Infosys Co-founder on the Future of AI
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has voiced his concerns about the current trajectory of artificial intelligence (AI) development. Speaking at the People+AI Mela in Bengaluru, Nilekani criticized the trend of increasingly complex AI models that don’t necessarily yield better results, according to reporting by the Economic Times. He emphasized the importance of transparency and open-source practices in the field.
Nilekani specifically praised China’s approach to AI development, noting how China’s DeepSeek project has contributed to global innovation.
Nilekani Highlights China’s AI Strategy
Nilekani lauded China’s strategy of creating effective AI models using fewer resources, while simultaneously maintaining transparency about the methods employed. He believes this openness is beneficial for the worldwide spread of AI knowledge and supports global advancements.
He also highlighted the shift of AI models towards becoming more like commodities, with numerous new models constantly emerging. Nilekani specifically cited the DeepSeek project, a Chinese initiative that openly shares its AI-building techniques, making it easier for others to learn and innovate.
“They have done the world a service. So that goes back to commoditisation,” Nilekani stated.
“I have always believed that models are a commodity. This is proving to be true. Hundreds of models are getting built. China’s DeepSeek demystified model-building. Last week they tweeted all their open-source practices. The knowledge to build models is getting rapidly commoditised,” he added.
Data and the Future of AI in India
Nilekani also stressed the crucial need for high-quality data, especially in Indian languages, to drive AI growth in India. He spoke about AI4Bharat, an open-source AI initiative by IIT Madras focused on Indian languages. Nilekani has supported this project for several years and intends to continue his support for the next three years.
His overall message focused on the practical application of AI. As AI models continue to evolve, the priority, according to Nilekani, should be their practical use to benefit people’s lives.
