“Technology serves as a facilitatorBusiness Today-India Today AI Conference 2024 says Sandeep Patel, managing director, IBM India and South Asia, emphasizes how technology works as a storyteller, weaving together solutions to bridge the gaps . Patel highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI), calling it a “harbinger ofnew era“(New era) of technological innovation.

Patel underlined the role of AI in democratizing technology, making digital services more accessible across India. “AI, in many ways, is bringing technology closer to everyone,” he said, adding that AI is particularly impactful in rural areas, enabling better access to essential services. Citing an example, he shared how IBM’s CSR initiative developed an AI-powered irrigation tool for farmers, providing tailored recommendations to optimize water usage. “These are innovations where AI can help the common man,” Patel said.

Reflecting on India’s position in the AI ​​landscape, Patel expressed confidence in the country’s potential. “I believe India can become the AI ​​capital of the world,” he said, pointing to IBM’s global AI adoption survey, which revealed that 59 percent of companies in India are actively using AI. are doing so – the highest rate globally – while another 27 percent are planning to do so.

Patel also noted the need to expand the AI ​​development workforce beyond traditional engineers. “You don’t need to be an engineer to develop with AI,” he commented. “If the aptitude is there, you can train them.” He further emphasized that India’s focus should be on creating smaller language models tailored to local needs, which are more cost-effective than larger language models that require significant resources.

Patel believes that India is uniquely positioned to lead as both a user and creator of AI, ushering in an era of innovation that can change lives at every level.

Sandeep Patel is the Managing Director of IBM India and South Asia Region, overseeing the company’s sales, marketing, services and distribution operations in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Since assuming this role in 2020, he has been working on strengthening IBM’s leadership in hybrid cloud, AI, and consulting within the sector.

Before leading IBM India and South Asia, Sandeep was General Manager of IBM’s Insurance Industry, managing business operations across various global markets. His expertise lies in working with financial services, insurance and healthcare clients in the US and internationally. Previously, he served as President of Aetna International, where he held full profit-and-loss responsibility while driving the company’s international business strategy.