NEW DELHI: India is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and deep tech, thanks to the vast volumes of digital data being generated domestically, said Claude Smadja, former Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF).Speaking at the India Global Innovation Connect (IGIC) 2025 in Bengaluru, Smadja emphasized India’s data advantage and its strategic position in the global tech landscape.“India today stands at a pivotal inflection point—both in its domestic transformation and its global positioning. As we enter an era defined by AI and deep tech, the time is ripe for India to fast-track innovation. Amid challenges faced by major global economies, India has the right momentum and resources to emerge as a global hub for technological breakthroughs, particularly in data and big data,” he said.Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, emphasized that structural reforms alone are not enough to achieve the aspirations of

Viksit Bharat

.“We need to go deeper and embrace process reforms. They are essential for improving efficiency, reducing system-level friction, and delivering measurable impact across both government and business operations,” he noted.Adding to the discussion, Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital, highlighted the need to rethink education models to prepare for a quantum-driven future.“Governments must urgently reconsider how we educate the next generation, especially as quantum computing and AI begin to handle tasks traditionally performed by humans,” Pai said.Vic Bhagat, Senior Vice President and Global Advisor at IT infrastructure services giant Kyndryl, pointed to the transformative potential of AI in enterprise technology.“AI’s power lies in its seamless integration with enterprise systems. The synergy between scale and speed will be the new competitive edge. Enterprises that harness AI effectively will unlock new levels of productivity and long-term growth,” he said.