At the ET AI Awards, India’s leading artificial intelligence experts and industry leaders gathered to explore how AI is evolving from early trials into large-scale, real-world applications. Conversations focused on how businesses and public institutions can move beyond experimentation to adopt AI in ways that deliver measurable impact — such as by improving efficiency, boosting productivity, and enhancing customer experiences. A recurring theme was the importance of embedding AI into core strategies rather than treating it as an isolated technology project.
Leaders highlighted how AI is being applied across sectors such as healthcare, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and education. Examples included using machine learning for predictive diagnostics in hospitals, automating loan decisioning in fintech, optimising crop yields for farmers, and enhancing supply chain efficiency in manufacturing. These success stories reflect a shift toward AI models that are scalable, responsible, and aligned with business outcomes.
Speakers also emphasised the critical role of talent development, data readiness, and ethical governance. There was consensus that India must invest in upskilling and reskilling its workforce so professionals can meaningfully contribute to the AI ecosystem. Strong data infrastructure and quality datasets were cited as essential for building reliable AI systems, while frameworks for ethical AI were seen as key to maintaining trust and fairness in automated decision-making.
Finally, industry leaders called for stronger collaboration between startups, established enterprises, academia, and government. They argued that partnerships can accelerate innovation, help navigate regulatory challenges, and ensure that AI benefits are shared broadly across society. The discussions underscored a growing confidence in India’s ability to scale AI responsibly and responsibly harness its economic and social potential.
