Baramati, December 28: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Saturday underscored the need for India to build sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, warning that technological progress without national control could create new forms of dependence. He was addressing the inauguration of the Vidya Pratishthan Sharadchandra Pawar Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) in Baramati.
Speaking in the presence of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharadchandra Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, MP Supriya Sule, Sunetra Pawar and other dignitaries, Adani described the new AI centre as a “historic moment” for Baramati and for India’s technology future.
Calling Sharadchandra Pawar his mentor, Adani said Baramati’s transformation into a hub of agriculture, cooperatives, education and entrepreneurship reflected Pawar’s integrated vision of national development. “What Pawar Saheb has achieved here is not local development alone; it is a living blueprint for Bharat,” he said.
Adani placed artificial intelligence within the broader arc of global industrial revolutions, stating that AI marks the Fourth Industrial Revolution after steam, electricity and digital computing. While acknowledging fears of job displacement, he argued that history shows technology ultimately creates far more opportunities than it disrupts. “AI will not just give Bharat access; it will give Bharat capability,” he said.
Drawing parallels with India’s digital public infrastructure—Aadhaar, Jan Dhan, UPI and affordable mobile connectivity—Adani said AI would become the fourth foundational layer, embedding intelligence and productivity into every sector. He envisioned farmers using AI for real-time decision-making, and individuals in smaller towns building global businesses using voice-driven AI tools.
However, Adani cautioned that AI also concentrates power and influence. “If Bharat does not build its own AI models, data centres and intelligence ecosystems, our data and decisions will be shaped by foreign algorithms,” he warned, adding that AI is now a strategic asset comparable to energy or defence.
Outlining the Adani Group’s role, he said the conglomerate had invested heavily in green energy and data centre infrastructure to support sovereign AI growth. He highlighted the Khavda renewable energy park in Gujarat and the group’s expanding data centre network as critical to powering India’s future digital economy.
Addressing students and researchers, Adani described the Adani Group’s infrastructure—from ports and airports to power grids and logistics—as a “living laboratory” for industrial-scale AI applications. He said partnerships with institutions like the Sharadchandra Pawar AI CoE would help develop real-world AI solutions in energy efficiency, logistics optimisation and infrastructure safety.
In his concluding remarks, Adani urged young Indians to become creators rather than spectators of history. “This era is asking for your capability—your ability to think independently, to create, and to give India a new direction,” he said, calling on students to lead India’s AI-driven transformation.
The newly inaugurated AI Centre of Excellence aims to promote advanced research, skill development and industry collaboration, positioning Baramati as an emerging hub in India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem.