‘No one wants to miss the AI bus’: India Inc resets strategy as AI takes over boardroom
A senior advisor to the company told ET on condition of anonymity that an independent woman director would help improve efficiency, streamline business processes and provide a competitive advantage. “This is true of almost all boardroom discussions. No one wants to miss the AI bus, and everyone is thinking about how they can win,” he said.
Overwhelmed by the pace of technological change, board meetings now spend a significant amount of time discussing AI-related strategies and future planning, legal and industry experts said.
Companies are also bringing more tech-savvy members to their boards to help drive this change.
Focus on Measurable Results
“Boards are increasingly concerned about the impact of AI on their business, a trend that has accelerated in the last two quarters,” said Mahesh Makhija, partner and technology consultancy leader at EY India.
For digitally native industries, the transition is even sharper. “These include professional services such as IT/BPO, legal and tax, e-commerce and media. The impact for these industries is existential,” said Makhija. Rohit Jain, managing partner of law firm Singhania & Co and an independent director at a biotech manufacturing firm, said AI and its implications have dominated board meetings in recent months. “This is true even for manufacturing industries like ours,” he said.
“Boards are no longer asking whether AI will be adopted; they want a clear, time-bound roadmap,” said Rajesh Uppal, former managing director of Maruti Suzuki India, who now sits on the boards of automotive and automotive supply companies. According to him, conversations now focus directly on measurable business results. “Last month we reviewed the administration’s AI roadmap (for one of the listed auto companies) and provided clear feedback. A revised, more results-oriented plan is expected this month.”
Experts said companies have set up special units to promote the adoption of artificial intelligence.
“Management and most of the board assumed the problem was more macro and geopolitical than AI, and that has been corrected,” said Yugal Joshi, partner at research firm Everest Group. He said the pressure caused by AI in service industries has been clearly visible in the last nine months.
