Hajra Naz
The IndiaAI Impact Summit is buzzing this week, a four-day event that’s turning heads around the world. The country wants to show it’s serious about AI and tech investment, and judging by the crowd, it’s working. Around 250,000 visitors are expected, including some of the biggest names in tech and business.
We’re talking OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia, Microsoft, Google, and Cloudflare. Not to mention top business leaders like Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani and AI experts like Demis Hassabis from Google DeepMind. And yes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share the stage with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday. That’s not a small lineup.
So, what’s actually happening here? Let’s break it down.
India’s $1.1 Billion AI Push
One of the biggest announcements came from the government itself: a $1.1 billion fund to back AI and advanced manufacturing startups across the country. Basically, India is saying: “We want innovation, and we’ll put money behind it.”
It’s not just a number — it’s a signal to investors worldwide that India is ready to compete in the global AI race.
ChatGPT Is Huge in India
Here’s something that might surprise you: according to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, India has over 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users. That’s second only to the U.S. And get this — Indian students lead the world in using ChatGPT for learning.
That’s a lot of people interacting with AI every single week. Makes you wonder how quickly this tech is becoming part of everyday life here.
Big Investments: Neysa and Beyond
Blackstone is making big bets on India. They picked up a majority stake in AI startup Neysa as part of a $600 million funding round. Other investors joined in, including TVS Capital, Teachers’ Venture Growth, 360 ONE Asset, and Nexus Venture Partners.
Neysa isn’t stopping there — they plan to raise another $600 million in debt and expand AI infrastructure with over 20,000 GPUs. That’s serious scale.
Bengaluru Startups Making Waves
Another Bengaluru-based startup, C2i, is working on power solutions for data centers. They recently raised $15 million in Series A funding from Peak XV, with support from Yali Deeptech and TDK Ventures.
The goal? Making AI infrastructure more energy-efficient. As AI grows, that’s a problem that needs solving fast.
What About Jobs and the IT Industry?
There’s a lot of buzz about how AI will impact jobs. HCL CEO Vineet Nayyar made headlines by saying Indian IT companies are focusing on profits, not job creation. That might sound blunt, but it reflects a real concern: AI could shake up traditional IT services.
And then there’s Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures. He’s painting a dramatic picture: IT services and BPOs “could almost completely disappear” within five years. His advice to India’s 250 million young people? Start building and selling AI-based products and services globally — don’t wait for jobs to come to you.
Tech Partnerships to Watch
AMD and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) are teaming up to build rack-scale AI infrastructure using AMD’s Helios platform. This could help India handle massive AI workloads and show the world it can compete on tech infrastructure.
And Anthropic is opening its first Indian office in Bengaluru, noting that India is now the second-largest user of Claude AI, after the U.S. Clearly, India isn’t just a market — it’s a hub of talent and users.
Why This Summit Matters
The India AI Impact Summit isn’t just a fancy tech event. It’s a statement. With billions in funding, big tech partnerships, and ambitious plans for AI infrastructure, India is saying, “We’re here to play in the big leagues.”
From startups like Neysa and C2i to tech giants opening offices and governments funding innovation, India is showing the world it wants a bigger slice of the AI pie. And honestly? If these plans play out, the next few years could be very exciting for AI in India—and globally.
