In a landmark move, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has presented a draft "Reliance AI Manifesto," setting an ambitious roadmap to embed artificial intelligence into the DNA of the conglomerate. Describing AI as "the most consequential technological development in human history," Ambani communicated this vision to over six lakh employees, aiming to transform Reliance into an AI-native deep-tech powerhouse.
The Core Vision: Affordable AI for Every Indian
Ambani's message, dated December 30, 2025, emphasized that the world has only witnessed "the tip of the iceberg" regarding AI's potential. He stated that Reliance has a responsibility to harness this power to solve complex human problems and shape a better future. The manifesto is anchored on a powerful motto: "Affordable AI for every Indian, to transform every aspect of the economy and life in India."
The draft outlines two headline goals for the company: achieving a ten-fold improvement in work quality and outcomes across its workforce, and creating a ten-fold impact on India's economy and society through its business and philanthropic ventures.
Internal Transformation and Outward Focus
The manifesto is divided into two primary sections. The first part focuses on a deep internal overhaul. It details plans to embed AI and agentic AI into Reliance's core operations, not to replace people but to "raise standards and release the organisation's collective potential." Key initiatives include:
- Reorganising work around end-to-end workflows instead of traditional functions.
- Redesigning critical processes like procure-to-pay and order-to-cash with integrated AI to eliminate manual tasks and enhance decision-making.
- Anchoring this shift on a unified 12-layer Digital Functional Core, with data as the foundation and AI as an acceleration layer.
Ambani stressed that strong governance, human accountability, and compliance are non-negotiable, ensuring that speed never compromises safety or integrity. A significant organisational shift will involve creating small, cross-functional "pods" with clear objectives to accelerate execution.
Leveraging AI Across the Reliance Empire
The second part of the manifesto looks outward, seeking ideas to leverage AI across all Reliance verticals. This includes:
- Jio's massive subscriber base of over 500 million users.
- Reliance Retail's extensive supply chains.
- New energy, life sciences, financial services, and media businesses.
Ambani also proposed the development of indigenous AI hardware, robotics, and power-efficient systems to bolster India's technological self-reliance.
The Path Forward: A Shared Commitment
The draft document has been circulated internally for feedback, with employees invited to submit suggestions by January 26. Following this consultation, the final manifesto will be shaped. Ambani framed this initiative as a "shared commitment" to build not just a new Reliance, but a new India. This strategic pivot underscores Reliance's intent to lead India's charge into the AI era, positioning the conglomerate at the forefront of the country's technological and economic transformation.
