CII Cloud Summit

CII Cloud Summit www.telecomlive.com 33 TelecomLIVE September 2024 From Planning to Purchasing, AI is changing the Business Landscape Himani Agrawal, Microsoft India Looking back a few years, orga- nizations that invested in building digital transformation capabilities now have strong digital enablers. They were able to weather disrup- tions more effectively and achieve the next level of growth, emerging stronger than before. We are now at the cusp of a sig- nificant inflection point. Just as PCs, the internet and mobile phones revolutionized productivity and consumption, AI is poised to transform every aspect of our lives. The way we plan, produce, market, sell, buy and service products and services is changing fundamen- tally. AI is reshaping howwework, live and interact. While AI itself is not new, since November 2022, it has become more prominent due to the democratization of AI through user-friendly interfaces. Today, AI iswidely used by everyone. Over the past seven months, we have conducted AI boardrooms daily, totalling 150 sessions. We have engaged with numerous lead- ers to discuss how they can leverage generative AI for a competitive edge. Globally, we have seen 53,000 customers, including over 1,000 in India, strongly embrace generative AI. For instance, in February 2023, a project called Jugalbandi was developed on top of Bhashini, a research initiative by Microsoft and MeitY to create an Indic LLM available in all Indian languages. Jugalbandi provided farmers with information in their local languages about government schemes and agricultural practices, effectively democratizing AI at the grassroots level. We now have Jugalbandi Studios, which enables organizations to quickly build apps in a low-code manner, integrating Generative AI into their applica- tions. In the commercial customer space, Zomato has transformed the customer experience by enhancing the food ordering process. Simi- larly, Myntra's Fashion GPT, built on fashion AI, is revolutionizing how customers receive product recommendations. Both Zomato and Myntra have improved their customer experience and conse- quently, their top-line revenue. Generative AI has replaced tra- ditional search with conversation, transforming the entire technology landscape. This shift adds a human touch to interactions, integrating structured and unstructured data innatural language conversations. To summarize, intelligent call centers and hyper-personalized mount, especially for AI, which relies entirely on data. A sovereign cloud ensures that data generated within India remains within the country's borders, protected by local laws and regulations. Second, regulatory compliance helps Indian enterprises and govern- ment agencies adhere to local regu- lations, avoiding potential legal and financial repercussions—a trend already observed in the global AI landscape. Third, devel- oping sovereign cloud infrastruc- ture stimulates the local economy by creating jobs, fostering innova- tion, attracting investment and positioning India as a self-reliant technology hub. Given increasing geopolitical tensions and cyber threats, having control not only over our data but also over the infrastructure that holds that data—namely, the cloud—ensures strategic autonomy for the country. It reduces our dependency on foreign operators andmitigates external risks. By focusing on these aspects, we can build a robust and secure AI ecosystem, along with a secure cloud ecosystem in India. This approach will drive growth, foster innovation, and safeguard our national interests. In conclusion, the future of cloud andAI in India is exceptionally promising and bright. G. Narendra Nath Joint Secretary, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Govt. of India Sunil Gupta Chairman, CII Cloud Summit and Co-Founder & CEO Yotta Data Service Himani Agrawal Country Head - Azure Microsoft India Sandeep Bhambure VP & MD, India & SAARC Veeam Software