Infosys’ OpenAI Investment: A Testament to Sikka’s Forward-Thinking Vision

Infosys and OpenAI: A Visionary Move by Sikka

Imagine if Vishal Sikka were still leading Infosys, and they had continued to strengthen their partnership with OpenAI. The internet has been buzzing about ChatGPT, the popular chatbot developed by OpenAI, and a recent social media post is shedding light on Infosys' noteworthy investment in OpenAI.

The Donation in 2015

Back in 2015, when Sikka was at the helm of Infosys, the company donated a significant sum of around USD 1 billion to OpenAI, which was a non-profit organization at the time. Elon Musk, AWS, YC Research, and others also joined forces for this generous contribution.

Sikka's Vision

Sikka, a staunch supporter of AI, played a pivotal role in this donation. He even served as an adviser to OpenAI alongside prominent figures in the field. Sikka's vision, as expressed in a 2015 Infosys blog post, was for OpenAI to conduct unrestricted research in critical AI dimensions, aiming to generate ideas and inventions that would benefit humanity.

End of Integration Plans

At that time, Sikka felt that there was a need for fundamental progress in AI, motivating his decision to back OpenAI's initiative. He also appreciated OpenAI's open-source philosophy, emphasizing the importance of openness in AI systems.

However, Sikka's tenure at Infosys came to an end in 2017, and the plan to integrate OpenAI technology into Infosys was halted. The current Infosys CEO, Salil Parekh, confirmed the company's support for OpenAI through a donation but stated that there were no plans for further investments or involvement.

Current Usage of ChatGPT

Parekh disclosed that Infosys is currently using ChatGPT in client situations, enhancing productivity through automation. This raises the question of what would have happened if Sikka had continued to lead Infosys and expand their partnership with OpenAI, akin to Microsoft's collaboration with the AI giant.

Sikka's Vision in 2015

In 2015, Sikka expressed his belief that Infosys would greatly benefit from OpenAI's research, foreseeing a radical transformation in how IT firms operate. This underscores Sikka's visionary approach, a sentiment echoed by Infosys founder Narayan Murthy.

Sikka's Impact and Beyond

Sikka, who began his tenure as Infosys CEO with a focus on technology like AI and machine learning, believed in the power of automation to decrease surplus workforce and increase efficiency. Despite Infosys falling short of Sikka's ambitious revenue target of USD 20 billion by 2020, his impact on the company's technological direction was undeniable.

After leaving Infosys, Sikka founded 'Vianai' in 2019, securing USD 50 million in initial funding. The startup, backed by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, has developed its own programming language and raised USD 140 million in Series-B funding in 2021. Vianai offers products such as the Vian H+AI Monitoring & Continuous Operations Platform and Vianai Studio, an AI-based platform for creating and managing machine learning models.

Sikka's journey, from leading Infosys into the AI realm to founding Vianai, showcases his ongoing commitment to advancing AI and machine learning technologies.