In 2018, the Indian government launched the ‘National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence’, aiming to leverage AI for economic growth and social welfare. Six years later, the vision has become even more powerful. India now plans to be a global leader in the new technology, and they have a decisive strategy to back it up.
India’s Vision for AI: Aiming to Be a Global Leader
The India AI strategy began with that initial initiative, but since then, there have been numerous industries that have driven this initiative forward. In the healthcare industry, for instance, AI algorithms have also been implemented for diagnostics and imaging, as well as predictive analysis, and administrative tasks, boosting India to be on par with the world’s best healthcare systems.
Overview of India’s National AI Strategy
Collectively, industries like this have been initiating their own AI strategies, which have subsequently worked to bolster the national one. The India AI strategy, of course, includes skilling the workforce and focusing on education and training in AI. The more companies adopt AI, the more demand there is for skilled professionals, which in turn drives educational institutions to enhance their AI curricula and training programs.
Key Goals and Objectives for AI Leadership
Apart from creating a beneficial feedback loop like this, the other key goals and objectives include fostering innovation – encouraging the development of new AI technologies – ensuring ethical AI use – establishing guidelines and frameworks for India’s AI development – and driving data-driven decision-making – ensuring India AI development is backed by clear analysis and informed decisions.
Key Industries Where AI Can Boost India’s Performance in Global MarketsÂ
There are numerous key industries that can work to boost India’s performance in global markets, including the healthcare industry – mentioned earlier – and the iGaming industry, which has been taking giant strides over the last few years.
iGaming and Sports Betting
In the iGaming industry – which has seen a huge CAGR of 27.5% in India from 2019 to 2024 – AI has been utilised to build more personalised gaming experiences, with many brands either initiating or planning to initiate AI-based processes over the next few years.
India’s Strong Foothold in the MarketÂ
India’s online gaming industry is now projected to reach $5 billion by 2025, driven by the increasing penetration of the internet, mobile usage, and the rise of digital payment solutions. This is important when it comes to the overall economy. The iGaming sector, of course, is a major contributor to employment, with a growing demand for skilled professionals in areas such as software development, data analytics, and digital marketing.
With an additional fostering of technological innovation and enhanced tourism – while the iGaming sector is primarily digital, building a more accepted and regulated gambling culture will bring about the potential for integrated gaming resorts – building upon this foothold will be a crucial goal over the next decade or so.
The Top Performing Brands in India’s Casino SectorÂ
This is without mentioning the multiple brands that are benefitting. Most notably, gaming developers like Playtech, NetEnt, and Microgaming have been taking advantage of India’s expanding online casino market, leveraging their portfolios to create engaging gaming experiences that cater specifically to Indian player preferences, and through strong AI integration, their tactics will only get more effective. With the right efforts in place, they can gain authority within the industry, not just winning over brands but major affiliate platforms like IndiaCasinos.com. Reaching – and maintaining – that level of prominence is fundamental to the success of any provider, and it’s a 24/7 job no matter how far up the ladder they go.
How That Foothold Could be Boosted by Strong AI Integration
One of the most impactful ways AI can boost the online casino industry in India is through analysis. Using machine learning systems, AI can analyse player behaviour and preferences and ultimately suggest tailored game recommendations and bonuses that align with individual users. AI can also promote responsible gambling practices, helping to silence some of the critics, while also enhancing security methods, driving game development and innovation, and helping companies position themselves through hard market analysis and strategic planning.
Why Further R&D In the iGaming Sector Could Boost India’s Tech SceneÂ
As mentioned previously, further AI research and development within the iGaming sector isn’t just about boosting the iGaming scene, but India’s tech scene as a whole. A strong iGaming scene means a robust technology ecosystem that can support various sectors, driving innovation, investment, and job creation across the board.
DeepTech Development
Deeptech development, for instance, has been significantly enhancing the country’s technological landscape, leading to advanced machine learning analytics, VR and AR development, and AI-driven security measures.
Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities have also been on the rise, with a notable increase in demand for machine learning engineers, data scientists, AI researchers, and, in the gaming sector, digital marketing roles and game development roles. As time moves on and AI becomes more integrated, the amount of roles will increase so long as India has put in the right steps to optimise their AI integration and make it a key cornerstone in their growing economy.
AI as a Growth Catalyst for Emerging Industries
With this in mind, AI is also becoming a growth catalyst for emerging industries. Take cryptocurrency, for example. As the iGaming industry grows more popular – aided by AI development – more people are being introduced to blockchain casinos, which subsequently drives the growth of blockchain-based games and businesses. While it’s not an emerging industry, the healthcare sector can also be boosted to the next level, with AI-powered tools helping to improve cybersecurity, patient wait times, and overall treatment accuracy.
All the New Skills and Qualifications to Master with AI
There will be new skills and qualifications to master of course. Understanding data is foundational in the AI-driven world, and knowledge of deep learning algorithms is critical for those looking to work directly with the technology. But this is why driving forward with the ‘powerhouse plan’ will be so important to spread awareness, and ultimately encourage more people in India to learn about how AI can help, how best to utilise it and instil it as an essential part of the academic system.
Medicine
Going back to healthcare for a moment, it will likely become commonplace for healthcare professionals to learn about AI and implement it into their daily operations, whether that’s through using AI-powered diagnostic tools or managing their patient data more efficiently.
Pharmaceutical Discovery and Testing
In the pharmaceutical sector, it will become more common to use AI as a drug discovery and development tool, with AI algorithms being increasingly employed to analyse vast datasets of chemical compounds and biological information.
SportsTech
Outside of the healthcare industry, AI will also work to bolster the sports industry, with machine learning algorithms being used to improve performance analysis, injury prevention, broadcasting and content creation, as well as overall fan engagement.
How AI Can Be Implemented in Global Sports
This is how AI is currently being implemented in global sports, but we’re only just scratching the surface of what it can achieve. There are routes to ultimately improve athlete performance through wearables and sensors, give teams insights on player health and fatigue levels, and even assist in rehabilitation by creating personalised recovery programs tailored to individual needs. Whichever way you look at it, the integration of AI has the potential to touch every industry in India, which is why implementing the right initiatives now is so important.
Government Initiatives Driving AI Development in India
We mentioned the first government initiative to make India global AI leader-ready, but there are many more to touch upon. The ‘Digital India’ program, for instance, aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society, while NITI Aayog’s ‘AI for All’ program aims to democratise AI knowledge, and ensure it isn’t just the big companies that are able to harness it – another key point to make India global AI leader is to not close AI off to SMEs, who are already hesitant at adopting it.
AI Policies and Regulations
The government is also working on creating an AI policy framework. To nurture the India AI ecosystem, a clear framework, complete with guidelines on data privacy and regulations on responsible use, is going to be crucial, and so the government is collaborating with industry experts, academic institutions, and international organisations to ensure they follow the best practices.
Investments in AI research and Development
The India AI ecosystem will also be bolstered by investment – specifically, investments in research and development. The Union Budget for 2021/22, for instance, allocated approximately $200 million for research in emerging technologies like AI, with India AI investment across the board growing as a result of both this and the NITI Aayog initiatives.
Building a Robust AI Ecosystem: Collaborations and Partnerships
As a result of the India AI investment, many collaborations and partnerships have been nurtured too. The government has partnered with premier institutions including the IITs and the IIITs to enhance India AI research and development, and the role of academic institutions has similarly played a big hand.
Role of Academia and Research Institutions
As part of the government AI initiatives in India, it has partnered with a number of academic bodies including the National Institute of Technology and the Indian Statistical Institute, both of which have been key AI collaborators in India to focus on machine learning applications and explore how it could be used in everyday business processes, including design, customer service, and consumer analysis.
Public-Private Partnerships and International Collaborations
AI in India is also bolstered by the several PPPs that the government has initiated, including collaborations between government departments and private companies to focus on developing AI solutions in healthcare, agriculture, and education – aiming to leverage private sector expertise while ensuring the public interest is served. AI policy in India is also based on their global partnerships, with India participating in numerous AI forums including the G20 Digital Economy Task Force and the OECD AI Policy Observatory.
Challenges India Faces on the Path to AI Leadership
While this all sounds very exciting, building India AI infrastructure does not come without its challenges. Talent shortages, in particular, are proving to be a big problem.
Talent Shortage and Skill Development
AI talent in India remains low, despite the fact that AI is advancing rapidly. As a result, there is a gap between the skills being taught in educational institutions, and the skills demanded by the industry – essentially leading to a high demand fighting against a low supply.
Infrastructure and Data Accessibility Issues
AI in Indian industries is also not yet possible in more rural areas where internet connectivity is limited. Reliable, high-speed internet is essential for AI development, of course, as without it, there is a lack of data accessibility, data sharing, and cloud computing capabilities. This then leads to the underutilisation of AI technologies, which ultimately restricts its potential benefits to urban centres where infrastructure is more developed.
The Future of AI in India: Opportunities and Potential Impact
That being said, creating a global hub is never going to be easier, and the future of AI in India remains in check. As mentioned before, numerous industries including iGaming, healthcare, and manufacturing are currently adopting AI in a focused, strategic manner, ensuring it improves their processes across the board.
AI’s Role in Transforming Key Sectors
In many ways, the AI challenges in India have catalysed transformative changes. For instance, the shortage of skilled AI professionals has prompted educational institutions to develop a more robust upskilling program, which has consequently transformed the education sector for the better.
Long-Term Economic and Social Benefits
But the most important thing is that everything being done – both by businesses and government initiatives – is transforming India into the global AI hub that it aspires to be. As things continue, increased productivity and social benefits will also start coming to light, with a recent report suggesting AI could contribute up to $957 billion to India’s economy by 2035 – complete with job creation in new sectors and the growth of startups. The future is looking undoubtedly positive, so long as India remains on the path it’s on.
Also Read: Exploring Artificial Intelligence: Its Significance in 2024
