By Charu Srinivasan
India is undergoing a revolution powered by the convergence of cloud computing and AI. In just a few years, we’ve seen the cloud evolve into an intelligent platform, with AI now embedded across services. This shift has turned the cloud from a passive tool into a co-creator.
Bridging India’s diversity with AI
AI is now breaking language barriers and reaching beyond big cities into villages. A farmer in Punjab can talk to a chatbot in Punjabi, and a student in Tamil Nadu can learn from an AI tutor in Tamil—technology is speaking in the voices of India’s heartland. Another key enabler is infrastructure. With cloud data centres across the country, applications now run with minimal latency and scale effortlessly. Whether supporting shopping spikes or delivering telehealth to remote clinics, this infrastructure ensures high performance while keeping data within our borders.
In healthcare, AI is changing patient care in powerful ways. Apollo Hospitals’ ‘Clinicians Copilot’ provides instant, comprehensive patient views, enabling faster diagnoses and potentially saving lives. In education, the story is just as inspiring. Platforms like PhysicsWallah now offer AI tutors that answer thousands of questions instantly in preferred languages, making education more personalised and accessible—especially for students in remote areas.
Transforming industries at scale
The financial services sector is also being reshaped by AI, enhancing customer service and decision-making with a strong focus on security and compliance. SBI has used GenAI to reduce query turnaround by 60%, while Bajaj Finserv Health has shortened claims processing by 40%.
One of the most exciting developments in India’s AI journey is the IndiaAI Mission and the creation of Shakti Cloud by Yotta, enabling real-time AI across healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing. Together, they are building hybrid AI that prioritises trust, safety, and low latency, which is a key step toward giving organisations secure, sovereign access to leading AI infrastructure.
As we look ahead, we’re seeing a clear evolution—from command-based AI to agentic AI that takes initiative, learns continuously, and works alongside humans. Imagine an AI sales rep that handles, leads, holds conversations, and schedules meetings—freeing people to focus on creativity and strategy.
The intelligent cloud and AI are driving unprecedented human potential. India stands at the forefront of this revolution—ready not just to adopt it, but to lead it.
The writer is CVP of engineering at Microsoft India Development Centre.
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