India poised to lead world in AI project count, says Microsoft India IDC president

India is likely to emerge as the global leader in the number of artificial intelligence projects, according to Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director and President of the Microsoft India Development Center.

Speaking at the Microsoft AI Infrastructure Summit India, Kumar said the shift to AI confronts companies with a dual challenge: building new AI-driven solutions while sustaining and advancing the core capabilities they already possess. He described the situation as a paradox, noting that firms must be willing to invent offerings that could disrupt their own established strengths. Microsoft, he added, is working through the same dilemma.

Kumar said the true measure of any technology is whether it has a positive impact on every citizen, rather than its capacity to replace human workers. The central question, he argued, is whether AI can expand people's agency and ambition while preserving their dignity. He framed the goal as one of assistance rather than substitution.

As an example, he pointed to the use of AI-assisted video analysis in railway operations. Such tools, he said, can free up workers' time to spot components that may need attention, improving safety. He described this as combining human capital with token capital, and noted that failures and accidents on the railways can cost lives.

Kumar also said AI is set to reshape every aspect of life and could significantly alter the trajectory of economic growth. Referring to GDP growth, he said that from levels of about 2 to 3 percent, AI is expected to drive growth of 20 percent.