Why is India behind China in AI race? Zerodha's Nithin Kamath blames 'Jugaad' mentality for it amid DeepSeek buzz
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Kamath points to China’s latest AI achievement, DeepSeek, as a glaring example of India's missed opportunity. Developed with a budget of just $6 million, DeepSeek has already outperformed OpenAI's models, topped the iOS App Store, and outshined Meta in the open-source AI space. “Say what you will about the differences in our worldviews and economic models, but their scientific and technological progress is undeniable across disciplines—DeepSeek is just the latest example,” Kamath said.
The 'Jugaad' Mentality: A Short-Term Fix
This development has triggered a wider debate among Indian tech leaders, who are questioning why India isn’t at the forefront of AI advancements. For Kamath, the issue runs deeper than just a lack of funding or infrastructure. «I think the problem that has always plagued India is short-termism. Problems are typically addressed through a patchwork or the Jugaad mentality. This is true when it comes to business, politics, regulatory approaches, etc. Many problems that require focused long-term thinking instead get band-aid fixes,» he explained.
Kamath emphasizes that simply investing in GPUs and hoping to create groundbreaking AI applications is not enough. «You can’t just buy GPUs and expect Indians to create groundbreaking AI applications. Without the right talent and an enabling
