AI Rising: India’s Artificial Intelligence Growth Story by Leslie D’Monte and Jayanth N. Kolla
My take on the book:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been the buzz word for the past few years, but the interest in the topic has increased multi-fold for the last one year after Chat-GPT launch in Nov 2022. If you are also intrigued by what exactly is AI, its history and what does the future hold, then dive into the book AI Rising, as the book delves into all these topics, especially in the Indian context.
The book begins with setting the context and the scope of topics that will be covered along with a brief introduction of the history of AI especially concentrating on the recent innovations. The book touches on application/use cases of AI in each of the domains like medicine, banking, retail. This is explained using examples of AI in India especially with the opportunities that came up during/after the pandemic.
The next part looks at chatbots, drones and automation that is achievable; the next chapter looks at AI startups and their ecosystem in India. Data which is the most important requirement for a successful AI implementation and data quality over quantity is emphasized by the authors.
The past few years revolutionized the wide-spread usage and acceptance of digital payments and AI in this area along with that in crypto currency is explained. Translation from one language to another is a feature we have been using for many years, especially when it comes to foreign languages that we need to help understanding. However, in a country like India where there are a multitude of languages spoken across the length and breadth, including various accents, translation services for these vernacular languages will be a game changer for businesses.
The next chapter is dedicated to the AI enablers like NASSCOM and Tech hubs that help incubate and fund research ideas. This section also discusses the super-apps being launched across the globe. The final section focuses on the most critical and important aspects — bias, ethics, deepfakes and how policies should be framed taking into consideration the legal repercussions. The book ends with a final look at the more futuristic and ambitious like metaverse.
The authors cover most topics that anyone enthusiastic to read and learn about AI would look forward to, using simple language and abundant real-life examples. The book is also well paced and consolidated into meaningful chapters and sections. If you are a total novice to the concepts of AI or a beginner or have prior knowledge of the topic, this book caters to all sections of readers.
My rating:
5/5.