Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is set to visit India on February 7 and 8 for his annual trip to the country, signaling the company’s focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the burgeoning opportunities in the region. This visit follows a series of meetings in June 2023 between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several high-profile tech CEOs, including Nadella, where they explored the potential and growth prospects of AI.
In an internal communication, Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, highlighted that Nadella’s visit underscores Microsoft’s commitment to leveraging technology to broaden opportunities in the country. The communication emphasized the transformative role of AI in shaping India’s technology landscape, making the region one of the most exciting markets for technology.
Nadella’s itinerary is expected to include engagements with various stakeholders in the Indian AI landscape. He is anticipated to meet with founders of prominent AI startups, including Lightspeed and Peak XV-backed Sarvam, as well as Bhavish Aggarwal’s AI startup Krutrim, among others, in Mumbai and Bangalore. These interactions are aimed at exploring new opportunities and reinforcing Microsoft’s commitment to leveraging technology for expanding possibilities in India.
The focus on AI during Nadella’s visit aligns with Microsoft’s strategic moves over the past year. In 2023, the company announced AI integrations across its Office 365 suite and introduced an AI assistant called Copilot, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology. Microsoft also strengthened its partnership with OpenAI by integrating the Bing search engine into ChatGPT, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Google.
Nadella’s visit comes after organizational changes at OpenAI, where Sam Altman was removed from the board. Subsequently, Microsoft welcomed Altman, Brockman, and other OpenAI employees to form a new advanced AI research team under the company, with Altman appointed as the CEO of this team.
With the increasing adoption of AI, Microsoft anticipates a revenue increase of nearly 15 percent in its fiscal year 2024, outpacing the overall growth of the tech sector.
During his visit to the US in June 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in discussions with leading technology executives, including Tim Cook of Apple, Sundar Pichai of Google, and Satya Nadella. A statement from Nadella’s office detailed the outcomes of his meeting with the Prime Minister, highlighting the importance of technology, especially AI, in improving the lives of Indians. Microsoft affirmed its deep commitment to the growth of Indian technology, emphasizing its impact on both India and global markets.
One year ago, CEO Nadella conducted a four-day official visit to India, engaging with essential customers, startups, developers, non-profit organizations, and students during the visit.
