India’s tech ambitions are growing fast, but how close is it to creating its own DeepSeek—an AI model to rival global players like OpenAI? With a booming digital infrastructure and tech-savvy population, India is on the radar—but is it moving quickly enough?

Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Titan Capital, predicts India’s version of DeepSeek will emerge via a private-public partnership over the next 4 to 5 years, relying on the country’s proven success in scaling digital infrastructure.

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Chips And AI: India’s Strategic Push

A major hurdle for India’s AI aspirations is chip manufacturing. India’s Commerce Secretary, Piyush Goyal, announced that the country is on track to produce its first chip within two years. U.S. companies like Micron and AMD are investing in India, and Nvidia’s partnership with Reliance Industries in 2024 signals growing global support. As U.S. chip export restrictions loom, India’s push to build domestic manufacturing is more urgent than ever.

Corporate Giants Eye AI

India’s largest corporations, such as Reliance, Tata, and Infosys, are racing to build their own large language models (LLMs) for industry-specific use. OpenAI’s Sam Altman, during a visit to India in February, expressed interest in collaborating on India’s goal of creating an entire AI ecosystem. India is already OpenAI’s second-largest user market, underscoring the country’s potential for AI innovation.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the optimism, experts like Venugopal Garre from Bernstein caution that India’s lack of investment in homegrown tech may hinder its progress. While India has leveraged U.S. technology, it has not followed China’s path of building domestic alternatives. However, experts agree that the AI field is still in its early stages—much like the search engine wars of the ‘90s, where latecomer Google emerged dominant.

India also faces an immediate risk: AI’s potential to displace jobs could exacerbate labor market issues in a country already struggling with high unemployment. As Akhil Gupta from Blackstone India notes, India must prioritize developing its own AI capabilities—or risk falling behind.

The Road Ahead

India has the potential to lead in AI, with its young workforce and growing tech ecosystem. But the country’s ability to catch up or create its own path in AI depends on government support and investments in deep tech.

Bahl believes India is far behind but is waking up to the challenge, inspired by China’s successes. The coming years will be crucial in determining India’s role in the global AI race.

Key Takeaways

• AI Investment: The Indian government has committed ₹103 billion ($1.2 billion) to enhance its AI capabilities, though it remains behind the U.S. and China.
• Chip Manufacturing: India plans to produce its first chip within two years, with significant backing from U.S. companies.
• Corporate Moves: Reliance, Tata, and Infosys are developing industry-specific AI tools, positioning themselves as India’s hyperscalers.
• International Collaborations: U.S. firms like OpenAI are looking to collaborate with India on AI development.

The race is on: will India lead, or will it fall behind in the AI revolution?