Indian Tech Leaders Discuss AI Scaling Challenges

Indian technology companies are navigating the complexities of scaling artificial intelligence products for a vast user base that relies on budget smartphones, supports multiple languages, and experiences inconsistent network connectivity.

At Inc42's The CTO Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, executives from leading firms like ShareChat, Moj, Meesho, Rapido, and Shadowfax shared their strategies for overcoming these adoption barriers. Discussions covered diverse applications, from voice-enabled shopping assistants to tools for delivery personnel.

The rapid evolution of AI models presents an ongoing challenge, necessitating infrastructure that allows companies to switch providers without costly application overhauls. Nitin Jain, CTO at ShareChat and Moj, advised against vendor lock-in, emphasizing ShareChat's focus on flexible infrastructure for model swapping and performance assessment.

India-specific constraints have significantly shaped technology development. With users often on mid-range phones and limited bandwidth, companies must support numerous languages and deliver competitive experiences despite lower monetization potential. This has led to substantial investments in data processing and recommendation systems.

Meesho has introduced Vaani, a voice-led shopping assistant designed to simplify product discovery, particularly for users with limited digital literacy. The company reported a 22% increase in conversions among Vaani users in certain regions and is exploring on-device AI to manage costs.

Rapido has developed software layers enabling the use and management of various AI models. Shadowfax is leveraging AI for improved address matching and location accuracy, aiming to reduce delivery delays and associated costs.