India is poised to lead the next wave of global innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and energy intelligence, Schneider Electric CEO Olivier Blum said on Thursday, highlighting the country’s engineering talent and digital capabilities, reports PTI.
Speaking at the AI Impact Summit, Blum said India is entering a phase where it can become a central hub in the global AI revolution, supported by strong government backing and industry participation. “If you can crack the code in India, you can succeed anywhere in the world,” he said, pointing to the country’s combination of cost efficiency, innovation and a large pool of engineers.
Blum said India’s strengths in power, automation and digital technologies position it well as AI reshapes industries and energy systems. “We are starting a new phase of the planet, a new technology revolution, which is called AI, where India can be the place where a lot of innovation starts,” he said.
Referring to India’s creativity — often described as “jugaad” — he said the country has the capability to design systems that can solve complex global challenges.
For Schneider Electric, India is not just another market but a strategic centre. It is the company’s third-largest market globally, its largest in terms of employees with around 40,000 staff, and home to its biggest research and development centre with about 8,000 engineers, Blum said.
He also highlighted the growing interconnection between AI and energy systems. As electrification expands across sectors — from electric vehicles to heat pumps and industrial processes — AI-driven computing demand is adding further pressure on energy infrastructure.
“AI means more compute. More compute means more energy,” he said, underscoring the need for smarter and more efficient energy management systems.
