Gautam Adani opens AI centre in Baramati, says youth must lead age of intelligence

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Sunday said that India is beginning a defining period where technology, talent, and national purpose need to move together and urged the next generation to rise and lead the age of artificial intelligence.

"India's enduring strength lies in aligning people, institutions, and long-term vision. The same clarity must now guide young Indians as they approach artificial intelligence or AI, not as passive users but as builders and leaders of capability," Adani said while addressing the inauguration of Vidya Pratishthan's Sharad Pawar Centre of Excellence In Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AI) in Baramati, Maharashtra.

Acknowledging anxieties around AI, he reminded the audience that history gives grounds for reassurance. "Every major technological transition from the industrial revolutions to India's very own 'Digital Amrit' has increased human possibility," said the Chairman of Adani Group.

"AI will take this even further by putting intelligence and productivity directly in the hands of ordinary citizens, opening pathways for youth from every background to participate in growth," he added. Gautam Adani also warned that AI leadership cannot be outsourced. "In a world where intelligence increasingly shapes economic power and national influence, dependence on foreign algorithms carries risk," he said.

"Data, decision-making and capability must remain anchored in national interest. Building indigenous AI models, strong compute capacity and resilient intelligence ecosystems is essential to India's economic security, cultural confidence and strategic freedom," the billionaire industrialist said.

Gautam Adani along with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar during inauguration of Pawar Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in Baramati. Placing this vision in context, Gautam Adani pointed to the growing role of the Adani Group in the global AI ecosystem.

The diversified conglomerate is investing big in data centers, digital infrastructure, and clean energy that powers compute at scale, drawing in sustained engagement from global technology leaders such as Google and Microsoft, as India emerges as a serious hub for AI-led growth.

The centre of excellence is established under Baramati-based educational trust Vidya Pratishthan, with a contribution of Rs 25 crore contributed by Gautam Adani in 2023.

This is a call for research proposals in advanced research, skill development, and industry-oriented training in emerging technologies under the initiative. People associated with the project said it will focus on applications of AI in agriculture, healthcare, governance, and industry, among others, with strong collaboration between academia and the private sector.