Gautam Adani said India must forge its own development path while leveraging artificial intelligence to support workers and small enterprises on Monday [1].
The address highlights a strategic shift in how India intends to scale its economy without mirroring the trajectories of other global superpowers. By focusing on energy supply chain resilience and inclusive tech, the Adani Group Chairman signaled a move toward a more decentralized growth model.
Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2026 [2] in New Delhi, Adani said the hurdles facing energy supply chains and the transition toward electric mobility are critical [3]. He said the integration of AI should not be reserved for large corporations.
"AI must empower workers and small businesses, not just corporates," Adani said [4].
He said India's economic evolution is unique because it is driven by immediate, domestic demand rather than abstract future projections. He said the goal is to scale millions of small enterprises [5] to ensure that growth is distributed across the workforce.
"India's path will not be America's or China's path because we are not building for an abstract future; we are building for a living, rising, demanding India," Adani said [6].
Beyond AI, the chairman said securing energy supply chains is necessary to maintain economic stability. He linked the success of the electric vehicle sector to these broader infrastructure improvements, suggesting that the synergy between energy security and new mobility will define the next phase of industrial growth [3].
“AI must empower workers and small businesses, not just corporates.”
Adani's emphasis on a non-Western and non-Chinese model suggests a push for 'economic sovereignty' that prioritizes domestic demand and grassroots scalability. By advocating for AI tools for small businesses, he is addressing a critical gap in the digital divide that could otherwise lead to increased wealth concentration among large tech-enabled firms.
