India is placed at 15th among the top 25 nations in Artificial Intelligence, but it stands out for having ‘the greatest upward potential,’ as indicated by research from Tufts University’s business school, the Fletcher School.
The United States leads the pack, with China closely behind, competing for global AI dominance, followed by the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany.
India secures the 15th position, surpassing Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey, and Thailand.
The researchers aimed to assess the global status of AI development by considering four main factors: the growing pools of data driven by broadband consumption, regulations governing data access including policies on data governance and cross-border data flow, capital aspects involving talent, investments, diversity in AI talent, and the evolution of digital infrastructure, and finally, innovation factors such as patent applications, citations, publications, and more.
Bhaskar Chakravorti, the dean of global business at the Fletcher School, spearheaded the research and asserted that India holds enormous potential if guided in the right direction.
He noted, “It has the second-fastest-growing pool of data among the countries we studied, second only to Indonesia.”
“India already possesses the world’s largest pool of mobile data.”
Chakravorti commented on the findings, stating, “All of these factors can contribute to accelerating its position as a ‘data-rich’ country—crucial for advancing AI—as long as the data is made accessible in responsible ways.”
However, there are challenges to overcome. Chakravorti acknowledges that India faces low data accessibility, especially concerning the cross-border movement of data.
Even though India boasts the world’s third-largest talent pool in AI/Machine Learning, it is crucial to invest in data science, machine learning, and technical education to harness and enhance this strength.
In summary, the extensive talent pool in India remains underutilized due to the educational system lagging behind.
Chakravorti also suggests that the influx of capital into India is promising for AI startups, contingent upon the establishment of appropriate regulations.
“The government should implement AI safety regulations that establish safeguards, prohibit the use of AI for surveillance, enhance privacy and security, and encourage ongoing innovation. However, it’s important to note that shaping these regulations in India is a challenging task and typically takes a considerable amount of time,” he remarked.
He highlighted the inconsistency, noting that although India imposes restrictions on data access, the regulations guiding AI are still evolving. In July, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) introduced a new consultation paper advocating for the establishment of a statutory authority to regulate AI, employing a ‘risk-based framework.’
TRAI additionally proposed collaboration with governments and international agencies to promote the responsible global use of AI—a process that Chakravorti envisions India could significantly influence.
“As I mentioned, India has immense potential to climb in the rankings, but thoughtful actions by regulators and enhancements in education can expedite this progress,” Chakravorti remarked.
The researchers determined their rankings by analyzing data from over 20 different institutional sources, including public databases like the International Telecommunication Union and the World Bank, along with proprietary data partnerships with SeekOut and George Washington University’s Data Governance Hub.
They leveraged their databases and models to chart the evolving landscape of AI leadership. The study predicts that generative AI alone will impact 300 million jobs and generate up to $4.4 trillion in annual revenue.
