Emergence of Sector-Specific AI with an Indian Focus: Leading the Way in Domestic AI Solutions, according to Ankur Mittal, Co-Founder, IPV
In an insightful opinion piece published by our international franchise of Media, it is argued that the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) lies in its vertical evolution. This approach, known as Vertical AI, is proving to be more precise, effective, and relevant in real-life applications compared to generic AI.
The Indian market, brimming with opportunities, is open to AI adoption. From multinational companies and hospitals to neighborhood farmers and government departments, the potential for AI integration is vast.
In the healthcare sector, companies like Tempus and PathAI use medical history and pathology information to enhance diagnosis and treatment. In India, Vertical AI is making a significant impact, aiding physicians in quicker and more precise diagnosis and assisting farmers in improving crop quality and yield.
One such example is BrainSightAI’s Ocellux, an AI-based smartphone retinal imaging device for early diabetic eye screening. Another is AI-powered wearables that detect musculoskeletal joint health and pain, enabling precise physiotherapy assessments.
The legal field is another area where Vertical AI is making strides. Legal AI platforms like Harvey, supported by OpenAI, automate legal research by incorporating jurisdictional knowledge. In India, while specific legal AI applications are not yet extensively outlined, AI-driven privacy technologies and cybersecurity solutions are crucial for legal compliance and data security.
Agriculture AI platforms such as PEAT's Plantix assist farmers with diagnosing plant diseases from smartphone images. In India, Krishi Sah‘AI’yak and KissanCopilot are AI conversational assistants providing personalized agricultural advice in multiple Indian languages, addressing localized farming challenges.
In the manufacturing sector, AI applications are improving factory safety, logistics streamlining, and production line optimization. Tata Elxsi's collaboration integrates AI-based vision systems for advanced driver assistance and autonomous capabilities in heavy machinery and agricultural equipment.
The finance sector is also benefiting from Vertical AI. AI is streamlining insurance claims processing and improving transparency in healthcare finance interactions. Agentic AI in BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) is enabling personalized credit decisions, real-time fraud detection, and AI-powered customer service agents.
As more industries get digitized, new use cases for vertical AI will continue to emerge. India, with a maturing startup ecosystem and abundant human capital, has the potential to take the lead in creating AI that is Indian-centric for Indian issues. The benefits of Vertical AI far outweigh the challenges, such as bias and overfitting.
In conclusion, Vertical AI, developed using deep, industry-level data sets, addresses specific issues within its respective industry. As we move forward, embracing this vertical approach to AI will undoubtedly bring about tailored and impactful solutions across sectors in India.
A burgeoning startup in the finance sector, named Agentic, is leveraging Vertical AI to deliver personalized credit decisions, real-time fraud detection, and AI-powered customer service agents, thereby streamlining operations and improving transparency.
In the realm of agriculture, Krishi Sah'AI'yak and KissanCopilot, Indian-centric AI conversational assistants, are providing farmers with personalized advice in multiple Indian languages, assisting them in overcoming localized farming challenges.
