Reliance, led by Mukesh Ambani, and AI chipmaker Nvidia have announced a collaborative effort to establish AI infrastructure in India. The announcement came from Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, during a discussion with Mukesh Ambani at the Nvidia AI Summit 2024. 

Huang highlighted the significance of India building its own AI, emphasizing that data should remain within the country to enable domestic intelligence development, rather than exporting data and importing intelligence. He remarked on the importance of retaining foundational resources domestically.

Ambani noted India’s vast potential in the intelligence sector, emphasizing that AI could be instrumental in fostering prosperity and equity on a global scale. He pointed out that, apart from the US and China, India possesses one of the best digital connectivity infrastructures globally.

In a reflection on Nvidia’s name, Ambani shared his interpretation, referring to it as ‘Vidya’, a term meaning knowledge in India. He explained the association of ‘Vidya’ with Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, and observed that in Indian tradition, when one sincerely pursues knowledge, prosperity, represented by the goddess Lakshmi, follows. 

Huang responded, acknowledging his early conviction that the name Nvidia was apt despite doubts from others in the company’s initial stages.

Expanding on its collaborations in India, Nvidia also announced plans to partner with prominent Indian firms, including Infosys. It outlined a goal to support Tech Mahindra in creating a Hindi large language model and to work with Flipkart on enhancing conversational customer service. 

Nvidia’s initiatives will extend into healthcare, aiming to improve patient care and boost productivity in research across the sector.