Artificial Intelligence Stocks in India: The Robot Uprising is Here!

The early 1900s were the beginning of sci-fi movies, and we haven't looked back since. What began with the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz has shaped into Ultron from Avengers. Our obsession with technology and robotics has grown over time, and so have our expectations of it. How many of us start our day by using facial recognition to unlock our phones or asking Alexa the weather for the day? We are completely drowned in technology and ironically dependent on it to float as well. Simple daily acts, be it using navigation, clearing our Email spam folder or watching a movie based on Netflix recommendations, aren't possible without applying Artificial Intelligence. We've all heard people using the term "AI" to sound like they know what they're talking about- but what are they talking about? 

What is Artificial Intelligence? 

Artificial Intelligence is a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. In other words, machines are incorporated with human-like intelligence to perform tasks as we do, using complex algorithms and mathematical functions. As a result, it demonstrates characteristics such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, or learn from experience.

Before 1950, computers were far less than "intelligent". They could execute what they were told to do but couldn't remember, i.e. they couldn't store commands. In 1950, mathematician Alan Turing, in his paper, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, proposed an essential question which changed the face of computer science as we see it today, 'Can machines think?'. At its core, AI aims to answer this question.

In 1956, this concept finally solidified when Allen Newell, Herbert Simon, and J.C. Shaw (attendees of the conference) created and presented 'Logic Theorists'. It was the world's first AI software program at the first-ever AI conference at Dartmouth College, where John McCarthy (host) coined the term Artificial Intelligence. AI has flourished a lot since then, and there have been notable developments that have helped us get to where we see it today.

Artificial Intelligence Industry in India

Instead of asking which industry uses AI in its operations, the real question should be, “Which does not?” AI has been around for a while now, but the recent surge in AI research, investments and real business applications is unprecedented. It's hard to picture "modern" businesses running without the integration of AI in some way or another!

1. Healthcare:

The contribution of tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Apple and IBM in the healthcare sector is unparalleled. AI has enabled the carrying out of services like data mining to identify patterns for better diagnosis, drug discovery, virtual nursing assistants and robotic surgery. For example, IBM Watson (an AI tool) selects the most appropriate treatment plan by analysing the patient's medical record. In this sense, AI is literally saving lives!

2. Banking and Finance:

Banks can easily be one of the most boring places, but our bank visits have become minimal thanks to AI. Human agents are being replaced by intelligent software bots performing bank services like loan applications and processing in fractions of a second. For example, Zest Automated Machine Learning helps finance companies assess credibility with little to no credit history. AI-based chatbots are being developed in the insurance sector to improve customer experience and create insurance plans based on customers' data. It also reduces the claim processing time significantly. AI is also used in the finance sector to detect fraud by analysing different data points. 

3. Retail and E-Commerce:

Have you ever noticed your Amazon recommendations change with every purchase? This results from real-time AI algorithms, which help determine which products you are most likely to buy. Chatbots on e-commerce websites have changed the game for customer services with instant replies to various common customer queries. AI tools like sentiment analysis can proactively review customer feedback and even recognise when a customer is upset so as to interject and resolve the situation. Other applications significantly reduce time and cost, saving businesses millions. 

4. Delivery, Logistics and Transportation:

Today, we can track every move of our packages, down to which street they are in. AI is used to find the quickest shipment route and support last-mile delivery. The use of machine learning has made supply chain management a seamless process by transforming warehouse and inventory processing, increasing efficiency, and saving costs. In the transportation industry, AI-based self-driving vehicles are the next big thing. 

5. Manufacturing:

AI is present in every manufacturing layer, from workplace planning to product design. The BMW Group has achieved high levels of precision by using automated image recognition for quality checks and detecting pseudo-defects. This is one of the many examples of how companies leverage AI to improve operational efficiency and productivity by automating production processes and forecasting.

Top Artificial Intelligence Stocks in India

If the fabled robot uprising ever happens, there would not be a movie about it if things go according to the new overlords. If there is any other historical recollection of how the robots came to be, these five Indian companies would be remembered as the contributors to the "New Age".

1. Tata Elxsi Ltd:

Tata Elxsi Ltd has been working in the field of AI for the last 25 years and is one of India's most (if not the most) significant AI stocks. The Cognitive Video Services Framework is one of the most extensive systems offered by Tata Elxsi, which helps personalise content for users, transform video into value, etc. It has also dipped into the waters of self-driving cars, AI solutions for OTT platforms, and video analytics. It is currently working on Metaverse and IoT-enabled products and services as well. With a current market capitalisation of ₹59,154 cr, it is making significant strides in creating AI systems.

2. Bosch Ltd:

Bosch is a market leader in automotive and Industrial technology and has integrated AI in all sectors like engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and even electric vehicles. Today, the Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence is one of the leading AI research institutions in the world. It has a current market cap of ₹51,401 cr and has declared that all its products will use AI or be manufactured with AI by 2025. 

3. Oracle Financial Services Software Ltd:

Oracle's AI and data-driven applications save time and money and improve customer experience by accelerating processing. By optimising cash flows, automating payables and receivables, recognising demand and enhancing employee engagement, it covers all departments from finance to sales to HR. It currently has a market cap of ₹29,429 cr.

4. Persistent Systems Ltd:

Persistent Systems is a trusted Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization partner with a current market share of ₹28,516 cr. They help clients across industries develop and optimise AI or machine learning solutions through its Data Experience Hub. 

5. Happiest Minds Technology Ltd:

Happiest Minds is a market leader in video analytics and processing with expertise in image tagging, person tracking, object identification and face detection. In addition, it uses AI for AR and VR, i.e. Augmented and Virtual Reality. It was listed on the stock exchange in September 2020 and has since reached a market cap of ₹14,290 crore, making it an attractive investment opportunity. 

The Bottom Line

It is no stretch of the imagination to believe that machines, in fact, can think. We're working every day to hone our understanding and application of AI, so we don't have to work hard in future. AI has made machines less like brain-dead zombies and more like human impersonators. With this development surge, is it unrealistic to expect a machine uprising soon?

Disclaimer: The stocks mentioned in this article are for educational purposes only. This article cannot be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any securities.