India can become a global offshoring base for AI, predicts a report launched at the World Economic Forum

• The Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2020 released at the event anticipates India to become an ‘AI delivery center’ — acting as a ‘talent mover’ with its ability to attract and retain talent.
  
• India currently ranks 72th in the global index, way behind the US.
  
• India has also joined hands with the World Economic Forum's Reskilling Revolution — which aims to extend education, skills and jobs to a billion people over the next decade.

Like it did in IT services outsourcing, India might have a role to play in the growth of AI as well. This is what a report launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos believes.

“As India did in the late 1990s — becoming a global offshoring base for IT services — AI may provide opportunities for countries to become ‘global delivery centres’ for AI applications,” said the report.

The Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2020 released at the event anticipates India to become an ‘AI delivery center’ — acting as a ‘talent mover’ with its ability to attract and retain talent.

At present though, India ranks 72th in the global index, way behind the US. This may be because of the unequal distribution of AI talent across sectors and industries. The report argues that over half of the population across the developing economies lack digital skills.

However, the country’s AI skills and capabilities have been growing. “India’s key strength relates to the growing talent, primarily by virtue of the possibilities for lifelong learning and access to growth opportunities,” the report said.

In a bid to boost participation and adoption of the technology, India also joined hands with the World Economic Forum's Reskilling Revolution — which aims to extend education, skills and jobs to a billion people over the next decade.

“India is constantly investing in skill development and robust digitalization. Corporates need to build comprehensive digital business strategies. Through our reskilling and upskilling initiatives, we aim to build an agile workforce that keeps up with the technological advancements,” said Marco Valsecchi, country manager and MD of Adecco Group India.

The research also predicts that AI will ‘re-evaluate’ workplace practices and the innovation system.

“As machines and algorithms continue to affect a multiplicity of tasks and responsibilities and almost every job gets reinvented, the right talent is required not only to carry out new responsibilities and ways to work, but also to capture value from this transformative technology,” the report said.

As the country moves to embrace these emerging technologies, the demand will only increase. "There is little question that AI is a game-changer in every industry and sector. At this critical juncture, the race for AI-capable and AI-compatible talent and the quest to develop the skills required will only intensify," said Bruno Lanvin, Executive Director of Global Indices at INSEAD.

The GTCI report was launched by INSEAD, a partner and sponsor of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), along with the Adecco Group and Google.

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