India’s AI Godfather: Dr. Raj Reddy and the Rise of Artificial Intelligence in India

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global economy, and India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing AI hubs. At the heart of this journey is Dr. Raj Reddy, often called the “AI Godfather of India,” whose pioneering research in speech recognition and human-computer interaction laid the foundation for India’s AI ecosystem. Reddy, a Turing Award winner in 1994 for his contributions to AI, developed the Hearsay I system—the first capable of continuous speech recognition—and has influenced generations of Indian researchers.

This article traces the timeline of AI development in India, highlights the key leaders shaping the field, and explores how India is becoming a powerhouse in AI innovation and applications. As of 2025, India's AI market is valued at approximately US$5.10 billion, projected to grow at a CAGR of 43.76% to reach US$45 billion by 2031, driven by over 10,000 AI startups and significant investments in generative AI. In 2025 alone, 107 new AI startups were founded, with the sector attracting billions in funding amid a global AI investment surge of $33.9 billion in generative AI.

Timeline of AI Development in India: A Journey Through Decades

India's AI evolution spans from academic roots to widespread applications, with milestones reflecting global trends and local innovations.

1970s–1980s: The Visionary Foundations

• Dr. Raj Reddy, originally from India and later a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, made groundbreaking contributions to speech recognition and natural language processing (NLP). His work on systems like Hearsay I in the 1970s enabled computers to understand continuous speech, earning him the title “Father of AI in India.”

• This era laid the groundwork for AI research, with Reddy's influence inspiring early Indian institutions to explore human-computer interactions and robotics.

1990s: Academic & Research Growth

• Dr. Vijay Chandru and Dr. Vivek spearheaded research in robotics and computational sciences, expanding AI’s academic and industrial footprint. Chandru's work in geometric modeling and AI applications helped establish centers like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) as AI hubs.

• By the late 1990s, India had over 50 research papers published annually on AI topics, setting the stage for commercial applications.

2000s: The Digital Infrastructure Era

• Nandan Nilekani launched Aadhaar in 2009, the world’s largest biometric identity program, applying machine learning and data science at a massive scale. Covering over 1.3 billion people, it processes millions of authentications daily using AI for fraud detection.

• This decade saw AI integration in governance, with early investments in data infrastructure paving the way for India's digital economy, now valued at over $1 trillion.

2010s: AI Startups & Applied Innovation

• Dr. Prashant Warier founded Qure.ai in 2016, applying deep learning to medical diagnostics and revolutionizing healthcare AI. By 2025, Qure.ai's tools are used in over 100 countries, analyzing 10 million+ scans annually for diseases like tuberculosis.

• Milan Sharma co-founded Intello Labs in 2016, leveraging AI for food supply chain and quality assessment, transforming agritech. The platform uses computer vision to reduce food waste by 20-30% for clients across India.

• The 2010s witnessed a boom in AI startups, with over 1,000 founded by 2019, attracting $1.5 billion in investments.

2020s: The Foundational AI Wave

• Pratyush Kumar co-founded Sarvam AI in 2023, building India’s first sovereign multilingual foundational AI model. By 2025, Sarvam AI has raised $41 million and launched models supporting 10+ Indian languages, powering applications for 50 million users.

• Other key innovators:

  • Praveer Kochhar (KOGO AI): Enterprise AI solutions, serving 200+ corporations with predictive analytics tools.

  • Adarsh Natarajan (Aindra Systems): Affordable cancer diagnostics, deploying AI kits in 500+ rural clinics.

  • Pratik Desai (KissanAI): Smart agriculture with vernacular AI tools, assisting 1 million+ farmers via voice-based apps.

  • Jo Aggarwal (Wysa): AI-powered mental health chatbot, with 5 million+ users globally and partnerships with India's National Health Mission.

  • Aravind Srinivas (Perplexity): Next-gen AI research, leading to tools with 10 million+ monthly queries.

• In 2025, India's AI sector includes top companies like Wipro AI, Infosys AI, TCS AI, and HCL Technologies AI, contributing to a projected $28.8 billion market by year-end.

Key People Driving India’s AI Ecosystem: Profiles of Innovators

Here’s a curated list of influential figures, presented in a table for clarity:

Name	Role/Contribution	Key Achievements (as of 2025)
Dr. Raj Reddy	AI pioneer; speech recognition & NLP	Turing Award 1994; Mentored 100+ PhDs; Influenced India's AI policy.
Dr. Vijay Chandru	Early robotics and AI research leader	Founded Strand Life Sciences; Over 50 patents in computational biology.
Dr. Vivek	Multidisciplinary AI research in India	Advanced AI in education and healthcare; Collaborated on national AI missions.
Nandan Nilekani	Architect of Aadhaar, digital public goods	Aadhaar serves 1.3B+ users; Co-founded Infosys, driving $10B+ in AI revenues.
Pratyush Kumar	Co-founder, Sarvam AI; Foundational multilingual AI	Raised $41M; Models used by 50M+ users in vernacular languages.
Prashant Warier	Founder, Qure.ai; Healthcare AI innovator	Analyzes 10M+ medical scans yearly; Expanded to 100+ countries.
Milan Sharma	Co-founder, Intello Labs; AI in food supply chains	Reduces food waste by 20-30%; Serves major retailers in India.
Praveer Kochhar	Founder, KOGO AI; Enterprise AI platforms	Solutions for 200+ enterprises; Focus on predictive maintenance.
Adarsh Natarajan	Founder, Aindra Systems; Affordable diagnostics	Deployed in 500+ clinics; AI for cervical cancer screening.
Pratik Desai	Founder, KissanAI; AI for agriculture	Assists 1M+ farmers; Voice AI in 10+ languages.
Jo Aggarwal	Founder, Wysa; AI mental health solutions	5M+ users; Integrated with government health programs.
Aravind Srinivas	CEO, Perplexity; Global AI research impact	AI search engine with 10M+ queries/month; Raised $250M+.

The Broader Impact of AI in India: Sectoral Transformations and Global Vision

India’s AI story began with Dr. Raj Reddy’s vision, but today it spans healthcare, agriculture, enterprise, mental wellness, and digital governance, contributing to a $7.84 billion market in 2025.

• Healthcare: AI-driven diagnostics like Qure.ai and Aindra Systems are making life-saving technology affordable, reducing diagnostic times by 50% in rural areas.

• Agritech: KissanAI and Intello Labs empower farmers with AI tools, boosting yields by 15-20% and minimizing losses in a sector employing 45% of India's workforce.

• Public Infrastructure: Aadhaar has become the backbone of India’s digital economy, enabling AI-powered services like targeted welfare distribution to 800 million+ beneficiaries.

• Global Innovation: With startups like Sarvam AI and Perplexity, India is positioning itself as a leader in sovereign AI development. The generative AI segment alone is valued at INR 85.34 billion in 2024, projected to reach INR 671.83 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 42.07%.

\Future Outlook: India's AI Trajectory Toward 2030 and Beyond

As AI continues to evolve, India is not just adopting—it’s innovating and exporting AI solutions to the world. Predictions indicate the AI market could reach $130.63 billion by 2032, with the broader IT sector surpassing $400 billion by 2030, driven by AI integration. Initiatives like AI Talent Hubs aim to skill 1 million professionals by 2026, ensuring inclusive growth and positioning India to contribute $500 billion to its GDP through AI by 2025. With leaders like Reddy inspiring the next generation, India's AI ecosystem is set for exponential impact.