AI in India: Exploring Practical Applications and Inclusive Growth

Washington, Feb 15 – As India prepares to host the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next week, Bipul Sinha, Chairman and CEO of Rubrik, sees the event as a crucial opportunity to shift the global conversation about artificial intelligence from fear to practical applications that can transform governments, businesses, and daily life.

In an exclusive interview, Sinha stated that the timing of the summit is "ideal," arguing that India is now actively exploring artificial intelligence across various sectors, from energy to agent deployment.

However, he emphasized that "AI is about solutions, not just the technology itself," because it must be integrated into business processes and operations.

Sinha believes that India's focus on application, rather than abstract capabilities, is key to its success at the summit. "India has the potential to become the central hub for deploying AI solutions to various businesses that Indian companies already work with," he said, citing India's technological workforce and infrastructure investments spanning energy, computing, and partnerships.

The New Delhi summit follows previous global AI summits in the UK, South Korea, and France, which largely focused on the potential risks of the technology. "Many early AI summits centered on the risks associated with AI," Sinha noted. "This Indian AI summit is about the opportunities and impact of AI."

Sinha believes that this shift in focus is essential. "These technologies should be seen as opportunities for progress, for uplifting communities, and for creating abundance," he said, while acknowledging the potential risks. Managing these risks effectively is crucial, he added, and should precede the widespread deployment of the technology.

Sinha draws parallels between India's digital transformation and the potential of AI. Over the past two decades, India has experienced rapid adoption of mobile phones, internet services, digital payments, and identity systems.

"India has been a pioneer in these areas," he said. "If AI follows a similar path, it can bridge the knowledge gap for the Indian population and enable them to utilize technology for their own benefit."

He highlights the potential for AI to lower the cost of goods and services, creating what he describes as "a deflationary impact" that could "benefit the Indian population." However, he cautions that these outcomes are not guaranteed.

"AI should not produce biased results," he said. "AI systems should be fair," and the workforce must be trained to ensure that "white-collar jobs increase productivity" rather than leading to job losses.

Regarding employment, Sinha dismisses overly pessimistic predictions. "I believe that the concerns about AI's impact on jobs are somewhat exaggerated," he said, arguing that new job categories will emerge, as they have in previous technological shifts.

He describes the current transition as a move towards "intuition labor," following earlier eras of agricultural, industrial, and knowledge work. "There will be increased entrepreneurship, job creation, and business development at an unprecedented pace," he said.

Sinha emphasizes the distinction between building AI models and applying them. Building AI models requires a highly specialized team of engineers, while applying them does not. "For every model engineer, there will be 10,000 applied AI engineering positions," he said, highlighting opportunities in agent orchestration, business-process transformation, and enterprise deployment.

Globally, the United States remains "far ahead" in core model innovation, with China following closely. In contrast, India is focusing on applied AI, a choice he believes aligns with its role in serving global businesses.

However, he welcomes New Delhi's focus on semiconductor manufacturing, GPUs, and data centers, calling government investments "very positive steps" that allow India "to participate in the intelligence generation business."

Asked about policymakers' next steps, Sinha praised the government's proactive approach. "They have been quick to act," he said, citing public-private partnerships, budget provisions, and tax breaks for data centers. Continued investment, global outreach, and events like this summit, he added, will help showcase "India's ability to provide applied AI solutions to the rest of the world."

U.S. companies are drawn to India's scale and growth, Sinha noted. "India is a large market, with the largest population, and everyone sees India as the next major economy," he said, describing recent investments as a way to build products locally and deliver them "at the most competitive prices to the Indian market."

The summit's agenda will focus on "people, planet, and progress," with discussions on job retraining, energy demands, and inclusive growth. "How can we ensure that AI promotes inclusive progress?" he asked. "How can we ensure that the global south is not left behind?"

Rubrik, a data security and cyber resilience company, plans to continue focusing on India, aiming to help governments and businesses "benefit from AI without the risks," Sinha stated. He summarized the company's approach bluntly: "Unleash agents, but not risk."

Looking beyond economics, Sinha highlights healthcare and education as the most transformative public sector applications. In a country as large as India, he says, AI can deliver consistent diagnostics, preventive care, and training "in a secure and trusted manner." The worst-case scenario, he warns, would be a loss of trust if biased outcomes undermine public confidence.

He extends this argument to the media, suggesting that while AI will flood the world with information, it cannot replace journalism's role in providing context. "It doesn't provide context," he says. "News media will provide the context."

The AI Impact Summit, to be held in New Delhi, is expected to bring together governments, technology companies, and researchers from around the world at a pivotal moment when India is positioning itself as a central player in applied artificial intelligence, even as global debates continue over regulation, energy use, and the social consequences of rapid adoption.