Infosys cofounder Nandan Nilekani bats for ‘diffusion of AI’; shares example of PM Modi’s vision on applying tech to agriculture and dairy

Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys, has a message for the world: India is about to do for Artificial Intelligence (AI) what it did for digital payments. Speaking at the CEOs Forum during the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, Nilekani described the current state of AI in India as a “race to the top”, while comparing the excitement around AI to the 2016 launch of the BHIM UPI app – which transformed India into a global leader in digital transactions. He also shared an example of how Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision led to the development of an app within three weeks – from ideation to implementation.

Nilekani shared a behind-the-scenes story from a meeting with the PM on January 8. While Nilekani was discussing how AI could help farmers, Modi pushed the vision further.