Alec Ross discussed AI’s impact, data-driven economy, and future technological transformations at NXT 2025.
New Delhi: At the NXT Forum 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, futurist Alec Ross spoke on artificial intelligence, offering insights from his perspective as an American.
He stated, “I am going to discuss artificial intelligence and break down some of what is happening, at least from my perspective. I want to provide a few data points to frame this data-driven economy, looking back just ten years.”
Ross highlighted the rapid growth of networked devices over the past decade. He explained that in 2015, there were 15 billion such devices worldwide, including smartphones and laptops, but more significantly, sensors embedded in supply chains and factories—an area of particular relevance for India.
“Today, just ten years later, that number has skyrocketed from 15 billion to 75 billion. In the past year alone—from the end of February last year to now—the number has risen from 62 billion to 75 billion,” Ross pointed out.
“This growth isn’t just about more cell phones in people’s pockets; it’s about the digitisation of industries that were historically non-digital—ranging from transportation to agriculture to manufacturing.”
Ross also praised the diversity of speakers at the NXT event, emphasising the wide-ranging perspectives represented.
“We’ve literally gone from a Hungarian minister
Introducing himself, he added, “Although I am an academic and an author, I come from the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital.” Sharing his entrepreneurial background, Ross recounted how he started a company in a basement alongside three friends, with little to no capital, and built it into a global enterprise.
“Now, my focus is on supporting young entrepreneurs worldwide, including here in India,” he said.
“What I want to do is offer perspective on what I believe is about to happen—not in a distant science-fiction future, but in the next few years.”
Speaking about the importance of data in the modern world, Ross urged attendees to think beyond 2025 and consider the landscape of 2026 and beyond.
“Looking at the raw material of the economy throughout history, land was the foundation of the agricultural age, iron was central to the industrial age, and today, data is the raw material shaping the future,” he explained.
“In today’s world, those who own, control, or can extract meaning from data are the ones driving the industries and businesses of the future,” he added.
Ross also noted that he no longer views the digital sector as a distinct entity. Instead, he believes that every sector has become digital.
“All industries are being transformed by technological forces, with artificial intelligence being the most recent and significant disruptor,” he concluded.