“This Is Our Moment”: AI Can Catapult Northeast India into Global Spotlight, Says Assam IT Secretary

As Assam is attracting AI-based investments from the likes of Mukesh Ambani, the region is living its AI moment. In an exclusive conversation with Business Northeast (BNE), K.S. Gopinath Narayan, Principal Secretary of the Information Technology Department, Government of Assam, underscored the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in unlocking economic and technological growth across Assam and the broader North-eastern region.

“This is the time. This is the time for the Northeast to really adopt AI,” declared Narayan, expressing a strong belief that the region stands at the threshold of a digital revolution. “AI allows every business to suddenly leapfrog over many others. Top-level intelligence is now democratised. It’s accessible and that changes everything.”

For decades, businesses in the Northeast have struggled with limited access to skilled manpower and the absence of dense technology ecosystems that cities like Bengaluru or Hyderabad enjoy. But Narayan believes AI can flatten these historical disadvantages.

“Coding, which is where it all began, is now a solved problem,” he explained. “Previously, companies here might have had a great idea but lacked IT skills or access to a tech talent pool. Now, thanks to AI, even those barriers are disappearing. Skills are no longer locked in big urban hubs they’re accessible to everyone, everywhere.”

He pointed out that the traditional notion of requiring a “critical mass” for innovation such as what Silicon Valley represented is no longer relevant. “What we lacked in density, we’ve always made up in ideas and resilience. AI now empowers us to act on those ideas, without waiting for infrastructure to catch up.”

Narayan also highlighted the proactive stance taken by the Assam government in promoting digital advancement. “Our upcoming AI policy is built on the belief that intelligence must be both produced and consumed locally,” he stated. “We want companies in Assam to realise this is their moment not just to modernise, but to go global.”

Beyond the tech sector, Narayan emphasised the value of AI across a wide range of industries, including agriculture, logistics, tourism, education, and healthcare.

“It’s not only about building software. Even traditional sectors can benefit immensely. AI can optimise supply chains, predict crop yields, automate customer service, and enhance learning outcomes in schools,” he added.

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In perhaps the most stirring part of the conversation, Narayan invoked the iconic imagery of Assam’s famed one-horned rhinoceros to signal a new ambition for the region. “This is the land of the one-horned rhino. Now, we want unicorns to roam here,” he said with conviction. “We are talking about Assam-based companies becoming billion-dollar enterprises. That’s not just aspirational anymore it’s achievable.”

With talent already in place and digital tools now within reach, the Principal Secretary believes it’s time for local entrepreneurs to take bold steps. “AI brings the global knowledge base to your fingertips. The playing field is level. The only thing we need now is the will to act.”

As the state accelerates towards digital inclusion and innovation-led growth, Gopinath Narayan’s message is clear: the future is not just arriving , it’s arriving in Assam.