The rapid growth of DeepSeek, China's low-cost large language model, has sent shockwaves across the global AI community. India's response to this development has become a hot topic of discussion. Darshan Hiranandani, CEO of the Hiranandani Group, highlights that India needs a major overhaul to compete in the AI race. Despite having access to advanced GPUs at Yotta, the country lacks a conducive ecosystem for innovation.
DeepSeek's success demonstrates that high-quality LLMs can be developed with smaller investments than previously thought. This has led to discussions about India's AI policy and the necessity of increased government investment. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former minister of state for electronics and IT, points out that DeepSeek's affordability reflects the temporary nature of computational power advantages.
Industry leaders like Hiranandani and Ganesh Natarajan of GTT Data Solutions advocate for initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission to provide startups with essential resources such as GPUs. The development of AI widgets compatible with current enterprise systems is crucial for speeding up AI adoption. However, India's challenge lies in matching China's extensive AI funding and commitment.
Aakrit Vaish from IndiaAI sees DeepSeek as a special opportunity for India's advancement. The democratization of AI development could lead to a surge in team formations and corporate model creation. Tech Mahindra's CEO, CP Gurnani, suggests that IITs and NITs should establish LLM development programs.
Srikanth Velamakanni of the Fractal Group emphasizes the need for immediate government action, given the potential substantial returns on AI investments. For India to progress in AI research and innovation, it must create a supportive environment with adequate funding and a risk-taking attitude among researchers and entrepreneurs.
Natarajan believes DeepSeek offers an appealing solution for developing nations.
Indian IT services should leverage open-source models for AI applications to maximize their strengths. However, Arvind Thakur, former CEO of NIIT Technologies, cautions against rushing into permanent commitments without thorough evaluation.
The lower costs associated with DeepSeek's training and deployment enhance its accessibility for research institutions, small companies, and scientific investigators. As India navigates this AI landscape, the focus should be on fostering a service-oriented industry that embraces innovative solutions and invests in the necessary infrastructure to thrive.
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