Archive · 24 Sep 2026
India’s AI Ambitions Depend on Retaining Top Talent
India wants to become an important country for artificial intelligence.
It already has many technology workers and new companies.
Salesforce’s Vala Afshar said India must keep its best engineers, researchers and founders.
Many global companies are competing for these skilled people.
Some Indian founders now move to the United States earlier and build teams there.
This may make it harder for India to grow its own AI industry.
Training more people is important, but keeping experienced workers is also necessary.
Salesforce says it wants to give one million learners in India AI skills by 2030.
A Salesforce survey found that Indian workers were especially likely to say AI was part of their regular work.
Salesforce executive Vala Afshar said retaining Indian technology talent is vital to building a major AI hub.
Global technology companies are competing for skilled engineers, researchers and other AI professionals.
Indian founders are increasingly establishing themselves in the United States earlier and placing teams closer to customers and investors.
India’s large technology workforce and growing startup ecosystem provide a base for developing AI products for global markets.
Salesforce aims to equip one million Indian learners with AI skills by 2030 through partnerships with universities, government bodies and industry.
- Who
- Salesforce chief digital evangelist Vala Afshar, Indian technology workers and founders, and global technology companies.
- What
- The importance of retaining India’s technology talent as the country develops its artificial intelligence ecosystem.
- When
- Afshar discussed the issue during an interview held alongside Salesforce’s Dreamforce event; the articles do not specify the interview date.
- Where
- The interview took place in San Francisco, United States.
- Why
- Global companies are competing for AI expertise, while India seeks to build AI products, companies and a stronger domestic ecosystem.
- Speaker
- Vala Afshar, Salesforce chief digital evangelist
- Talent challenge
- India must retain experienced engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs
- Global competition
- Technology companies are competing for highly skilled AI professionals
- Founder trend
- More Indian founders are establishing themselves in the United States earlier
- Salesforce target
- Equip one million learners in India with AI skills by 2030
- Survey finding
- Indian workers were 45% more likely than the global average to say AI was part of their core workflow
- Event location
- Salesforce’s Dreamforce event took place in San Francisco