In a discussion on AI’s transformative potential for manufacturing, Vishal Dhupar, MD of Asia South at NVIDIA explored the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play in reshaping the sector—particularly in India, where rapid industrial growth presents both opportunities and challenges.

With a strong emphasis on India’s potential to lead in AI-driven manufacturing, Dhupar stated, “India has large grand challenges, and applying AI to solve these will not only benefit India, but will also provide valuable insights to the world.”

Dhupar noted that India’s greenfield projects—new manufacturing plants — provide a unique opportunity to integrate AI right from the start, ensuring sustainability and operational efficiency.

Leveraging simulation technologies

He also highlighted how simulation technologies are evolving to support AI-driven improvements in manufacturing. Dhupar pointed out the importance of integrating AI with physical processes, stating, “The world of manufacturing is about physical AI and it can’t be described in words. We need to teach models physics and we need to create a new foundation, a new world model.”

He explained that AI must evolve to handle complex, real-world scenarios, such as those faced by autonomous vehicles. “Manufacturing processes need to be optimised for real-world physics,” he said, drawing parallels with the autonomous car industry, where AI must navigate unpredictable environments in real-time.

AI driving sustainability and efficiency

The discussion significantly centred around AI’s potential to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in manufacturing. Dhupar highlighted that each per cent efficiency saved in production could result in a significant reduction in carbon emissions. This, he argued, could be equivalent to removing 20 million cars from the road.

Dhupar also referenced the rapid evolution of AI technology, particularly, the introduction of NVIDIA’s 'Transformer engine,' which is reshaping the possibilities of AI. He explained that while the initial costs of deploying AI technologies were high, prices are now falling significantly, making AI more accessible for industries of all sizes.

The path to AI adoption in manufacturing may be complex, but its long-term benefits—especially in terms of sustainability—are clear, positioning India at the forefront of the global shift toward smarter, greener industries.