How Students and Professionals Can Reignite India’s AI Momentum

When I started looking into the story of artificial intelligence and its growth in India, I thought I would come across a tale of unstoppable growth. Why, you wonder? Well, that’s because India has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading IT powerhouses. The country is home to thousands of skilled graduates entering the industry every year, and companies eagerly adopting AI across different industry verticals, be it banking, retail, or healthcare. So, it was quite natural for me to assume that AI and machine learning would be the next big chapter in India’s success story. But what I found next was surprising!

AI in India is surely growing - there’s no doubt about it! But this growth is uneven and at times, may feel a little disappointing. The promise of AI in India feels a little incomplete. Why am I saying this? Well, that’s because AI has huge potential, but its execution is lacking. So, instead of a steady upward journey, the growth often feels staggered - full of roadblocks. This is mainly because of limited infrastructure, gaps in education, and a lack of real-world applications.

All this made me wonder! If AI is such a powerful tool, why is it not transforming India any faster? Why does the AI boom seem to be slowing down? In this blog, we will explore exactly that, answer common questions, and most importantly, discuss how India can achieve its AI momentum back!

AI Changing India’s IT Landscape

During my brief interaction with students and working professionals in Kolkata about AI and India’s IT landscape, one theme came up time and again. Automation is a double-edged sword! Multinational IT companies are now using the power of artificial intelligence in almost everything - be it to handle code reviews, testing, or even basic ticket resolution. Of course, this makes projects faster and more efficient, but much at the same time, it also rules out the need for entry-level engineers - the entry-level jobs that fresh graduates launch their careers through.

Quite a few students revealed that campus placements for basic coding roles have dropped in recent years. In fact, recruiters now expect freshers to come equipped not just with C++ or Java, but also with skills in AI frameworks, cloud platforms, and data analytics. This complicates things! Why? Well, according to recent data, India produces over a million engineering graduates every year, but less than half of them are actually industry-ready for AI-driven roles. This is only because most college syllabi/ curriculum is based on outdated programming stacks, while the job market demands other skills.

Another thing that really excites me is the potential for innovation. Why should AI solutions only focus on global clients? We in India have our set of challenges. Why can’t we build an AI tool to predict crop diseases, or design an AI system to optimise water distribution in the city outskirts? We will need more government grants and startup incubators, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

How India Can Reignite Its AI Momentum

Well, now that we have discussed the problems, the big question remains as to how we can bring back India’s AI momentum. From whatever I understand and the experts I’ve spoken to, the first step to fixing things is modernising our education system. Course modules such as AI, cloud computing, data science, and even AI ethics shouldn’t be treated as special electives. They should rather be included in the core engineering curriculum. Also, colleges must work in tandem with industry leaders to give students real exposure.

Another thing that really excites me is the potential for innovation. Why should AI solutions only focus on global clients? We in India have our set of challenges. Why can’t we build an AI tool to predict crop diseases, or design an AI system to optimise water distribution in city outskirts. We will need more government grants and startup incubators especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

But that is not the end of it! Apart from all this, we’d also need a strong digital infrastructure - one that touches people’s lives across the country. Expanding projects like BharatNet, setting up rural innovation hubs, and making high-performance computing resources affordable can bring about the AI revolution that we desperately need - one that’s currently only limited to places like Bengaluru and Gurugram.

Why This Matters for Indian Students and Professionals

Wondering how all of the above matters to students and working professionals? Well, the Indian job market is changing fast. Gone are the days when people could land stable IT jobs with simple coding skills. Businesses these days expect people to bring advanced skills to the table. That’s where courses like data analytics, machine learning, and even Python Django Courses can help.

I have come to realise that in today’s digital landscape, skills literally define survival. If we don’t keep up with the likes of AI, ML, and cloud computing, we will be left behind. That said, on the other hand, those who invest in it and take courses delving into AI, such as the ones we’ve just mentioned, will open the floodgates to exciting opportunities that didn’t even exist a few years ago.

But what really excites me about this is that instead of using AI for solutions for overseas clients, we can use AI to solve the country’s own challenges. All that being said, in a country like ours, one thing that frequently gets overlooked is ethics! Fairness and transparency in AI aren’t just buzzwords these days; they are also the foundation of trust. So, if we can get this right, the future of AI can truly belong to us.

Key Takeaway

Do you think AI will make Indian IT jobs disappear? Not really! According to our experts at Weavers Web Academy, AI will instead transform jobs. Of course, the low-skill coding jobs are declining, but it has also led to a surge in demand for experts in data analytics, machine learning, and even frameworks like Python Django. That’s where students like you come in.

The good news is that no matter where you hail from - be it from a metro or a small town - you can enroll in affordable learning platforms, work on real-world projects, and more. What matters is the willingness to learn, adapt, and innovate. In short, in a country like ours, students and professionals need to be more than coders - you need to be responsible innovators as well.

The real AI innovation in India starts with you. Come check out our awesome courses at Weavers Web Academy. Book your free consultation today!