Indo-US AI collaboration key to global leadership, India to be top economy: John Chambers

John Chambers, chairman of USISPF, said 2024 will be about the transformative impact of AI and an India-US partnership could lead this change at a global scale

John Chambers, Chairman of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), expressed optimism about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in 2024. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, he highlighted the opportunities for a close collaboration between New Delhi and Washington in the field of AI, stating that the two countries can lead this transformative shift.

Chambers said, "This year (2024) is going to be all about AI and how AI will be the most ground changing technology in history, equivalent to the internet and cloud computing combined. India and US working closely together can lead this on a global basis and be a model for the rest of the world."

The USISPF chairman is bullish on India and reiterated his belief that the country is on course to becoming the world's number one economy, citing its burgeoning youth population, with an average age under 26, as a valuable resource for innovation and job creation.

"And as I have said many times before, recently, including in front of Prime Minister Modi in his state visit to the US in December when I introduced him to the business community, India will become the number one economy in the world. That is something people have not focused on before, it's inevitable if you look at what is going on mathematically with the current momentum," he told the business television channel.

He was also bullish on the training provided by institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), which produce nearly a million engineers annually, and stated that this positions India as a significant player in the evolving technological landscape.

Strategic global partnership

Chambers credited the USISPF for deepening the ties between India and the United States. He highlighted that the strategic collaboration between the two countries, facilitated by the USISPF, had led to economic benefits for citizens of both nations.

He also mentioned the shifting dynamics in the US-China relationship, stating that China's recent actions have eroded trust between the two superpowers, creating hesitancy among American businesses.

In the same breath, he highlighted India's emergence as an attractive partner in contrast to China, and positioned the country to becoming the world's top manufacturing location. While acknowledging the time it might take to achieve this status, the USISPF chairman urged for swift progress and the removal of hurdles hindering the realisation of this goal.

Expressing his hopes for faster advancements, Chambers stated, "I'd be both surprised and disappointed if India does not rise to that opportunity."