No impediments to India producing next AI champion: Sundar Pichai

New Delhi: Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday, February 18, said India is already witnessing the kind of transformation that can produce the next world-leading AI major from within, asserting that the ecosystem has evolved significantly and the country is producing “extraordinary” homegrown companies.

Pichai lauded high developer energy and thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem in India.

Responding to a question on what needs to change for the “next Sundar” to stay back (in India) and build a world-leading company from here, Pichai, currently in India to attend the India AI Impact Summit, said the shift is already underway.

He pointed to the rise of homegrown startups such as Flipkart and Oyo as evidence that “India has been producing extraordinary companies” that are scaling successfully.

“I mean, it’s already changed. India is producing extraordinary companies, right? You know, when you look at companies like Flipkart, Oyo, etc, these are all companies homegrown here, and they’re doing really well,” Pichai said.

He added that the developer energy in the country, particularly in hubs like Bengaluru, is second to none, and described the entrepreneurship ecosystem as “thriving”.

Pichai also highlighted recent progress in artificial intelligence, noting that companies like Sarvam have begun developing local AI models, signalling that advanced innovation is taking root domestically.

He said he does not see any impediments to India building globally competitive AI firms, adding that the country is positioned well.

“You know, even recently, the work Sarvam has done developing local AI models, certainly what you’re talking about is actually happening. And, you know, I just don’t see any impediments to that, and I think it is very, very well positioned,” Pichai said.BUSINESSNEWDELHI