Indian Start Ups

Just read that a Indian Cabinet Minister created an uproar over his remarks at a tech event to Indian start ups to create AI and tech like the Chinese instead of ice cream and more food delivery apps.

In his scathing remarks he said Indian start ups were pandering to the wealthier people who didn’t want to leave their homes by having young people do back breaking work to deliver goods and food to them. No economic benefit to the country whatsoever.

This is exactly what I told my Indian friend after my China visit. I said that China is so far ahead in tech such as EVs, telecom devices, wireless technology, battery technology and AI. I had visited India and then China in the same month and the contrast was telling. India is so far behind in technology and AI and that is quite shocking. No Indian companies involved in high speed train, no manufacturing of high end phones, no EV car companies and Indian AI to date. I do wonder what is their current state of weaponry.

They are not lacking in smart people who are technologically savvy. Some of the top US technology companies are run by Indians. They have money that can invest in these companies. They have a decently well educated population and English conversant. Yet why are they reticent to do it? Are they not worried that they are falling far behind?

What would it take India to start moving up the innovation and AI ladder?