At the Business Today-India Today AI Conclave, Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President and Head of Meta India, highlighted the company’s progress in AI and its impact on India. With approximately 500 million people using Meta AI globally, India stands out as a significant contributor. Emphasizing the country’s important role in shaping and adopting AI technologies, he said, “India is our largest market in the world when it comes to Llama downloads.”

Devanathan outlined Meta’s mission to democratize access to AI, making it more accessible and inclusive. “Meta AI is about enabling and democratizing access to AI,” he explains. The company’s open-source approach with models like Servum GenAI has empowered developers to build on Meta’s AI technology and foster innovation tailored to local needs.

When asked about privacy concerns, especially regarding products like Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, Devanathan assured that security measures are a priority. “There’s a reason you can’t take photos or videos without light,” he said, highlighting the dedicated privacy teams involved in the development of AI tools and products. Acknowledging the evolving nature of AI models, he said, “All generative AI models are a work in progress. “None of them are going to be picture-perfect.”

To ensure robust and secure systems, Meta employs “red teaming”, where internal and external experts identify and resolve vulnerabilities. Devanathan emphasized that open-sourcing technology strengthens its credibility, as the global developer community contributes to its improvement.

Addressing the productivity potential of AI, Devanathan envisions a future where AI agents will enhance customer service and small business operations. “Every company or business has an AI agent that learns from you, this will mean better productivity and profits for small businesses,” he said.

On cultural trends, Devanathan also dismissed the idea of ​​saturation in Instagram Reels in India. “Not at all,” he said, adding that many trends originating in India are being adopted globally. With AI playing a bigger role, 50 percent of Instagram’s content is now AI-recommended, helping creators better connect with their audiences.

Devanathan concludes with a balanced perspective on the development of AI, acknowledging its potential while advocating for the guardrails necessary to ensure its safe and ethical use.

Sandhya Devanathan is serving as the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Meta India from January 2023. His appointment follows a significant restructuring period at META, during which more than 11,000 employees were laid off. In November 2022, he stepped into the role vacated by the departure of Ajit Mohan.