Generative AI can act as a catalyst for Viksit Bharat 2047

A discussion on ‘Viksit Bharat’ is a discussion about the potential India holds, and about the prevailing trust in India Inc. Unlike the cases of 3G or 4G, India will not be playing catch-up in AI technology innovation and governance; rather, the country is setting up to lead from the front.

Since the 1950s, AI has advanced, taking various forms in industrial and household applications. Its subset, Generative AI (GenAI), which involves generating new content, images, or text based on existing data, holds enormous potential as a catalyst for Viksit Bharat 2047 (Developed India 2047). With the interim budget for 2024-25 focused on establishing a technology-focused roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047, GenAI can play a transformative role in enhancing India’s technology landscape to drive innovation and economic growth, and address societal challenges by democratising AI among the citizens.

India already stands out as ‘Digital India’ with the world's largest digital ID programme having biometric and demographic details of over a billion residents, and 900 million people connected to the internet. India’s largest and fastest AI supercomputing system (AIRAWAT) has also entered the list of the 100 most powerful computer systems installed across the world.

While government-backed initiatives aim to foster GenAI development, a collaborative approach towards innovation and governance of GenAI will help fuel economic growth and enhance India's competitiveness on national and global scales. It can address challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.

By implementing AI-driven analytics, predictive modelling, and automation tools, the government can optimise resource allocation, enhance decision-making, and improve citizen engagement. It can also cultivate a skilled workforce and promote human capital development.

There are multiple use cases where GenAI can have environmental and societal impacts.

Rising temperatures in Shimla have been pushing farmers to shift their apple orchards upwards. Public-private partnerships are helping states that primarily depend on agrarian revenues, by leveraging GenAI to analyse large datasets and other relevant parameters and predict temperatures that humans cannot. The government is carrying out predictive analysis, yield forecasting to help determine prices for such commodities, predict inflation, and predict budgetary planning.

Ample use cases for irrigation management are also emerging. Drip irrigation may help Bengaluru with water scarcity and smarter choices for utilising water can help predict traffic better. Digi Yatra in the aviation sector is a sound example of AI in action, providing contactless and paperless entries for passengers. AI can be a catalyst for creating an inclusive learning environment because GenAI can erase prejudices, overcome language hurdles, and help students polish their skills at an early stage, providing personalised student-centric learning based on the learner's individual needs.

GenAI has emerged as a powerful tool that has significantly impacted economic opportunities across various industries. As per GenAI Report by INDIAai, GenAI is expected to grow from USD 11.3bn in 2023 to USD 51.8bn by 2028, i.e. the CAGR is expected to touch 36% in the forecasted period. Considering the various opportunities across the GenAI value chain, India Inc has developed many GenAI tools, like KissanGPT to serve India’s underserved agricultural domain; PolicyGPT to educate consumers on their health insurance policies; GitaGPT to offer answers to life’s problems; BharatGPT to process texts and rich data types - including photos, audio, video, and maps; and Jugalbandi, an Indian language translation model under the Bhashini mission.

We have witnessed the meteoric rise of ChatGPT. Over a billion people have used large language models in just over a year. As GenAI models gain popularity, the fear of being replaced by machines in the workspace is becoming a major concern. However, we should be cognizant of the fact that technological innovations have led to the creation of more jobs and generated demand for new skills; GenAI is no different.
The jobs which are repetitive and predictable in nature will get transformed; hence, the workforce needs to upskill themselves to stay relevant. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2027, the number of AI and machine learning specialists will increase by 40%. In other words, one million jobs are expected to be created with the increase in usage of AI and machine learning across all industry verticals.

However, it is important to be very careful and realistic about what AI can do – fake news and deep fake videos are products of misused AI and a significant concern that needs redressal. A significant challenge today is to prioritise transparency and determine what actions we can take to pave the way for a brighter and more intelligent future. We must ask ourselves: How can we embrace AI and contribute to accelerating India's progress towards achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, or even earlier?