Satya Nadella showcases AI-powered farming in Maharashtra, Elon Musk reacts

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising agriculture in India.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he shared the story of sugarcane farmers from Baramati, Maharashtra, who have historically struggled with issues such as debt, pests, droughts, and crop diseases - challenges that have even led to farmer suicides.

However, the adoption of AI-driven solutions has significantly improved their situation.

Nadella posted a video showcasing how a small farmer from Battis Shirala has been able to increase crop yield, reduce chemical usage, and optimise water consumption through AI-powered tools. Describing the transformation as “phenomenal,” he emphasised how technology can create tangible benefits for small landowners.

"The example I wanted to highlight is a small farmer who is part of the Baramati Co-op. With the help of AI, they have seen incredible improvements in yield, along with better water management and reduced chemical dependency," Nadella stated. He also pointed out how geospatial data from drones and satellites is being leveraged to provide farmers with insights in their native languages.

The post caught the attention of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who reacted by stating, "AI will improve everything."

Microsoft has been actively working in the agri-tech sector in India.

In 2022, the company launched a tech-driven farming project in Baramati in collaboration with the Agricultural Development Trust (ADT). This initiative integrates AI, satellite imaging, and machine learning to support farmers in achieving sustainable and profitable harvests. Additionally, Microsoft Research has been exploring new ways to leverage AI for agricultural advancements.

In a separate discussion, Satya Nadella acknowledged that one of Microsoft's biggest miscalculations was failing to anticipate the dominance of search engines, a market where Google emerged as the leader. He admitted that Microsoft had assumed the web would remain decentralised, not realising that search would become the internet’s most lucrative business model.

Reflecting on this, Nadella said, "We missed what turned out to be the biggest business model on the web because we all assumed the internet was about distribution."