India’s AI Leap: Global Capability Centres and the Future of Tech Sovereignty
As the global technology landscape undergoes a seismic shift driven by Artificial Intelligence, India finds itself at a unique crossroads. Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and Chairman of Axilor Ventures, believes that while the transition is challenging, it presents an unprecedented opportunity for India to pivot from a service-oriented economy to a hub of deep-tech innovation and intellectual property ownership.
Navigating the AI Transition
Gopalakrishnan likens the rise of AI to the early days of computing. Just as the automation of business processes fueled the creation of India’s massive IT services model, AI is acting as a horizontal technology that promises to democratize intelligent productivity.
“The immediate impact of AI is the democratization of intelligent productivity,” Gopalakrishnan notes. While he acknowledges that AI’s ability to write code faster than humans will disrupt traditional software development roles, he remains optimistic about the long-term outlook. He suggests that the industry is not facing a collapse, but rather a reconfiguration. The focus for IT professionals must shift from basic coding to model training, data curation, and AI integration. For the next generation of graduates, gaining AI proficiency is no longer optional—it is a prerequisite for professional survival.
Resilience in the IT Services Sector
Addressing concerns that Indian IT companies are in a slump, Gopalakrishnan argues that market volatility often masks underlying strength. He points out that despite slower growth rates, India’s IT majors remain highly profitable, debt-free, and anchored by decades-long client relationships.
The strategy of global multinationals underscores this resilience. Rather than abandoning India, companies are flocking to set up Global Capability Centres (GCCs). According to Gopalakrishnan, these entities are increasingly moving core research and development tasks to India, drawn by the country’s vast pool of experienced technical talent. While entry-level hiring has cooled, the industry is focusing on internal reskilling, leveraging the cost-efficiency of the Indian ecosystem to remain competitive on a global scale.
The Push for Product Sovereignty
A significant portion of Gopalakrishnan’s vision involves shifting the narrative from service exports to product creation. He acknowledges that historical constraints—such as a lack of venture capital and the need for immediate, risk-averse growth—pushed Indian firms toward services. However, as the ecosystem matures, he calls for a societal shift in risk appetite.
“We need to create a product-led economy, where we own the technologies we use,” he states. For India to achieve technological sovereignty, the private sector must prioritize R&D and intellectual property creation. He highlights that while India already produces world-class banking and logistics software, the next decade must see a surge in deep-tech startups—growing from the current 4,500 to over 45,000—that retain both wealth and control within the country.
India as the World’s Health Lab
Beyond software, Gopalakrishnan identifies healthcare as a critical frontier for Indian innovation. He advocates for a systemic change in how society views health, moving away from reactive treatments toward wellness and preventative care. He envisions India becoming a laboratory for the 21st-century world, where longitudinal studies and data-driven policies help solve the complexities of aging and chronic diseases.
Ultimately, Gopalakrishnan believes that while the journey toward a product-first, high-tech economy will involve failure and trial-and-error, it is a necessary evolution. By fostering a culture that embraces calculated risks, India is well-positioned to transform from the world’s back office into its most vital engine of technological progress.
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