In a speech delivered to over a thousand Indian computer code developers in Bengaluru, India's "Silicon Valley," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the importance of utilizing the company's artificial intelligence (AI) tools across its products. Nadella highlighted the significant presence of Indian developers on GitHub, an internet hosting service for software development, stating that there are currently over 13.2 million Indian developers on the platform, second only to the United States. He predicted that India is likely to surpass the US and take the top spot by 2027 or 2028.

Nadella expressed Microsoft's belief that the use of AI could contribute to achieving 10% of India's GDP target for 2025, which amounts to $500 billion. However, he did not provide further details on how this would be accomplished. To support its AI initiatives, Microsoft is constructing its fourth data center near Hyderabad, Nadella's hometown. The company already operates data centers in Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai. Before returning to the United States, Nadella plans to visit Hyderabad.

During a speech in Mumbai the previous day, Nadella proudly announced that Microsoft is currently ahead of its competitors in most benchmarks related to AI. He attributed this advantage to the company's partnership with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, which has given Microsoft a head start in the rapidly growing field of generative AI. However, he acknowledged that competition from Google and other rivals is expected in the future. Nadella confidently stated, "We have the best model, today even. We're waiting for the competition to arrive. It'll arrive, I'm sure."

This week also marked Nadella's 10th year as CEO of Microsoft. Under his leadership, the company has achieved a market value of $3 trillion, surpassing any other publicly traded company, including its long-time rival Apple Inc. In India, Microsoft's subsidiary, headquartered in Hyderabad, operates 11 offices and employs nearly 18,000 people. The company has announced several initiatives aimed at the Indian market and talent, including a month-long AI training program for 100,000 developers and a commitment to provide AI skills training for 2 million Indians by 2025.

Recognizing the significance of the Indian market, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a meeting with Nadella during his visit to the United States in June last year. Microsoft stated that AI was among the key topics discussed during their meeting. As Microsoft continues to expand its presence in India and invest in AI capabilities, it is clear that the country holds a strategic position in the company's plans for the future.

Reporting from Providence, Rhode Island, this is the latest news on Microsoft's AI initiatives and CEO Satya Nadella's visit to India.