NEW DELHI —Jio’s “Intelligence Era”: In a move reminiscent of the 2016 launch of Jio that triggered a global data revolution, Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani has set his sights on a new frontier: Artificial Intelligence. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Mr. Ambani announced a monumental investment of ₹10 lakh crore over the next seven years to build a sovereign AI infrastructure for India.
The announcement positions Reliance not just as a participant in the AI race, but as a “co-architect” of a new global AI century.
Jio’s “Intelligence Era”: A Vision of “Super Abundance”
Mr. Ambani framed the current global state of AI as a “fork in the road.” On one side lies a path of scarce, expensive AI and controlled data; on the other, a path toward affordable and accessible intelligence.
“The best of AI is yet to come,” Mr. Ambani told the audience. “AI can usher in an era of super abundance. India cannot afford to rent intelligence. Therefore, we will reduce the cost of intelligence as dramatically as we did the cost of data.”
Breaking the Compute Constraint
Identifying the high cost of computing power as the primary bottleneck for innovation, Mr. Ambani outlined a strategy to build Jio Intelligence through three massive infrastructure initiatives:
- Gigawatt-Scale Data Centres: Multi-gigawatt AI-ready data centres are being established in Jamnagar. The first 120 MW is expected to go live in the second half of 2026, with a roadmap to reach gigawatt-scale capacity.
- Green Energy Backing: To power these energy-hungry centres, Reliance will utilize up to 10 GW of surplus renewable power from its projects in Kutch and Andhra Pradesh.
- Nationwide Edge Network: A distributed edge compute network will be integrated directly into Jio’s existing telecom infrastructure, bringing “intelligence” closer to the user.
Jio’s “Intelligence Era”: The Five Principles of Jio Intelligence
Mr. Ambani emphasized that this ₹10 lakh crore is “patient, disciplined nation-building capital,” not speculative investment. This capital will fund a strategy built on five core pillars:
- Productivity First: Moving beyond simple “search or ask” tools, Jio AI will focus on multiplying efficiency in manufacturing, logistics, and retail.
- Multilingual Inclusion: AI models will support 22 Indian languages. “When farmers and artisans speak to AI in their own words, this is inclusion,” Ambani noted.
- Security and Trust: Data residency and security will be fundamental guarantees.
- Job Creation: Ambani pushed back against AI-related fears, asserting that the technology will create new, high-skill work opportunities rather than taking jobs away.
- Ecosystem Depth: Jio intends to partner with Indian startups, IITs, IISc, and global tech giants to move from importing intelligence to creating global breakthroughs in foundation models.
Jio’s “Intelligence Era”: AI for Every Citizen: Early Applications
The summit provided a first look at the “Jio Intelligence” suite of products designed for social impact:
| Platform | Sector | Function |
| Jio Shikshak | Education | Adaptive AI teaching assistant in 22 languages. |
| Jio Arogya AI | Healthcare | Initial medical guidance in local languages in under 5 minutes. |
| Jio Krishi | Agriculture | Voice-based advice using satellite and weather data. |
| Jio Bharat IQ | Consumer | A voice-first AI assistant to help users “learn, earn, and access.” |
Positioning India as an AI Superpower
Mukesh Ambani concluded by highlighting India’s unique advantages: a digital base of nearly 1 billion internet users, Aadhaar, UPI, and a vibrant startup ecosystem. He framed India as a vital bridge between the Global South and the Global North.
“India will emerge as one of the greatest AI powers in the world in the 21st century,” he stated, calling for a future where AI is “ubiquitous as connectivity.” As future devices like Jio Frames (smart glasses) become ambient in daily life, the goal is clear: to ensure that innovation becomes “inevitable” for every Indian citizen.