India could profit from democratized AI, NSE chief explains

India’s Sweet Spot in a Democratising AI Era

Wait, what if the wires are shifting faster than we expected? The global AI race is tilting away from a single, massive US-controlled compute bill toward affordable, open AI models that anyone can use. That’s the core idea Ashish Chauhan, Managing Director and CEO of NSE, is flagging. He argues this democratisation could unleash productivity gains across India’s electricity grids, telecom networks, and beyond—just as the IT wave did 60 years ago, when India leapt ahead even without owning all the foundational tech. In short: India could be the big winner if it acts now. The plan is simple on the surface: combine robotics with AI, drive adoption across sectors, and coordinate policy, business, and public effort. But the real impact lies in the details.

Why this matters for India—and now

Open AI’s trajectory suggests a tipping point. As open models become cheaper and more capable, traditional leaders reliant on massive computing power may lose some edge. For India, that translates into a new productivity toolkit. Chauhan’s view is backed by the broader trend: AI is moving from a lab to everyday use, and countries with skilled workforces and pragmatic policy can capture the upside without needing to reinvent the wheel. Look at the potential sectors: electricity distribution can optimize losses, telecom networks can automate maintenance, and services can scale faster with smarter support systems. The big question is whether India can scale these gains quickly enough to outpace other large economies.

OpenAI itself highlights the urgency: safeguard frameworks, public oversight, and shared safety standards are essential as AI systems inch toward more autonomous capability. The warning isn’t about stopping progress; it’s about ensuring responsible deployment so the productivity gains don’t come with unacceptable risks. If India can align with global best practices while moving fast on pilots and standards, it could build a competitive advantage grounded in practical AI use rather than headline-grabbing breakthroughs alone.

Roadmap: turning insights into action

Here’s how India could translate this moment into real, tangible gains:

• Policy and coordination: policymakers, large organizations, and civil society must synchronize on data access, safety standards, and investment signals. A clear national AI roadmap—prioritising robotics + AI in manufacturing, logistics, and services—could turn these ideas into measurable outcomes.

• Skilling and leadership: AWS CEO Matt Garman stresses a universal truth—humans with critical thinking and communication will stay vital. India should double down on assuring 7th- to 12th-grade literacy in AI basics, plus practical robotics labs in partner universities and industry programs.

• On-the-ground pilots: test models in electricity grids, smart city initiatives, and logistics hubs where open AI tools can cut waste, speed decisions, and improve customer experience. Real-world data from these pilots will be crucial to scale responsibly.

The potential tomorrow—and what it asks of us

India has the chance to ride the AI wave not as a passive consumer, but as a builder and adopter who can translate global advances into local impact. The next two to three decades could redefine productivity, jobs, and even regional competitiveness if we act with clarity, collaboration, and courage. The question isn’t whether India will win—it's how quickly we turn the “sweet spot” into a long, inclusive run of growth for millions of Indians.