India to surpass US in total number of AI developers by 2027 says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addressed a massive audience of developers at an event in Bengaluru and expressed his belief that a longstanding dream in computing may finally be realised: creating computers that understand humans, rather than the other way around.

“If you take 70 years of computing, one of the dreams has always been: Can we create computers that can understand us versus us understanding computers? I think we may be finally there with the breakthrough of natural language,” said Microsoft’s CEO.

He emphasized the theme of democratizing artificial intelligence (AI), making it accessible to transform lives and society at large.

Nadella highlighted the transformative power of AI, stating that while developers traditionally digitize data, AI enables the extraction of patterns and predictive insights, fundamentally changing the nature of computing.

“We put into data models, query it, and essentially all our computing is getting up in the morning and digitising. Now, we have a new tool in our arsenal, think of it as a neural reasoning engine that can find patterns and give us that predictive power,” he added.,

He stressed the importance of platform shifts in driving economic growth in India, suggesting that up to 10% of India’s GDP growth could stem from AI-related outputs.

Acknowledging India’s burgeoning developer community, Nadella noted that the country is poised to surpass the US in terms of the total number of developers by 2027. He praised India’s momentum in embracing new platforms and leading the shift towards AI.

The CEO outlined key opportunities for Indian organizations in AI transformation, including enhancing employee experiences, reinventing customer engagement, streamlining business processes, and fostering innovation. Microsoft, with its extensive global AI infrastructure, aims to facilitate these transformations, offering a range of AI models and technologies.

Nadella also discussed Microsoft’s commitment to equitable AI, emphasizing initiatives to equip two million individuals in India with AI skills by 2025 through the ADVANT(I)GE India initiative. Partnering with governments and focusing on diversity and inclusion, Microsoft seeks to ensure that the benefits of AI reach all segments of society, contributing to more balanced economic growth.

The event featured demonstrations showcasing the integration of Indic languages into coding platforms, underscoring Microsoft’s efforts to promote accessibility and innovation in AI development. Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia, reiterated the company’s dedication to driving AI capabilities across organizations and empowering individuals to embrace AI-driven transformations.