AI Appreciation Day: Powering Smart Factories, Smarter Markets, and a Data-Driven Future

Each year, AI Appreciation Day reminds us to pause and marvel the amazing journey of artificial intelligence — from science fiction aspiration to real-life transformation. Once confined to research laboratories and cinematic imaginations, AI today powers everything from virtual assistants and autonomous vehicles to medical diagnoses and climate models. Celebrated on July 16, this day is more than a nod to algorithms and data; it’s an acknowledgement of the visionaries, researchers, engineers, and creative minds who shape AI’s evolving story. With roots stretching back to Alan Turing’s pioneering ideas and the first neural networks of the 1950s, AI has matured into a powerful tool redefining industries and daily life alike. AI Appreciation Day encourages us to reflect on both the remarkable achievements and the ethical challenges that accompany this technology. It’s an opportunity to recognize AI’s promise, its people, and its potential to build a smarter, fairer future.

Here is what the global industry leaders and Industry Experts had to say about AI Appreciation Day and its importance.

Vasanthi Ramesh, VP- Engineering and Managing Director, NetApp India

On AI Appreciation Day, it’s essential to reflect on the transformative role AI continues to play across industries worldwide. With data volumes now far outpacing our human ability to process and respond, AI isn’t just valuable, it’s essential. With the rise of open large language models (LLMs), businesses are navigating an increasingly competitive global landscape for AI leadership. NetApp’s AI SPACE RACE report reveals that this momentum is shared across geographies: 81% of CEO’s and IT executives surveyed highlighted that they are currently piloting or scaling AI initiatives, and 88% believe their organizations are mostly or fully prepared to sustain long-term AI transformation. That said, winning the AI race will require intelligent data strategies and robust infrastructures - supported by agile, secure, and scalable cloud solutions. Regardless of industry, size, or geography, organizations must invest in resilient infrastructure that enables real innovation. This is because in the AI Space Race, success will be defined by the ability to turn data into lasting competitive advantage.”

Sujatha S Iyer, Head of AI Security, ManageEngine, Zoho Corp

AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a defining force in how we learn, work, and grow. It’s transforming the workplace from process-driven to purpose-driven by automating routine tasks and amplifying human capabilities.

For emerging professionals, this is a pivotal moment to cultivate skills that AI can’t replicate - creativity, critical thinking, and ethical judgment. For decision-makers, it’s a call to embed responsible AI practices that prioritize trust, transparency, and meaningful upskilling across the workforce.

This transformation isn’t just technological, it’s deeply human. When implemented thoughtfully, AI doesn’t just boost productivity; it fosters a hybrid workforce where human insight and machine intelligence elevate one another

Harsha Solanki, VP GM Asia, Infobip

Over the years, Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a revolutionary force that changes the way we innovate and interact with technology. At Infobip, we see AI evolving from a support tool to an autonomous agent driving the future of customer experience. With the rise of Agentic AI and platforms like our Customer Experience Orchestration Platform (CXOP), brands can now deliver truly proactive, contextual, and personalised conversations across the customer journey.

Whether guiding users from a social ad into a WhatsApp chat or resolving queries before they’re even raised, AI is enabling experiences that are seamless, smart, and scalable. On AI Appreciation Day, we celebrate the shift from reactive engagement to intelligent orchestration, where every interaction is an opportunity to build trust and long-term value.

Shrirang Deshpande, Country Head, Strategic Programmes, Vertiv India

India’s AI sector is anticipated to contribute around US$400 billion to the national economy by 2030. Today, we celebrate AI for how far it has taken us and for the possibilities it continues to unlock. In India, the transition is evident, organizations that once explored use cases are now deploying AI at scale. This shift is driving a fundamental transformation in critical digital infrastructure. With some compute racks now exceeding 100 kilowatts and AI training clusters reaching several megawatts, data centres must evolve rapidly to meet unprecedented power and cooling demands. To sustain this momentum, organisations must align their infrastructure strategies with the growing needs of AI.

On AI Appreciation Day, we applaud the benefits and innovation of AI applications to advance healthcare, finance, education, entertainment, and beyond – and at the same time recognize the work happening behind the scenes to strengthen the backbone of innovation, including the chips, power, cooling, and other technologies that are essential for AI to work. Realizing the full potential of AI will require more than just algorithms; it will demand reliable, energy-aware foundations that are capable of supporting dynamic workloads. We at Vertiv are always committed to enabling this shift by building infrastructure that is ready for the scale, complexity, and ambition of India’s AI-driven future.

Parag Khurana, Country Manager, India, Barracuda Networks 

It is not an overstatement to say that the adoption of AI is moving at breakneck speed. The ease of using generative AI to create and enhance content is having a far-reaching impact on people’s lives. AI tools and capabilities continue to evolve. Unfortunately, the AI-based tools that are powering innovation, productivity, and efficiency in business are also being used by cyber attackers to develop and scale increasingly complex, sophisticated, and evasive cyber threats.

The most advanced AI-based threats can adapt in real-time and target vulnerabilities to exploit. The attackers only need to succeed once, with one user or security gap – the cybersecurity tools that defend against them need to succeed 100% of the time. Organisations need their own, powerful multimodal AI security that can detect and neutralize AI-based attacks regardless of whether they are delivered in an image or a QR code, and even if the language and sender seem completely legitimate.

Arijit Mitra, Managing Director, BEAT, Acuity Knowledge Partners

AI Appreciation Day 2025 comes at a pivotal moment in AI. Cutting-edge models with reasoning abilities of PhDs, coding agents will make developers 50% more efficient powered by Nvidia’s $4 trillion valuation underscores drastic transformation undergoing in our society.  Across sectors, generative copilots are moving from chatbots to workflow orchestrators in finance and logistics, the FDA now lists more than 850 authorized AI-enabled medical devices in healthcare, and AI-driven climate tools such as DeepMind’s cyclone predictor outpace traditional physics models. These advances reveal that AI’s real strength lies not in replacing people but in amplifying expert judgment - turning regulators, clinicians, analysts, and engineers into co-designers of safer, smarter systems that tackle high-stakes problems at unprecedented scale.

Chaitali Moitra, Regional Director, South Asia, Turnitin
Artificial intelligence is transforming how we learn, create, and solve problems. It is important to recognize AI as a collaborative ally rather than just a tool. When integrated thoughtfully, AI can support educators and students by offering new ways to explore ideas, provide feedback, and foster originality. The challenge and opportunity lie in using AI responsibly balancing innovation with transparency. By embracing AI as a partner, we encourage a future where technology enhances human creativity and integrity, helping learners develop skills that will be essential in tomorrow’s world.