At Cypher 2024, India’s Biggest AI Conference, Shekar Sivasubramanian CEO at Wadhwani AI made it clear that when working with India’s population of over a billion people, you quickly realise that what you see are just abstractions.
So, the question to consider is: What is applied AI?
He noted that on one side, there are research organisations and tech companies conducting research, and on the other, there’s the ecosystem. The AI ecosystem is vibrant but unstructured, aspirational, and often chaotic.
In contrast, the research world is systematic and requires rigorous data. Applied AI lies in the translation between these two worlds — the noisy, dynamic ecosystem and the structured, scientific environment. This translation is critical for the success of AI, much like any applied technology.
Sivasubramanian noted that when developing AI in India, deployment should come first, not the AI itself. A perfect example of an AI problem is determining which stray dog might bite you. It’s well-defined and useful, but success lies in solving real-world problems, not abstract ones.
“At our institute, we follow the principle of learning by doing. This approach is key to advancing AI in meaningful ways, and that’s why we emphasise a market-of-one approach. We are the only institute with a significant presence in India’s government offices and were proud to represent the Government of India at the G20 meetings in 2023,” he mentioned.
What is AI for India and AI for Bharat?
According to Sivasubramanian, India presents two distinct user types.
“India,” represents urban, well-connected users, and “Bharat,” where people are often using smartphones for the first time. Designing AI for these users requires vastly different approaches,” he noted.
He explained when rolling out software for farmers or daily wage earners, we must consider that they may be using the most expensive piece of equipment they’ve ever owned, and the software must be intuitive and simple to use.
“In our line of work, we cannot afford to blame external factors. Our motto is simple, “There is no excuse; you must solve the problem.” Over the years, I’ve seen technology evolve, yet it’s never static. Data, analysis, and processes are always evolving, and successful AI deployment requires a deep understanding of these shifting dynamics,” Wadhwani AI CEO mentioned.
Many assume that AI will solve everything, but AI is a collection of problems that must be addressed systematically within an ecosystem. Trust is also paramount.
He stressed, “When we deployed AI solutions in rural India, we realised that the most important factor was showing people that we cared about them, and that was more valuable than any complex algorithm.”
‘If AI Works in India, it Can Work Anywhere’
Globally, India has the second-largest number of residents who use AI (81%). Further, Asian countries tend to display greater subjective knowledge of AI, with South Korea, China, and India leading the way.
“India offers one of the most relevant and exciting contexts for AI, considering the readiness within the country to adopt various technologies, including IoT and AI, alongside other foundational technologies,” said Shekar Sivasubramanian, the CEO of Wadhwani AI, in an exclusive interview with AIM Media Houser earlier.
Further, he said that the country’s ability to skip extensive wired network development and move straight to wireless infrastructure demonstrates its readiness and adaptability.
Sivasubramanian also highlighted that for AI to succeed on a large scale, access to diverse data, which is abundantly available in India, is required.
While we are at the early stages of harnessing this data, the country’s multilingual and multicultural environment provides a unique opportunity to develop context-centric, powerful AI solutions.
“If AI works in India, it can work anywhere. This is because the diversity within the population acts as a natural protection against bias, allowing for more accurate and representative AI models,” added Sivasubramanian.
Sivasubramanian is an industry leader who brings 40 years of global applied technology and management experience towards creating positive and sustainable impact at scale.
He is currently driving non-profit organisation Wadhwani AI’s efforts toward establishing AI-driven solutions and ecosystems for the benefit of millions across the developing world.
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