Addressing a gathering of over a thousand Indian computer code developers in Bengaluru, often dubbed India's "Silicon Valley," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the importance of leveraging the company's artificial intelligence (AI) tools integrated across its products.
Nadella highlighted India's burgeoning developer community, with more than 13.2 million Indian developers currently active on GitHub, second only to the United States. He projected India's ascent to the top spot by 2027 or 2028, underscoring the nation's pivotal role in the global tech ecosystem.
Microsoft envisions AI as a catalyst for driving India's economic growth, with Nadella expressing confidence that AI adoption could contribute up to 10%, or $500 billion, towards India's GDP target for 2025. However, he did not provide further details on this projection.
Microsoft's commitment to India's tech infrastructure is evident through its ongoing investments, including the construction of its fourth data center in Hyderabad, Nadella's hometown. With existing data centers in Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai, Microsoft aims to bolster its presence and support India's digital transformation initiatives.
Nadella emphasized the significance of Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI, a collaboration that positions the company at the forefront of the generative AI landscape. Despite facing competition from rivals like Google, Nadella asserted Microsoft's leadership in AI technology, stating that the company currently boasts the best model in the market.
Reflecting on his tenure as CEO, Nadella highlighted Microsoft's remarkable growth, with a market value surpassing $3 trillion, making it the most valuable publicly traded company globally, surpassing longtime rival Apple Inc.
Microsoft's India subsidiary, headquartered in Hyderabad, operates 11 offices across the country, employing nearly 18,000 individuals. The company has unveiled several initiatives aimed at fostering talent and driving innovation in India's tech sector, including AI training programs for developers and plans to offer AI skills training for 2 million Indians by 2025.
India remains a strategic market for Microsoft, as evidenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's discussions with Nadella during a visit to the U.S. in June. AI emerged as a key topic of discussion, underscoring Microsoft's commitment to collaborating with India to harness the transformative power of AI for societal and economic advancement.
