India vs China: Why country of techies can't create homegrown DeepSeek or Google? Entrepreneurs cite key problem
Sridhar Vembu, Chief Scientist of Zoho Corporation, responded to a frequently asked question from Indian engineers: “Why can’t India achieve what China did?” Vembu acknowledged that while India’s strengths lie in its democratic framework and diverse society, it must chart its own path rather than merely emulating China. He emphasised grassroots innovation and India’s demographic advantage, asserting, “India's strength lies in its ability to innovate and adapt to rapidly changing global dynamics.”
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This conversation has gained urgency in light of China's latest AI breakthrough: DeepSeek. The Chinese AI model has stunned global tech circles, outperforming OpenAI’s models, topping the iOS App Store, and displacing Meta in the open-source AI space—all at a fraction of the cost. DeepSeek’s success has reignited concerns among Indian tech leaders: Why isn’t India leading in AI?
What Makes DeepSeek So Significant?
DeepSeek R1, a large language model (LLM) comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, reportedly cost only $6 million to develop, whereas OpenAI spent $540 million on ChatGPT. Moreover, DeepSeek uses far fewer GPUs, significantly reducing operational costs. This frugal innovation, reminiscent of India’s own Chandrayaan-3 space mission, has shaken global markets.
Following the release
