AI Labs are Becoming the Brain of Every Smart Company
Across industries, organisations are increasingly integrating AI into a wide range of use cases in a bid to accelerate the pace of development.
While adopting AI is certainly a good start, researching, experimenting, or building something on top of it can help organisations level up their AI capabilities. Establishing an AI lab can play a key role in enabling this next level of progress.
In an exclusive interaction with AIM, Rahul Jha, vice president of cloud, GenAI and cybersecurity at Visionet Systems, offered insights into this approach and explained how his company utilises an AI lab to drive innovation.
The State of AI Labs in India and the World
This year, Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola, introduced Krutrim AI Labs and released various open-source AI models designed to fit India’s distinct linguistic and cultural context.
Startup Soket AI Labs has unveiled Project EKA, an ambitious initiative to develop state-of-the-art foundation models that compete with global AI systems with a focus on India’s landscape.
The initiative aims to bring together AI researchers, engineers, and institutions nationwide to create multilingual, efficient AI models that address India’s requirements while also competing on a global level.
Moreover, a Hyderabad-based AI startup aims to build an AI lab in orbit.
Recently, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal pointed out that while Chinese firms are leading advancements in semiconductors, robotics, electric vehicles, and battery technologies, many Indian startups focus on “fancy ice creams” and grocery delivery.
Investors also believe that startups providing solutions often cater to a limited range of use cases, falling short in terms of scalability and real impact. According to Surabhi Sanyukta, VP of investment at BlackSoil, this disappointment, alongside wider market adjustments and stricter capital availability, has led to more cautious and discerning funding practices.
Problems like these could be solved by having more AI labs, where organisations can focus on building and innovating, thereby boosting investors’ confidence.
Globally, the AI landscape is witnessing numerous developments—one notable example being AMD’s $665 million acquisition of Silo AI, Europe’s largest private AI lab.
Developments like these signal that AI labs have significant value and can be beneficial for most companies seeking to leverage AI.
How Useful are AI Labs for Enterprises
When asked if AI literacy can get a boost with the help of AI labs, Jha told AIM, “Absolutely, there’s no doubt about it. AI labs help you structure your thoughts on how it should be done. And that’s why you have a team that’s doing this day in and day out. If you do not have your AI lab, you’re relying on somebody else’s knowledge or advice.”
He emphasised that it is easy to consume AI tools or services if one has already tested them in an AI lab.
With an AI lab, organisations can provide targeted enablement courses. Jha explained that instead of directing employees to try the tools in a vague manner, one can pinpoint exactly how and what to do.
For instance, Visionet Systems has been building its own MCP marketplace for various use cases. The real-life use cases from all of these, combined with agents, will open up a targeted learning path.
Hence, training sessions and courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of employees.
He also shared that having an AI lab helps organisations attract talent and upskill employees. Jha highlighted that the AI lab has become a good jump starter for them, where they build numerous solutions and then let people within the organisation consume them. This has become a cornerstone for skill development within the organisation.
“So we have built the AI lab, and one of the biggest reasons is we want our community of builders to be aware of the art of possibility. What’s the future? And they should not feel threatened by new technology or new advancements,” he added.
Jha explained that AI labs will empower engineers to become experts in their field and adopt a building mindset.
“As a lead, one of my core objectives is to enable all my builders so that they can come play, build and have fun,” he concluded.
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