NVIDIA & Reliance to jointly build AI infrastructure in India in major boost for IndiaAI mission

Reliance Industries and NVIDIA have reaffirmed their partnership and announced that they wil be developing advanced AI infrastructure in India.

NVIDIA’s founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, made the announcement alongside Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani during a fireside chat at the NVIDIA AI Summit 2024 in Mumbai.

Both leaders emphasised their commitment to building AI systems that could accelerate the use and accessibility of artificial intelligence across the country.

“India has a very large population of users, and that is a great advantage in developing an AI flywheel,” said Huang.

Recollecting a conversation he had with PM Modi a long time ago, Huang emphasised the need to have one’s own infrastructure around intelligence and data. “Manufacturing of intelligence should be a part of your infrastructure,” he said.

He also recollected how PM Modi told him that India should not have to export data to import intelligence, just like it wouldn’t want to export flour

“India has an immense amount of data available, at Jio and various other avenues. In order to lead in AI, you need AI model technology, which India has, you need massive quantities of data, and the final thing you need is AI infrastructure. We are announcing that Reliance and NVIDIA will now build AI infrastructure in India,” said Jensen Huang.

Huang laid out the core elements needed to excel in AI: cutting-edge model technology, vast amounts of data, and robust infrastructure. India, he suggested, is uniquely positioned to lead the charge, given its abundant data and a massive population ready to engage with these technologies.

This combination, according to Huang, has the potential to spark a self-sustaining “AI flywheel” that drives further innovation and growth.

As part of their efforts, NVIDIA and Reliance plan to develop AI infrastructure that will far surpass the capabilities of India’s current fastest supercomputer.

Ambani compared this AI initiative to Reliance Jio’s disruptive impact on the telecom sector, expressing hope that AI could become similarly accessible and affordable across India.

“We were waiting for NVIDIA’s GB200 processors to mature, it was important for India to start with the absolute best that is available. We are planning a massive scale-up in Jamnagar. We are building a capacity of 1 Gigawatts, which can then be expanded to multiple Gigawatts at the same location. We already have the green power so we don’t have to rely on anyone else for energy,” said Ambani.

“I believe it is important that we repeat with AI what we did with Jio, especially for India and its people — for intelligence to be really affordable, and available to the common people. We are building this infrastructure so that the people of India can access AI without having to change their devices, their phones,” he added.

He highlighted the importance of creating infrastructure that seamlessly integrates with existing devices, ensuring that users don’t need to upgrade their phones or computers to benefit from AI-powered services.

The responsibility, Ambani stressed, lies in building a system robust enough to carry the technological load, leaving customers free to enjoy the benefits without additional hardware burdens.

The partnership between NVIDIA and Reliance signals a new phase in India’s AI journey, with the goal of making AI not just an elite tool but something available to everyone. By leveraging their strengths, the companies aim to set the foundation for widespread AI adoption, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and bringing India to the forefront of the global AI race.