Washington, February 15. As anticipation builds for next week’s AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Rubrik’s Chairman and CEO Vipul Sinha has a clear message: Artificial Intelligence should be embraced as a catalyst for transformation and growth, not feared as a looming danger.
In an exclusive interview, Sinha emphasized the timeliness of hosting this summit in India. The nation is now advancing AI across energy, computing, and agentic systems, moving from theory to practical implementation. ‘AI isn’t just technology,’ he stated firmly. ‘Its true value lies in integrating it into business operations and daily workflows.’
Unlike previous global conferences that fixated on AI’s risks, the Delhi summit will spotlight opportunities and real-world impacts. Sinha highlighted India’s strengths: a robust tech workforce and massive infrastructure investments positioning the country as a leader in ‘applied AI’—AI tailored for practical use.
‘Risks exist, but opportunities dwarf them,’ Sinha noted, drawing parallels to India’s rapid leaps in mobile tech, internet, digital payments, and identity systems. AI holds similar promise to bridge knowledge gaps and elevate everyday lives.
Addressing job loss fears, Sinha dismissed exaggerated concerns. History shows shifts from agriculture to industry to knowledge work; now comes ‘intuition labor,’ spawning new jobs and entrepreneurship. While building AI models needs few experts, deploying them demands armies of engineers and professionals.
The U.S. leads in model development, followed by China, but India excels in applied AI. Sinha praised government initiatives in semiconductors, GPUs, and data centers as pivotal steps. Public-private partnerships and tax incentives for data centers could turn India into a global AI supply hub.
The summit’s agenda revolves around ‘People, Planet, and Progress,’ tackling job retraining, energy demands, and inclusive growth. American firms are drawn to India’s scale and momentum. ‘India is the world’s most populous market, eyed as the next economic powerhouse,’ Sinha said, pointing to investments aimed at local manufacturing and affordable pricing.
Ensuring AI benefits all societal layers, especially the Global South, is crucial. In health and education, safe, reliable AI can revolutionize access. Yet, Sinha reminded, AI provides data, but journalism delivers context and depth.
The New Delhi summit unites governments, tech giants, and researchers amid global debates on AI governance, energy use, and societal effects. India is staking its claim as a hub for applied AI innovation.