Mukesh Ambani calls for AI self-reliance as he unveils Reliance’s next growth strategy

At Reliance Industries’ 49th AGM, Mukesh Ambani outlined an ambitious vision for India-led artificial intelligence innovation, urging the nation to build indigenous capabilities and positioning AI as a cornerstone of Reliance’s future growth strategy.

India’s largest private-sector conglomerate is sharpening its focus on artificial intelligence, with Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani declaring that AI will play a pivotal role in both the company’s future and India’s technological advancement.

Speaking at Reliance Industries’ 49th Annual General Meeting on June 19, Ambani emphasized that India must move beyond being a user of technologies developed abroad and instead emerge as a global innovator in artificial intelligence. He said the country should prioritize AI capability-building in the same way it has pursued energy security and other strategic national objectives.

Ambani reiterated his belief that artificial intelligence represents a transformative force for economies and societies. He stressed that India has the talent, scale and opportunity to become a leading AI nation rather than relying solely on imported technologies. According to him, developing domestic expertise and innovation in AI will be critical to securing India’s long-term competitiveness.

Reliance intelligence enters execution phase

A key highlight of Ambani’s address was the progress of Reliance Intelligence, the company’s artificial intelligence venture that was unveiled last year. The initiative is now moving from planning to implementation, marking what Ambani described as the beginning of a new growth chapter for the group.

Reliance Intelligence is being developed as a comprehensive AI ecosystem encompassing infrastructure, platforms and services. The venture is expected to strengthen Reliance’s presence across digital technologies while expanding beyond the telecom and internet services that have driven the growth of Jio.

Ambani said the company’s objective is to make AI widely accessible, enabling businesses, institutions and individuals to benefit from advanced technologies. The strategy aligns with Reliance’s broader digital ambitions and its efforts to build technology capabilities at scale.

Focus shifts to homegrown innovation

The Reliance chairman also highlighted a broader transformation within the group’s technology strategy. Rather than primarily adopting and integrating external technologies, Reliance is increasingly investing in the creation of proprietary intellectual property and original solutions.

He called upon engineers and innovators to address complex challenges with national and global significance, promising access to the resources, infrastructure and freedom needed to build impactful technology solutions.

Linking the AI initiative to a wider push for economic resilience, Ambani noted that ongoing geopolitical uncertainties have underscored the importance of self-reliance in critical sectors. He argued that India must strengthen domestic capabilities across advanced technologies, energy resources and critical minerals.

With Reliance Intelligence now entering its operational phase, artificial intelligence is poised to become a major pillar of Reliance Industries’ next stage of digital expansion, complementing its existing connectivity, cloud and technology businesses.