Editorial: India's AI moment must reach the small business, not just the boardroom
Tripling AI investment is good news. The real test is whether it lifts productivity for farmers, shopkeepers and small firms.
The World Bank's latest report has one striking number: private AI investment in India roughly tripled in a single year. Add a growing army of engineers in global technology hubs, and it is tempting to declare India an AI superpower in the making.
We would urge caution, and ambition of a different kind. AI that only makes big companies more efficient will widen gaps. The bigger prize lies in "small AI": affordable tools in Indian languages that help a farmer read soil data, a kirana owner manage stock, or a nurse in a district hospital triage patients.
That requires three things. First, cheap and reliable connectivity and computing, not just in metros. Second, clear rules on data privacy so citizens trust these tools. Third, serious investment in skills, so that workers are not left behind as tasks change.
India built world-class digital public infrastructure by thinking about the last user first. It should apply the same principle to AI.
Source: World Bank (data cited)
