Ambani’s Bold Challenge: Jio Aims to Beat ChatGPT with Indian AI
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and a driving force behind the ChatGPT AI system, stirred controversy two months ago by expressing doubt about the ability of Indians to replicate such a technology. However, at the 46th Reliance Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday, Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries, took up the challenge. Ambani announced that Jio, a subsidiary of Reliance, will develop new AI systems similar to ChatGPT tailored for Indian users, stating, “Jio promises AI to everyone, everywhere. And we shall deliver.”
Altman’s remarks had sparked discussion in India, casting doubt on the Indian tech sector’s capacity to create an AI tool on par with ChatGPT. During an event, Altman went as far as to say that such an endeavor would be “hopeless” due to significant challenges faced by India in achieving this feat.
However, Mukesh Ambani responded resolutely, asserting that India possesses the necessary resources and determination to excel in the field of AI. He highlighted India’s scale, data availability, and talent pool as key advantages.
Altman’s comments were made in response to a question posed by Rajan Anandan, a prominent venture capitalist and former head of Google India. Altman underlined the formidable challenge of competing with OpenAI, declaring, “We will explicitly tell you that it’s completely hopeless to challenge us in training foundational models, and you shouldn’t even attempt it.
Within Jio, preparations are underway to bolster talent and capabilities in order to embrace global AI innovations, particularly in Generative AI. Ambani revealed that Jio Platforms aims to take a leading role in developing AI models specific to India and AI-powered solutions across various sectors, ensuring that the benefits of AI are accessible to all segments of Indian society.
Acknowledging India’s potential, Ambani also highlighted the necessity of a robust digital infrastructure capable of handling the substantial computational demands of AI. He stated that Reliance Industries (RIL) is committed to establishing up to “2000 MW of AI-ready computing capacity,” encompassing both cloud and edge locations while maintaining a focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Ambani concluded by drawing parallels to Jio’s earlier commitment to providing broadband connectivity everywhere, expressing the company’s resolve to fulfill its promise of delivering AI to every corner of India.