India is rapidly making progress on the AI front. Indian organizations are at par with their global peers in deriving value from their existing processes and data by leveraging advanced technologies like Generative AI, Agentic AI and Machine learning. Contributing to this are also Indian innovators who are bringing out transformative solutions to the market.
At present, India is home to 16% of the world's AI talent, showcasing its growing influence in AI innovation and adoption. The India Skills Report 2024 by Wheebox forecasts that India's AI industry will reach USD 28.8 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 45%. Even according to Statista, the Artificial Intelligence market in India is projected to reach US$7.84bn in 2025. The market size is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2031) of 26.37%, resulting in a market volume of US$31.94bn by 2031.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) are no longer futuristic concepts; they are rapidly transforming the operational fabric of businesses across India. From optimizing daily workflows to reshaping hiring strategies and even redesigning the foundational infrastructure of the digital world, AI has transitioned from a mere buzzword to a critical boardroom priority.
Operationalizing AI: Building the Intelligent Foundation
The successful operationalization of AI hinges on robust infrastructure, a core focus for Vertiv India. Shrirang Deshpande emphasizes, "At Vertiv, we are enabling the foundational infrastructure for AI by preparing datacenters to meet the exponentially growing demands of AI and GenAI workloads." He highlights that "Operationalizing AI requires more than compute power, it demands integrated systems for power, cooling, and software that support high-density, high-performance environments with reliability and efficiency."
Vertiv's "360° AI infrastructure approach" provides a comprehensive solution, including "High-density power and advanced liquid thermal management, specifically engineered for GPU server tiers where thermal energy dissipation is 5 to 7 times greater than traditional CPUs."
This addresses the critical need for efficient cooling in AI-intensive environments. Furthermore, their approach involves "Scalable infrastructure design, tailored to each client’s AI maturity," and "Integrated software platforms like DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management) and EPMS (Electrical Power Monitoring System) for real-time monitoring, energy optimisation, and intelligent operations." Vertiv's commitment to enabling the AI revolution is clear, as Deshpande states, "Our mission at Vertiv is to create an AI revolution, one rack, one chip, and one data centre at a time, rather than merely supporting it."
Juniper Networks, on the other hand, is embedding AI directly into the network architecture itself. Ravinder Singh, Director & Head of Enterprise, Government, and Defense Business, India & SAARC, explains their mission: "to transform traditional networking into AI-Native Networking networks that are not just automated, but intelligent, predictive, and self-driving."
Their platforms, like Mist AI and Marvis Virtual Network Assistant, empower IT teams with "real-time, AI-driven insights that drastically reduce time spent on troubleshooting and manual tasks." This proactive approach, where AI is "built into the network itself – not bolted on," is proving particularly valuable in sectors like healthcare, education, and manufacturing where reliable connectivity is paramount.
From Buzzword to Boardroom: The Driving Forces
The transformation of AI's perception from a technical curiosity to a strategic imperative is driven by tangible results and competitive pressures. Shrirang Deshpande identifies key factors: "Not too long ago, AI was something companies spoke about with curiosity, often more hype than reality. But that has changed dramatically. Today, AI isn’t just a tech trend, it has become a business imperative, and multiple factors have been driving this change."
He cites "Real-world results" as a primary catalyst, where AI is "increasingly significantly impacting businesses. From automation and customer engagement to predictive insights, AI is now solving real business problems with measurable ROI." This includes "reducing processing time from hours to seconds, enhancing customer interactions, or extracting insights from large data sets."
"Competitive urgency" is another significant driver, as "Enterprises that are adopting AI early are getting an advantage in terms of speed, efficiency, and creativity. Others are coming to the realisation that they can no longer afford to remain on the sidelines." Finally, "Infrastructure Imperatives" play a crucial role. Deshpande notes, "The vision has been surpassed by technology. We now possess the infrastructure, tools, and processing capacity essential to support AI on a large scale. Data centres, power, cooling, and other aspects of the infrastructure must be seriously revisited because AI is no longer restricted to software." This convergence of demonstrable value, market pressure, and technological readiness has brought AI to the forefront of C-suite discussions.
Ravinder Singh from Juniper Networks reinforces this, stating, "AI has become a business priority because modern networks and the digital services they support have become too complex, fast-moving, and distributed to manage manually." He highlights the need for "networks that can think and act intelligently," leading to the demand for "AI-Native Networking." The realization that "only AI can deliver the speed, scalability, and precision required to ensure performance, security, and user satisfaction" is pushing business leaders to prioritize AI investments.
Tips for CIOs/CTOs: Guiding the AI Journey
The experts offer crucial advice for CIOs and CTOs navigating their AI strategies:
Shrirang Deshpande's top three tips are:
Think Infrastructure-First: "AI is only as effective as the environment that supports it. Ensure your physical infrastructure is prepared to handle GPU-grade densities and future growth, including power, cooling, and structural load."
Collaborate Across Ecosystems: "Software partners, server OEMs, and infrastructure providers are all essential to the success of AI. Bring them together early to jointly create a roadmap aligned to your scalability requirements and use cases."
Design for Efficiency and Adaptability: "With rising power demands, sustainability matters. Invest in energy-efficient technologies like liquid cooling, and design modular solutions that adapt to both today’s and tomorrow’s AI needs."
Ravinder Singh's top three tips for CIOs and CTOs are:
Focus on Outcomes: "Start by identifying specific operational challenges... and evaluate where AI can deliver immediate, measurable value."
Build a Strong Data Foundation: "AI is only as effective as the data it learns from, so it is essential that your systems can generate, collect, and process high-quality, reliable data, particularly from your network infrastructure."
Embed Security from the Outset: "As networks become more intelligent and autonomous, they can also introduce new vulnerabilities. Taking a security-first approach ensures that automation and innovation are balanced with strong protection."
In conclusion, the journey into AI for Indian enterprises is characterized by a blend of technological advancements, strategic imperatives, and careful consideration of ethical implications. The narratives from Vertiv, and Juniper Networks collectively underscore that AI is not just a tool but a fundamental shift in how businesses operate, innovate, and thrive in the increasingly digital landscape.
The key to success lies in building a robust infrastructure, fostering collaboration, prioritizing efficiency and adaptability, focusing on measurable outcomes, building a strong data foundation, embedding security, and, crucially, maintaining a steadfast commitment to data privacy and ethical AI governance.
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