Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect, Nandan Nilekani, has highlighted the urgent need to develop artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that can cater to India’s diverse languages. He believes that such solutions are essential to integrate a billion Indians into the AI-driven digital economy.
Importance of AI for India’s Digital Economy
Speaking about India’s future in technology, Nilekani emphasized that AI can play a crucial role in economic growth. However, for AI to benefit everyone, it must support the many languages spoken across the country. India is home to over 22 officially recognized languages and hundreds of regional dialects. Without AI models that can understand and process these languages, many Indians could be left out of the digital revolution.
Challenges in AI Adoption
One of the biggest challenges in AI adoption is that most AI tools and models are designed primarily for English and a few widely spoken languages. This makes it difficult for millions of people who communicate in regional languages to access digital services, financial tools, and AI-driven applications.
Way Forward: Inclusive AI Development
To solve this issue, Nilekani suggests that AI developers, businesses, and the government should work together to build language-inclusive AI models. This would enable more Indians to use AI-powered services such as online banking, digital payments, e-governance, and education platforms in their native languages.
Conclusion
As India moves towards a digital-first economy, ensuring AI accessibility for all is crucial. With the right focus on language diversity, India can make AI a powerful tool for economic inclusion, helping millions of people participate in the country’s digital growth story.
