Perplexity in AI Strategy: Nilekani's Views Challenged

A heated debate has emerged in the Indian tech industry as Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, suggested that Indian AI startups should focus on developing practical AI applications rather than training large language models, a view that has been publicly disagreed with by Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas.

Aravind Srinivas, while acknowledging Nilekani's contributions to India's technological progress as "awesome", argued that avoiding the development of large language models would hinder India's global competitiveness. Srinivas emphasized the importance of training foundational AI models for both local needs and global competitiveness, citing Elon Musk's approach as an inspiration for India's AI strategy. He believes that Indian startups should move beyond open-source models and invest in proprietary AI capabilities.

Nilekani's suggestion to focus on practical AI applications rather than large language models was made in October, with the advice to use existing models and focus on collecting data to deploy and scale apps frugally. However, Srinivas countered that companies can train their own AI models while building on top of existing models, and that ignoring model training skills would be detrimental. The debate highlights the perplexity surrounding India's AI strategy, with some industry leaders like TCS CEO K. Krithivasan echoing similar views to Nilekani, stating that building new AI models may not provide a huge incremental advantage.

The disagreement between Nilekani and Srinivas has sparked a wider discussion on the future of AI in India, with many calling for a paradigm shift in the country's AI strategy. As the tech industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how India will navigate the complexities of AI development and deployment, balancing the need for practical applications with the importance of foundational model training.

The outcome of this debate will likely have significant implications for India's tech industry, and the world will be watching as the country navigates the ever-changing landscape of artificial intelligence. As the discussion continues, one thing is certain - the future of AI in India will be shaped by the decisions made today, and the country's approach to model training and development will be crucial in determining its global competitiveness.