Arundhati Bhattacharya, CEO and Chairperson of Salesforce India, emphasized the importance of women in the technology industry, particularly in the field of generative AI, during a recent interview with IANS. Bhattacharya, who previously served as the chairperson of the State Bank of India, highlighted the need for women to be at the forefront of learning new technologies like AI to shape up new industries.
In light of the government’s focus on skilling and creating a talent pool for emerging technologies like AI in India, Bhattacharya’s advice to women professionals is to stay ahead in their respective industries. She emphasized the rapid evolution of generative AI and AI in general, noting that women are well-equipped to learn and adapt as the technology landscape evolves.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to the responsible and ethical use of AI was also highlighted, with the launch of the ‘National Programme on Artificial Intelligence’ and the upcoming AI mission in Bharat. Bhattacharya acknowledged the excitement surrounding GenAI but noted that there are still concerns that need to be addressed, emphasizing the importance of skilling for new technologies.
The ‘India AI Mission’ aims to democratize AI skills by reaching tier 2 and 3 cities, recognizing the urgent need for talent in the field of AI. Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, emphasized the need for academic institutions to work with the tech industry and governments globally to address the talent deficit in AI.
India currently ranks first in terms of AI skill penetration and talent concentration, according to Nasscom, but the industry is experiencing a shortage of AI skills across the spectrum. The government’s focus on skilling and collaboration between industry, academia, and government is crucial in shaping the future pipeline of talent for AI-related jobs.
Overall, Bhattacharya’s insights underscore the importance of women in the technology industry and the need for continuous learning and evolution to stay ahead in the rapidly changing tech landscape.