from AInative companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.Modi said India needs to be not just a consumer of technology but also a creator, one of its cornerstones.Self-reliant India‘ policy. “My vision is that India should be among the top three AI superpowers globally, not just in AI usage but in creation. Our AI models will be deployed globally, serving billions in their native languages. Our AI startups will be worth hundreds of billions, creating millions of high-quality jobs,” the Prime Minister said.The Prime Minister sought to allay concerns about the impact of AI on jobs, promising to equip the youth with the necessary skills. “I understand our youth’s concern about AI-driven disruption in the job market. Preparation is the best antidote to fear. That’s why we’re investing in upskilling and re-skilling our people for an AI-driven future… We don’t see this as a future problem but we see it as a present imperative,” he said.“History has shown that technology does not make work disappear. Its nature changes and new types of jobs are created. While some jobs may be redefined, digital transformation will also add new technology jobs to India’s economy. History teaches us that whenever there is innovation, new opportunities emerge. The same will be true in the age of AI,” Modi said.
