… and more from this edition of The Weekly.

I contend that India does not need to worry about advancing fundamental GenAI research. Instead it needs to worry about knowing how to apply all of computer technology, and not just GenAI, to an Indian context.

A tale of two problems: Research and Applications of Gen AI

There is a blaze of fundamental research and innovation happening in Generative AI. A lot of it is led by researchers and scientists in US, UK, France and China. But it is curious to note that the tech industry as a collective does not know how to meaningfully apply GenAI towards material gains in the world.

When I think about big, consequential inventions, I am reminded of the jet engine and the data center. These are instances of technology that transformed the way the world does business and connects people. And yet, public and private Indian enterprises lack a track record of building commercial jet engines or data centers. GenAI cannot be another chapter in the book titled, “India already invented that in the Vedas.”

India should invest resources and money in building expertise in generative AI. That said, it is worth noting that applications of GenAI is perhaps more critical for a young, labor rich country like India.

GenAI: Technology for the Rich

GenAI is a technology stack for rich countries. Rich countries have labor shortages — their populations are not big enough to do all the work that their businesses would like done, in order to boost revenues and turn profits. Generative AI hopes to alleviate that problem by automating some (or all) parts of work as we know it. So it is reasonable to accept that generative AI is a viable path to gains in economic productivity and double digit GDP growth in developed countries.

India does not need to hack its way to GDP growth. There is a lot of head room for India to boost the productivity of its massive labor pool without resorting to Generative AI. What India needs is synergies between different parts of its labor pools. Computer technology — generative AI, machine learning, or general computer science — can offer create synergies.

Consider ride hailing

Ride hailing apps like Uber disrupted existing taxi industries in scores of cities and countries, by displacing the existing cab drivers with nearly anyone with a personal car and some down time. However, when Uber came to India it ended up leveraging existing taxi/auto-rickshaw companies and drivers. I could be wrong, but my guess is that in India, ride hailers like Uber and Ola found a rich supply of drivers in the existing taxi/rickshaw/cab networks in India. Meanwhile cities in US, traditional taxi fares were either too expensive, or simply did not cover the suburban sprawl.

Consider self-driving cars

Self-driving is an application of artificial intelligence that was willed to commercial life by billionaire CEOs of companies like Google and Tesla. Those CEOs hated siting idle in rush hour traffic and publicly pined for a future where cars would drive themselves, while freeing up their time to do more important work. Now consider billionaire CEOs in India: they hire drivers. I would be stunned to find out that an Ambani actually drives a car to work. They can do this because India offers a rich supply of labor. It is highly likely that we have to contend with self-driving cars because Larry Page of Google could not easily find someone to drive him to work.

Healthcare as a final example

Healthcare in India is cheap — plenty of doctors and healthcare providers. But that sector is unorganized. In terms of technology, electronic medical records would streamline healthcare for patients and doctors, more than any AI-based solution that I can think of. But a prerequisite for electronic medical records is a slate of strong privacy regulations that would enact trust and widespread adoption by all stakeholders in India’s health care industry. Privacy regulations may not be a technology prescription, but they will work.

A closing, radical idea…

India is perhaps better off without Generative AI entirely. But if it must, advances in applications of generative AI is what India should lean into.

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Life is for Living

Instead of rushing through it, I find myself standing still more than I used to. It has allowed me to notice life around me. And when not intensely private, I capture it with my camera.

Foggy Dawns, Sunny Dusks

Is that an Egret?

Steam in Slow Motion

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What moved me: Ukraine

What’s happening with Ukraine is a tragedy. The writing is on the wall — the major powers are setting up Ukraine to be carved up like a turkey on Thanksgiving night. How the world is letting this happen is frankly stunning. I was a kid when I witnessed my own country be invaded by a neighbor state. It was a jarring experience and I was not even close to where the invasion and the eventual battle took place to drive back the aggressor. I cannot imagine what it must be like to grow up in a war zone or to see the future of your country come into question.

I thought that nation states invading each other for land grabs was a thing of the past. And that despite any number of border disputes, diplomacy had become the norm. I have been taking peace for granted.