You are reading this at a time when the US and China are waging a war on AI. The launch of Deepseek has shaken the AI stocks, eroding market caps and raising question on the future AI landscape dominance. Where is India–once called the technology capital of the world–in all this?
As the United States and China battle to establish dominance in artificial intelligence (AI), reshaping global economies and geopolitics in the process, India seems preoccupied with a far less ambitious race: delivering food faster. While the world’s superpowers invest in foundational technologies that promise to define the 21st century, India is perfecting 10-minute food delivery. This glaring contrast is more than a cause for embarrassment—it’s a call to reexamine the nation’s priorities.
AI has become the centerpiece of global innovation. In the United States, companies like OpenAI and Google are advancing AI research with billions in funding. Meanwhile, China is leveraging its state-backed strategy and vast data ecosystem to establish itself as the global leader in AI by 2030. Both nations understand the stakes. AI is not merely a tool for convenience but a transformative force that will shape industries, solve critical challenges, and redefine global power structures. From developing life-saving healthcare solutions to driving quantum computing breakthroughs, the AI race is about who will set the rules for the next industrial revolution.
India has all the ingredients to compete. With its massive talent pool, burgeoning tech sector, and growing digital ecosystem, the country should be a key player in this race. Yet, instead of focusing on AI-driven innovation, India’s most celebrated tech advancements in recent years have centered around food delivery apps. While platforms like Zomato and Swiggy have revolutionized urban lifestyles and created significant employment opportunities, their relentless focus on speedier deliveries has come to symbolize a troubling lack of ambition.
The contrast with the global AI race is stark. While the US and China are solving problems that will define humanity’s future, India is focused on optimizing convenience. This is not to undermine the logistical ingenuity behind delivering biryani in record time, but when this achievement is celebrated over breakthroughs in AI or quantum computing, it reflects a culture that values short-term gains over long-term impact.
India risks relegating itself to the role of a technology consumer rather than a creator. While Indian engineers and researchers continue to drive Silicon Valley’s success, their potential is not being harnessed at home. This brain drain underscores the absence of a coherent national strategy to prioritize and fund transformative technologies. The government’s focus remains scattered, and private industry has largely stuck to low-risk, high-reward projects that prioritize convenience over innovation.
India has proven it can excel in cutting-edge fields. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with its groundbreaking missions, has demonstrated the country’s ability to compete with global leaders when ambition meets execution. This same level of focus and commitment is needed in AI and other emerging technologies. The government must take the lead by creating a national AI strategy backed by significant funding, while the private sector and academia must collaborate to foster an environment of innovation.
The world is not waiting. As the US and China sprint ahead, India risks falling further behind, watching from the sidelines as others shape the future. The nation’s potential is undeniable, but it must aim higher. Convenience is not the hallmark of a technology leader; innovation is. The obsession with faster food delivery may cater to immediate consumer demands, but it does little to address the broader challenges that will define the coming decades.
India must decide whether it wants to be a global technology leader or remain a mere participant in someone else’s game. The path forward requires ambition, investment, and a cultural shift that celebrates meaningful innovation over fleeting conveniences. If India is to fulfill its potential, it must stop competing in the race for faster biryani and start running in the race for breakthroughs that matter.
Better join the race bit late than missing it altogther.