Key Points
- India has 490 million informal workers who could benefit from AI systems
- Indian AI market projected to cross $17 billion by 2027
- An estimated 2.2 billion people globally remain offline
India‘s 490 million informal workers, farmers facing climate uncertainty and patients navigating fragmented healthcare need artificial intelligence systems built specifically for Indian realities, technology leaders said on National Technology Day.
Dr Amit Sheth, founding director of the Indian AI Research Organization (IAIRO) and professor of computer science at the University of South Carolina, said the country’s AI opportunity lies in building compact, domain-specific models rather than pursuing generic large-scale systems.
A NITI Aayog report has identified AI as a tool to bridge gaps in agriculture, healthcare and education, with India’s AI market projected to cross $17 billion by 2027.
By the numbers
- 490 million
- Informal workers in India
- $17 billion
- Projected India AI market size by 2027
- 2.2 billion
- People globally who remain offline
“India has 490 million informal workers, farmers navigating climate uncertainty with limited intelligence systems, patients operating within fragmented healthcare infrastructure, and first-generation learners skilling up in languages most AI systems still barely understand,” Sheth said.
Building AI for Indian Complexity
Sheth argued that India’s AI ambition should not be measured solely by market size or valuation. Instead, success should be judged by whether systems expand capability, reduce inequality and strengthen strategic autonomy.
“We are building AI that is practical, scalable, sovereign, and rooted in India’s real-world complexity,” Sheth said. IAIRO is developing models designed to work with limited computing resources, operate in multilingual environments and solve problems across healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, governance and education.
The organisation’s approach focuses on models that can reason over structured knowledge — organised information that follows defined rules and relationships — rather than generic conversational AI. These systems are intended to deliver reliability in high-stakes situations where accuracy matters most.
Digital Divide Remains Critical Challenge
Jaimy Thomas, co-founder and chief delivery officer, Experion Technologies, highlighted the risk of technology widening existing inequalities. An estimated 2.2 billion people remain offline globally, with women, rural populations and low-income groups disproportionately affected.
“Many communities most vulnerable to climate change and inequality are also the least equipped with the digital tools designed to help them,” Thomas said. “Access, affordability, digital literacy, and local language support remain critical gaps.”
Experion has built solutions supporting elderly care, farming communities, healthcare access and organ donation coordination. Thomas said the company developed an AI-powered recruitment platform for a global healthcare firm that reached over 10,000 active users within six months, accelerating caregiver hiring.
The company also enabled digital experiences across 44 countries and 27 languages for a large-scale digital transformation project. In critical response environments, its AI-led donor coordination system was designed to ensure no calls are missed during time-sensitive organ donation processes.
“Technology creates real value when it reaches people in the moments and places where it can make life better,” Thomas said.
National Technology Day is observed annually on 11 May to commemorate India’s nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998 and celebrate technological achievements.
Your Questions, Answered
What is India's projected AI market size by 2027?
India's AI market is projected to cross $17 billion by 2027, according to industry projections cited by technology leaders.
How many informal workers does India have?
India has approximately 490 million informal workers who could benefit from AI systems designed for local languages and specific domain challenges.
What is IAIRO building?
The Indian AI Research Organization is building compact, domain-specific AI models that work with limited computing resources, operate in multilingual environments and address challenges in healthcare, agriculture and education.
Why is National Technology Day observed on 11 May?
National Technology Day is observed annually on 11 May to commemorate India's nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998 and celebrate the country's technological achievements.
