In a recent interview with ET, Microsoft Asia President Ahmed Mazhari emphasized the pivotal role of the Indian tech sector in shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI) on a global scale. According to Mazhari, Indian companies are poised to be key drivers in developing and implementing AI solutions worldwide, meeting the rising global market demand for advanced technology. He sees this as a strategic growth lever for Indian IT services companies, underscoring their potential impact on the next generation of AI software platforms.

Microsoft, a global software giant, is actively collaborating with India's largest IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) companies to propel AI implementation in markets spanning Australia, Europe, and Asia. Mazhari envisions Indian IT and ITES as instrumental forces behind the evolution of AI software. In terms of domestic opportunities, a recent Microsoft survey suggests that AI could unlock up to $621 billion in productivity for India, contributing significantly to the country's economic progress.

Mazhari highlighted Microsoft's contributions to Indian companies, such as boosting developer productivity for Infosys and powering enterprise apps like Indigo’s 6E SkAI. Notably, he pointed out that a substantial share of AI projects on Microsoft-owned open-source platform Github originates from India, predicting that India is set to surpass the US in the number of developers on Github and secure the top spot by 2027.

Beyond AI, Mazhari identified other "critical layers of opportunity" for India in technology, including the global expansion of homegrown startups like Darwinbox and Inmobi. He also acknowledged the Indian government's efforts to extend India’s digital public goods stack to other developing countries. Microsoft India’s 25-year-old development center is actively contributing to cutting-edge work in AI, enterprise resource planning (ERP) products, and Windows software.

Despite global challenges like inflation and geopolitical strife, Mazhari expressed Microsoft's positive outlook, attributing it to the growing demand from customers leveraging AI for differentiation in B2B and B2C interactions. He emphasized AI's role in advancing industry agendas, spanning healthcare, education, agriculture, and automobiles, signaling Microsoft's alignment with evolving industry needs.