Kamalesh ArumugamAt Reliance Industries Ltd.’s (RIL) 47th Annual General Meeting, Chairman Mukesh Ambani presented an ambitious vision to transform RIL into a global leader in deep technology. His keynote highlighted RIL’s commitment to innovation, with a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing.
Ambani’s speech focused on developing the AI across the conglomerate’s diverse businesses, from oil to telecom. He shared his vision of Reliance’s future, emphasizing that breakthrough technologies are the biggest creators of wealth for both nations and corporations. Ambani firmly believes that by embracing deep-tech, RIL is on track to become one of the world’s top 30 most valuable companies.
Key Highlights from the AGM:
Investment in R&D:
RIL’s deep-tech push is backed by significant investments in research and development. The company spent over ₹3,643 crore ($437 million) on R&D in FY24, with total spending exceeding ₹11,000 crore ($1.5 billion) in the last four years. With more than 1,000 scientists and researchers, RIL is focusing on cutting-edge projects across all business verticals.
Core of RIL’s Strategy:
AI was mentioned over 50 times during Ambani’s address. Jio, a key player in RIL’s tech portfolio, now holds over 350 patents in 5G and 6G technologies. Last year alone, RIL filed more than 2,500 patents in areas such as bio-energy, solar, green energy, and high-value chemicals.
Green Energy and Battery Storage:
RIL is working to harness low-cost solar energy and plans to build an integrated advanced chemistry battery manufacturing facility with a 30 GWh annual capacity at Jamnagar. This facility will support energy storage solutions for utility-scale applications and consumer markets.
Connected Intelligence with AI:
Ambani introduced the concept of “Connected Intelligence,” which aims to make AI services accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background. Jio will offer 100 GB of free cloud storage for users to store and access digital content. Additionally, Jio plans to launch its AI-Cloud by Diwali, making AI-powered services more affordable and accessible.
AI Data Centers Powered by Green Energy:
RIL is setting up AI-ready data centers in Jamnagar, powered entirely by green energy, ensuring sustainability while advancing AI capabilities. This initiative aligns with RIL’s commitment to a greener future.
To secure its leadership in AI, RIL is investing in talent development through a partnership with Jio Institute. The new AI program aims to cultivate top AI talent in India, equipping the next generation with the skills needed to drive innovation.
Jio Brain and AI Phonecalls:
RIL is embedding AI into all processes, streamlining workflows with real-time insights and automation. One exciting innovation is Jio Phonecall AI, which can record and transcribe calls, summarize conversations, and even translate them into different languages. These features aim to make communication more accessible and efficient for all users.
AI with Privacy and Security:
Ambani emphasized that all AI models and services will be hosted within India’s borders, ensuring full compliance with the nation’s data and privacy regulations. This commitment to security and privacy is a cornerstone of RIL’s AI strategy.
Conclusion:
Mukesh Ambani’s blueprint for RIL reflects the company’s commitment to deep-tech and AI-driven innovation. With a focus on AI, green energy, and talent development, RIL is well-positioned to secure a place among the world’s top 30 most valuable companies. As RIL continues to evolve, its integration of technology across industries signals a new era of growth and leadership on the global stage.
Kamalesh Arumugam
