Foundr Magazine’s Exclusive Coverage: Manu Kumar Jain Takes the Helm as G42’s India CEO.

In a move that could reshape the landscape of AI in India, Manu Kumar Jain, formerly the CEO of Xiaomi India and a high-profile entrepreneur, is set to lead the Indian operations of Abu Dhabi-based AI giant G42. This significant development marks a pivotal moment in India’s tech sphere.

Foundr Magazine is proud to bring you exclusive details and insights into this transformative appointment, exploring the potential ramifications for India’s technology ecosystem.

Manu Kumar Jain Joins G42 as India CEO:

 G42, a prominent AI firm headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has made headlines with the announcement of Manu Kumar Jain as its new India CEO. This appointment coincides with G42’s strategic expansion efforts within the Indian market. In a LinkedIn post, Jain expressed his excitement about the new role, stating, “I am delighted to announce that I am joining G42, a leading global AI company, to kickstart a new AI business in India! Together, we will innovate, disrupt, and drive forward the frontiers of artificial intelligence.”

A Visionary Embraces the Power of AI

Manu Kumar Jain recognizes the transformative potential of AI in reshaping industries and businesses. In his words, “There is a great opportunity to harness this power and make a significant impact on India’s tech landscape.” His belief in the power of AI as a catalyst for change underscores the strategic importance of his role at G42.

Manu Jain’s Role in G42’s Indian Expansion

G42’s eagerness to expand its presence in India is evident in its announcement: “We are thrilled to share that we will be soon expanding our operations into India, as we continue our journey towards becoming a global leader in AI. Leading us into this new chapter of G42’s growth story is Manu Kumar Jain, a name synonymous with transformative leadership and ground-breaking success in the consumer technology sector.” Manu Kumar Jain has expressed his commitment to spearheading G42’s growth in India, including exploring partnerships to enhance the company’s AI-centric ecosystem and further strengthen India’s burgeoning AI landscape.

Exploring the World of G42 

G42, based in Abu Dhabi, is a prominent AI-focused firm with a global footprint. Its expertise spans across various sectors, including government, healthcare, finance, oil and gas, aviation, and hospitality. Founded in 2018, the company conducts critical AI research and development through its subsidiary, the Inception Institute of Artificial Intelligence (IIAI).

Notably, G42 secured over $800 million in funding from U.S. tech investment firm Silver Lake, which boasts backing from Mudabala, the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund. In August 2023, G42’s subsidiary, Inception, made headlines by open-sourcing Jais, a substantial Arabic large language model (LLM). Developed in collaboration with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and Cerebras Systems, this LLM boasts 13 billion parameters and was trained on a vast dataset encompassing 395 billion tokens in both Arabic and English.

Manu Jain: The Journey to Leadership

Manu Kumar Jain’s journey to becoming G42’s India CEO is noteworthy. As a co-founder of Jabong, he initially joined Xiaomi India in May 2014 as its CEO for India operations. His remarkable contributions to Xiaomi’s success in India propelled him to the role of CEO of Xiaomi’s South Asia operations. In January 2017, he was appointed as Global Vice President.

Jain’s recent departure from Xiaomi India in January 2023 followed a period of intense investigations involving the company. Xiaomi contested a seizure order by the Enforcement Directorate, asserting that Jain and other top executives had faced threats of physical violence and coercion during the agency’s questioning.

Manu Jain’s Impact on Xiaomi India

During his tenure, Manu Kumar Jain played a pivotal role in establishing Xiaomi as the leading smartphone brand in India since 2017. His leadership also contributed to Xiaomi’s substantial investments from the Tata Group. Moreover, Xiaomi played a crucial role in the “Make in India” initiative, with all smartphones and TVs manufactured locally, reflecting Jain’s commitment to India’s growth.

In his farewell post, Jain reminisced about Xiaomi’s journey, stating, “We started as a one-person startup, working from a small little office. We were the smallest amongst the hundreds of smartphone brands, that too with limited resources and no prior relevant industry experience. But due to the efforts of a fantastic team, we were able to build one of the most loved brands in the country.”

Foundr Magazine will closely follow Manu Kumar Jain’s journey with G42 and its potential impact on India’s AI landscape, providing in-depth insights and updates on this dynamic development.