Washington, Feb 14: Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the global landscape, and for India to spearhead the next industrial revolution, it must view data as the ‘next oil,’ according to Sunil Pal, Head of AI GPU Allocation at AMD. Speaking ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Pal emphasized that 2026 will be a pivotal year for AI.
In an exclusive interview, Pal likened the AI surge, ignited by tools like ChatGPT, to the fourth industrial revolution. ‘Everyone is racing to capture a slice of this market, projected to hit $1.7 trillion by 2031,’ he noted. The key, he stressed, lies in data – the lifeblood of AI innovation.
India stands out with its vast pool of AI talent and engineering prowess, a robust digital foundation, and a shift from services to strategic innovation hubs. ‘India offers the world’s largest reservoir of AI and digital engineering talent, enabling enterprises to scale AI swiftly and cost-effectively,’ Pal said.
He highlighted India’s role in managing global enterprise platforms, cybersecurity operations, analytics, and AI development. Indian tech firms excel at adapting to evolving trends, positioning the country as a hub for AI research, product engineering, semiconductor design, and global capability centers.
However, Pal warned that infrastructure will be the make-or-break factor. ‘Power is the biggest hurdle for data centers, and high-quality, reliable electricity is key,’ he asserted. Governments must invest in long-term energy solutions like hydropower, nuclear, wind, and solar, avoiding short-term fixes.
Building data centers demands comprehensive planning, land acquisition, and regulatory approvals – processes that take time even in the US. Yet, computing infrastructure transcends geography; it can be built in one location and accessed globally via the internet.
On global competition, Pal acknowledged the US’s lead but noted China’s aggressive push. ‘AI is still in its infancy everywhere,’ he said, pointing to rapid advancements in Singapore, Dubai, and Europe. For India, the challenge is to stay vigilant and integrate AI into its massive economy proactively.
Debunking the myth that AI is merely a cost-cutter, Pal explained its potential for hyper-personalization, predictive insights, and new digital business models that drive revenue. In healthcare, AI narrows options, accelerates research cycles, and streamlines experiments that once required large teams and years.
‘Machines are learning at breakneck speed,’ he said, but cautioned on data quality: ‘Garbage in, garbage out.’ Looking ahead five years, Pal compared AI’s current stage to the early days of steam engines, the internet, and smartphones – innovations that birthed trillion-dollar industries.
‘Don’t get left behind,’ he urged. With the right ecosystem, talent, and infrastructure, India can transform data into enduring economic power. The India AI Impact Summit follows similar events in London and France, amid global investments in AI chips, data centers, and research. India’s incentives for semiconductors and digital infrastructure aim to cement its role in the global AI value chain.