In the News

I feel really privileged to be here today with you all. You know, it's interesting that this is a historic moment. We are making history. Let me repeat, today we are making history. And I am even more privileged that we are doing it from a very special institution, a marquee institution, IIT Madras. Hats off to IIT Madras, hats off to the Director IIT Madras, and hats off to Professor Kamakoti. I am separately mentioning Director IIT Madras and Professor Kamakoti because Professor Kamakoti is contributing in both capacities, both as a Director of the Institute as well as in his individual capacity. You already have seen what he covered and you will get to see as the day unfolds. So it was Professor C.K. Prahlad, the well-known management guru of University of Michigan, who in the year 2000 showcased to the world a series of frugal innovation, frugal innovations from India: Bombay Dabbawala in the West, Jaipur Foot in the North, Aravind Eye Hospital in the South, and a whole bunch of them. And each and every one of those frugal innovations, India demonstrated world-class solutions at very affordable costs, bringing the affordability to the center stage. And what we are doing today with the launch of Kompact AI, India is innovating again. India is innovating again, not in any field, but in a very special field in what is called the cutting edge, the bleeding edge, the deep tech AI. From today, AI development and AI deployment, let me repeat, AI development and AI deployment will be democratized in line with India's AI mission, AI for all. You know, tools from OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, AWS are critically depending on GPUs, as Professor Kamakoti mentioned. With limited availability and affordability of GPUs, on the top of it, sanctions from US, Indian researchers and professionals were at a disadvantage until today. India will also develop a GPU, but it will take some time. With the launch today by the Ziroh Labs of Kompact AI, AI solutions can be developed at a fraction of a cost using CPUs that are available in plenty, without the forced need of GPU. I'm not saying we will not use GPU, GPUs will be used, but we should not be forced to use GPUs. AI models today have the excessive use of electrical power using GPU, a point which Professor Kamakoti mentioned. And I think starting talking at the IIT Madras platform, we should kind of realize that the Indian wisdom has been talking of Dharma. You all know Dharma is at the root of civilizational living. There's a Sanskrit expression which says, Dharma dharigati prajah. Dharma is the one which sustains the civilization. And so it is the sustainability at the core when you actually have solutions that does not make too much dependence on electrical power, you are also providing sustainable solutions. So what we have today through Kompact AI is affordable, available, sustainable AI tools and techs on sustainability. I think thanks to Kompact AI, India is kind of getting its chance to innovate again. I feel particularly happy and proud that I have been kind of watching at close quarters, Ziroh Labs and Hrishikesh, the creators of Kompact AI from day minus one. It's a great privilege to be associated with them. A great day ahead and enjoy the rest of the day. Take a look at the demos. As they say, some of you should fall off your seats.