Anjali Agarwal

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With its inception around 5 decades ago, Internet has changed the world. It is one of the defining invention in the previous century which shall be remembered by the historians. While the dividends of internet are many and have been heavily studied, a large portion of the developing world is now reaping the benefits of the transformation capabilities of Internet. This blog discusses the impact of internet adoption in India and the true tangible changes it is bringing to the life of people.
With over 650 million phone users and 300 million smartphone users, India is now the second largest user of smartphones behind China. With falling smartphone prices and cheaper data connections, the Indians have taken to mobile internet as a fish to water.
The impact of enthusiastic adoption of mobile internet is hard to miss. With users flocking to online platforms for everyday needs like shopping, banking and ride hailing services, business models have been forced to adapt, change or perish. Increasing popularity of these platforms have given rise to billion dollar start-ups which are not only competing with their global competitors on their home turf, they are equally confident in taking them on foreign soil. Companies like Ola (a ride hailing service), Zomato (food-ordering) are competing with the Ubers and Grubhubs across geographies.
Similarly, for the residents, the long queues for availing government services are a distant memory. With government bringing their platforms online, the bureaucracy and the long service times are rapidly reducing. By changing the model of Public Distribution System and utilising the power of internet banking, government aids are now much better targeted and lead to less losses in distribution. Similar impact has been felt in case of disaster management and early warning systems which leads to saving lives and having an efficient rehabilitation program.
Similarly, a very large and important impact of Internet has been in education in India. According World Economic Forum findings, the nation has become the second largest market for e-learning after the US. Typically, a classroom only provides lectures for about an hour. These are also shared with 60 other students. Whereas services provided by online education providers are available at an individual level, around the clock. This is helping students in rural areas which were used to inefficient schooling systems due to lack of teachers and non-standardised teaching methodologies. With an ability to go beyond the prescribed courses, internet based learning are giving a wider and approachable platform to students.
Internet has acted as a tool of rapid advancement for a large population which had to face challenges in accessing the benefits the 21st century has brought. It has acted as a levelling tool which has made individuals realise the potential and the opportunities which lie ahead of them. With projections of almost double smartphone users by 2022 (600 mn), we are in a unique time and position to witness the domino effects of efficient technology adoption. While the country missed out on the industrial revolution, wide raging efforts are being undertaken to ensure this opportunity stands out.

Links:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/274658/forecast-of-mobile-phone-users-in-india/

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45095091

https://www.similarweb.com/blog/food-delivery-india-zomato-swiggy

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With the explosion of digital technology comes the age of AI and automation. World is seeing maximum disruption as well as evolution of Industries across economies. Financial sector is being reshaped by fintech approach, Manufacturing industry is using AI to make real-time production decisions, Healthcare is seeing major innovations and changing techniques brought about by AI, there is changed the scope of retail industry worldwide with AI and digitization. Self- driven cars are not far from becoming a common feature in Automobile industry so on and so forth.

Implementing AI and automation technology can uplift the global prosperity, when ageing and falling birth rates are dragging the growth. Labor productivity is an important aspect of economic growth and with the increasing automation and AI developments, productivity growth can take a U turn from decline phase to increasing trends. A consulting company identified that productivity-growth can increase by 2 percent annually over the next decade, with 60 percent of this increase will come from digital opportunities.

Automation can cut down almost half of the tasks that are performed daily on the job across all sectors. There are around 5 percent of jobs that are fully-automatable. Whereas majority of occupations have 30 percent of the activities that can be automated. This means that most of the workforce will start working alongside rapidly evolving machines, altering the nature of the work. As the manual and repetitive tasks would decrease, it will enable workers to handle more managerial and other work that machines can’t do. For example, AI algorithms can read diagnostic scans with a high degree of accuracy will help doctors diagnose patient cases and identify suitable treatment fast and with more personal attention.

The requirement for skill set will shift and the rate of this adaptation or skill improvement would be much faster as compared to last few decades. Alongside the demand for advanced technical skills, there will an increase demand for social skills, emotional skills for better critical thinking and higher cognitive skills. Below is an estimation of change in hours spent from 2016 to 2030 across various skills set.

skill shift

Well, whenever there is a transformation taking place there happens to be hurdles in the way. With automation and AI transformation there are challenges, some of them are technical and societal while others are related to human adaptability. There would be job displacements and income polarization in effect with the changing job scenarios, but again with the economic growth being realized though digitization will come in rise in demand. This increase in demand for goods and services would lead to creation of more and better skilled jobs. So there will be enough work for everyone alongside the technological advancements. This is close to ideal scenario and such growth can not be realized unless things happen in coordination. It requires policy makers to promote investments in infrastructure, sustainable energy, healthcare; Corporations to redesign workforce training programs and many more.

Technology brought the revolution before and now its time for greater evolution for every sector including human skills and capabilities.

Reference:

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/automation-displaced-workers-transition-by-laura-tyson-and-susan-lund-2017-12

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-organizations-and-work/ai-automation-and-the-future-of-work-ten-things-to-solve-for

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/meeting-societys-expectations/solving-the-productivity-puzzle

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/tech-disruption-good-economy

Mobile Internet and India

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